Statutes

Chapter I

Objectives

Article 1

(Name, Headquarters, Historical Reference of the Statutes)

The Círculo Eça de Queiroz, headquartered in Lisbon at Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 4, is a non-profit association with an indefinite duration. Its statutes were approved by an ordinance dated December 16, 1940, from the Civil Government of Lisbon, later amended by decrees on October 3, 1944, January 5, 1952, January 29, 1962 (issued by the Subsecretariat of State for Education), and March 13, 1969 (issued by the Subsecretariat of State for School Administration).

Article 2

(Objectives and Activities)

  1. The Círculo Eça de Queiroz aims to enhance the cultural and intellectual level of Portuguese society and promote the life and work of its patron.
  2. To achieve this goal, it will organize conferences, concerts, exhibitions, and other cultural events, either at its headquarters or elsewhere.
  3. Additionally, the Círculo Eça de Queiroz seeks to provide its members with comfort and leisure at its headquarters, including reading rooms and a restaurant service, operating under regulations approved by the Board of Directors.

Article 3

(Statutes, Internal Regulations, and Social Assets)

  1. The Círculo Eça de Queiroz is governed by these statutes and the internal regulations established by the Board of Directors.
  2. Its social assets consist of membership fees, monthly contributions from members, revenues from statutory activities, as well as subsidies, donations, and legacies received.

Chapter II

Members

Article 4

(Categories of Members)

There are six categories of members: A, B, C, Correspondent, Honorary, and Corporate.

  1. Category A includes 202 members, with the 202nd member always chosen by the Board of Directors.
  2. Category B includes supernumerary members awaiting admission to Category A.
  3. Category C includes members of the foreign diplomatic and consular corps accredited to the Portuguese Government.
  4. Correspondent Members are distinguished individuals residing outside Lisbon with recognized cultural merit.
  5. Honorary Members include up to 20 individuals of exceptional cultural merit.
  6. Corporate Members are reputable organizations willing to contribute to the mission and activities of the Circle.

Article 5

(Duties of Members)

Members must:

  1. Contribute to the mission of the Circle and its development.
  2. Comply with and uphold the statutes and internal regulations approved by the Board of Directors.
  3. Pay membership fees on time.
  4. Category A and B members who leave the country for more than three months must notify the Board in writing about their residence, payment location, and method, ensuring continued membership by keeping up with their fees.
  5. Corporate members must pay a membership fee twice that of Category A members and contribute monthly fees at least double the standard rate, as stated in Article 6, Clause 5.
  6. Foreign diplomatic and consular members in Categories A or B posted abroad pay one-third of the membership fee.
  7. Descendants of active Category A and B members receive a 50% discount on the membership fee upon admission and benefit from the same reduction in membership dues for the first five years.
  8. If a Category A or B member passes away, their spouse or first direct descendant admitted within one year is exempt from the membership fee.
  9. Members under 35 years old upon admission pay only half the membership fee.

Article 6

(Rights of Members)

Members have the right to:

  1. Frequent and use the Circle’s headquarters and participate in its activities.
  2. Receive guests at the headquarters and bring family and friends, following internal regulations.
  3. Invite distinguished foreign visitors passing through Portugal to visit the Circle for up to 15 days, subject to a member’s request and Board approval.
  4. Members of clubs with reciprocity agreements may frequent the Circle’s headquarters.
  5. Corporate members may appoint a number of representatives equal to or lower than their paid memberships, who will enjoy all rights except voting in elections.
  6. The appointment of corporate representatives is subject to Board approval.

Article 7

(Admission of Members, Publicity, and Voting)

  1. Admission proposals for Categories A, B, and Correspondent Members must be submitted and endorsed by two Category A members.
  2. Voting is conducted by depositing black and white spheres in a ballot box.
  3. At least 25 votes are required, and a candidate is rejected if 20% or more of the votes are black spheres.
  4. The ballot box remains available for at least one month, and members voting must record their name and membership number in a list placed next to it.
  5. Only Category A members may vote on the admission of Categories A, B, and Correspondent members.
  6. Category C and Corporate admissions are decided by the Board and posted at the headquarters for eight days for members’ information.
  7. Honorary Members are admitted by proposal from the Board to the General Assembly.
  8. Former members of Categories A, B, and Correspondent may be readmitted once, two years after resignation, if unanimously approved by the Board.
  9. Category A members unable to attend voting may vote by letter, addressed to the President of the Board, within a minimum 30-day voting period. proposta para admissão de Sócios nas várias categorias, com excepção de Associados das categorias C, Honorários e Corporativos, terá de ser apresentada e subscrita por dois Sócios da categoria A.

Article 8

(Loss of Membership)

A member loses their membership if they:

  1. Fail to pay two membership fees despite receiving a registered warning letter and do not pay within 15 days.
  2. Leave the country for more than three months without following the procedures stated in Article 5, Clause 2.
  3. Act in any way that discredits the Circle.

Chapter III

Governing Bodies

Article 9

(Social Bodies)

The Círculo Eça de Queiroz is governed by:

  1. The General Assembly
  2. The Board of Directors
  3. The Supervisory Council
  4. The General Assembly Board, Board of Directors, and Supervisory Council are elected for three-year terms.

Section I

The General Assembly

Article 10

(Composition)

The General Assembly consists of all Category A members in full possession of their rights.

Article 11

(Meetings, Summoning, and Functioning)

  1. The Ordinary General Assembly meets annually in March to review the Board’s report and accounts.
  2. Every three years, it elects the General Assembly Board, Board of Directors, and Supervisory Council.
  3. Only members who have paid their dues up to three months before the meeting may vote.
  4. The Assembly convenes only if at least half of the members are present.
  5. If there is no quorum, a second meeting takes place 30 minutes later with any number of members.
  6. The Assembly is summoned by registered letter, stating the date, time, and agenda.
  7. Members may be represented by a simple letter, but no member may represent more than two members.
  8. The Assembly may appoint an Honorary President from Category A members who have rendered exceptional services to the Circle.

Article 12

(Extraordinary Meetings)

The General Assembly may also convene extraordinary meetings upon request by the Board or more than half the members, strictly to discuss the stated agenda.

Article 13

(Composition of the General Assembly Board)

The General Assembly Board is composed of a President and two Secretaries.

Section II

The Board of Directors

Article 14

(Composition and Responsibilities)

  1. The Board of Directors is composed of five elected Members, who distribute among themselves the positions of President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Members.
  2. The Board of Directors is responsible for guiding the life of the Circle, promoting its development, collecting and managing its revenues, drafting internal regulations as deemed necessary, admitting and excluding Members under Articles 7 and 8, and annually presenting to the General Assembly a full report and accounts of its management for the previous fiscal year.

Article 15

(Composition and Responsibilities)

Whenever deemed necessary, the Board of Directors may appoint a Literary Committee, a Festivities Committee, or other committees, composed of a variable number of Members freely chosen by the Board, to further achieve the statutory objectives of the Circle.

Section II

The Fiscal Council

Article 16

(Composition and Responsibilities)

  1. The Fiscal Council is composed of three elected Members, who distribute among themselves the positions of President and Secretaries.
  2. The Fiscal Council is responsible for overseeing all activities of the Board of Directors to ensure the legality of its decisions and the pursuit of the intended objectives, reviewing the Circle’s bookkeeping, issuing an opinion on the Management Report and Annual Accounts presented by the Board of Directors, and verifying the cash register, bank deposits, and other existing funds, with the frequency it deems necessary.
  3. The Fiscal Council meets at least once a year, before the General Assembly convenes to review the Board of Directors’ report and accounts.

Lisbon, May 8, 2024