The following words and phrases - wherever they appear in these rules - shall have the meanings indicated opposite each of them:

• 1- Law: Law of Civil Society Associations and Organizations.

• 2- Center: National Center for Non-Profit Sector.

• 3- Council: Board of Directors of the Center.

• 4- Association: Civil Society Association. 

• 5- Board of Directors: Board of Directors of the Association.

• 6- Institution: Civil Society Institution.

• 7- Board of Trustees: Board of Trustees of the Institution.

• 8- Regulation: Implementing Regulation of the Law of Civil Society Associations and Organizations.

• 9- Basic Regulation: Basic Regulation of the Association or Institution.

• 10- Rules: Governance Rules for Civil Society Associations and Institutions.

• 11- Leadership Positions: It means the position of the first official in the association or institution whose reference is to the Board of Directors or Board of Trustees, such as the General Manager or Chief Executive Officer, and any senior administrative position for which the first official is the direct supervisor.

• 12- Governance: A set of rules, standards, policies, and procedures that regulate the relationship between the organization, its employees, and stakeholders, to achieve justice, transparency, credibility, and sustainability.

• 13- Weighted Method: A voting method that allows association members to weight their votes, so that a member has a number of votes equivalent to the total amount paid in membership fees and donations, proportionate to the total membership fees of regular members and donations of supporting members.

• 14- Cumulative Method: A voting method that allows an association member to distribute their votes among candidates in elections, provided that one vote is not given to more than one candidate.

• 15- Weighted Cumulative Method: A voting method that combines the weighted method and the cumulative method.

These rules aim to:

• 1- Develop the performance of the association and the institution.

• 2- Enhance the contribution of individuals in managing the association and the institution.

• 3- Motivate and encourage supporters to contribute to the development of the association and the institution.

• 4- Develop governance and enhance transparency and disclosure in the association and the institution.

• 5- Improve the efficiency of the non-profit sector system's performance.

1- The association seeks to increase the members of its general assembly, and membership may be restricted to a specific category under certain conditions, or it may be open to the public.

2- The following conditions are required for a member of the general assembly:

• A- The age of the general assembly member shall not be less than fifteen years.

• B- There must be no final judgment convicting the member of a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust, unless their reputation has been restored.

• C- Payment of membership fees, if any.

• D- The membership must have lasted for at least six months.

• E- Submission of a membership application to the association, according to the form prepared by the center.

3- The conditions required for a legal entity member of the general assembly are the same as those required for a natural person member, except for paragraphs (A) and (B) of this article.

1- The membership of the General Assembly consists of natural or legal persons, and their membership is according to the following categories:

• A- Ordinary Member: A member who commits to paying the ordinary membership fees, as determined by the basic regulation.

• B- Supporting Member: An ordinary member who donates to the association in his name based on supporting and corroborating documents with an amount not less than one hundred thousand Saudi Riyals, unrestricted, during the current Board of Directors' term, before the start date of the subsequent elections by ten working days. If the donation is made after this date, or during the existence of a temporary Board of Directors, the calculation of this donation shall be deferred to the first elections held after the donation date.

2- Subject to the provisions of membership in the law, regulation, and rules, the association may define other membership categories and set conditions, fees, and privileges specific to these categories in the basic regulation.