1. Associate members shall be limited to physicians, as that term is defined in the WMA Bylaws (Section 1c (i) of Chapter I), and medical students who are properly enrolled in a medical school which the Council determines is a recognized medical school in the country in which it is located, who have applied for such membership and who have paid the amount of dues prescribed for such members. Associate membership is available to such individual physicians and medical students whether or not their National Medical Association is a Constituent Member of the World Medical Association.
   
   

2. Applications for Associate Membership shall be obtained only from the WMA directly, or from a National Medical Association that is a Constituent Member of the WMA. The application should be returned, with the proper amount of membership dues, to the WMA or to a National Medical Association that is a Constituent Member of the WMA.

3. Associate members shall receive an appropriate membership card, a subscription to the World Medical Association's Journal (WMJ) and such other benefits as the Council may approve. Associate members may attend open meetings of the WMA General Assembly upon payment of the registration fee therefor, and upon request and approval the representatives and alternates of the Associate Members may attend open meetings of the World Medical Association Council. Attendance at all such meetings shall be at the expense of the Associate Member.

4. The Associate Members shall elect a Chairperson from its own number present at the Assembly. The Chairperson shall preside over meetings of the Associate Members. If the Chairperson is absent, the Associate Members shall elect one of their own number present at the meeting to preside over that meeting.

   The Chairperson shall serve for a term of three years, and shall be eligible for reappointment or re-election at the pleasure of the Associate Members, provided that he or she meets the qualifications for Associate Membership.
   
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   If the Chairperson resigns from associate membership, or if his or her associate membership is terminated, the term of the Chairperson shall automatically expire. At the next Associate Members meeting, the Associate Members shall elect a new Chairperson, whose term of three years shall commence at that meeting.

5. Immediately prior to each meeting of the WMA General Assembly, there shall be a meeting of those Associate Members present at the Assembly. The meeting shall be scheduled and arranged by the Secretary General, and the order of business shall be as follows:
   
   
   1. If the term of the Chairperson has expired, there shall be an election by the Associate Members present of a Chairperson to conduct the meeting. The Secretary General or his designee shall be available throughout the meeting to advise, assist and counsel the members.
      
      

   2. Discussion of the Agenda of the Assembly.

   3. Proposal of motions to bring before the Assembly.

   4. Election by the Associate Members present of two representatives and two alternates to the Assembly who hold a diploma or degree in medicine recognized by the National Medical Association of their country as required by Chapter III, Section 3A of the Bylaws.

   5. Other business for discussion.

   6. Adjournment.

      
      
6. Only those motions approved and adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Associate Members present at the meeting of Associate Members may be presented to the Assembly for consideration. The representatives at the Assembly elected by the Associate Members shall have the right to speak in the Assembly, but shall not have the right to introduce additional business, nor to introduce an amendment, nor to make a motion, nor to vote.
   
   

7. If a proposed motion and its supporting background documents deal with substantially the same subject matter as another proposal or proposals that has or have been previously considered during Associate Members Meetings within the preceding 5 calendar years, it may be excluded from the official documentation for any meeting held within 3 calendar years of the last time it was included if the proposal received:
   
   7.1 Less than 5% of the vote if proposed once within the preceding 5 calendar years;
   
   7.2 Less than 10% of the vote on its last submission to the Associate Members Meeting if proposed twice previously within the preceding 5 calendar years; or
   
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   7.3 Less than 15% of the vote on its last submission to the Associate Members Meeting if proposed three times or more previously within the preceding 5 calendar years.

8. The Secretary General shall administer all matters relating to Associate Members, and may delegate duties and responsibilities relating to Associate Membership to the Regional Secretaries.
   
   

9. The Council may reject any application for Associate Membership without cause.

10. The Council may terminate the membership of any Associate Member for cause. Cause for termination of membership shall consist of any action by the member that is inconsistent with WMA purposes and objectives, or action that tends to bring the WMA or the medical profession into disrepute, or tends to harm the reputation of the WMA in any way. Prior to terminating the membership of an Associate Member for cause, the Council shall invite the member to respond in writing to the complaints alleged against the said member. The Council shall consider the member's response, if any, in making its decision.

11. Associate Members may not represent the WMA in any capacity without the express prior authorization of the Council taken at a plenary Council Session at which a quorum was present.

12. Members of the International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) will be granted Associate Membership of the WMA on graduation as physicians for a period of three years. No membership fee will be charged, but no products, services or publications (except electronic publications) will be provided to these members. In addition, these members will not have the right to vote.

I AGREE WITH THESE RULES AND WISH TO PROCEED WITH THE APPLICATION