periodical, raise the professional level of lawyers and push forward the development of lawyers' work;
(3) to support its members to perform their duties according to the law and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests;
(4) to provide its members with profes- sional information and services;
(5) to report to authorities concerned appropriate suggestions regarding the develop- ment of the legal system;
(6) to engage in welfare undertakings for the benefit of its members;
(7) to liaise with lawyers' associations of provinces, autonomous regions and municipali- ties;
(8) to conduct exchange activities be- tween the Association and foreign lawyers and foreign lawyers' organizations.
Chapter 2 Membership
Article 5. All lawyers of the People's Republic of China are individual members of the Association. All lawyers' associations of provinces, autonomous regions and munici- palities are group members of the Associa- tion.
Article 6. Rights and duties of members: (1) to vote and stand for election to official positions in the Association;
(2) to participate in the study, research and exchange programmes sponsored by the Association;
(3) to have free access to the books and materials of the Association;
(4) to make appropriate suggestions to authorities concerned through the Association;
(5) to recommend and criticize the work of the Association;
(6) to monitor the financial expenditure
of the Association;
(7)
to pay membership fee on time;
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(8) to abide by the statutes, implement the resolution and fulfil the work entrusted by the Association,
Chapter 3 Organization and Structure
Article 7. The National Congress of the All-China Lawyers' Association is scheduled to meet every four years. Deputies to the National Congress are chosen for a term of four years through elections by the Congresses of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and are eligible for re-election,
The functions and powers of the National Congress are:
(1) to discuss and decide guideline of work and tasks of the Association;
(2) to enact and amend statutes of the Association;
(3) to hear and examine the working re- port of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors;
(4) to elect and remove Governors of the Association;
(5) to exercise other functions and pow- ers which should be performed by the National Congress.
Article 8. The Board of Governors which is composed of several Governors elected by the National Congress serves as a leading body ad- ministering affairs of the Association and is responsible to the National Congress.
The Plenary Session of the Board of Governors will meet once a year.
Article 9. The Plenary Session of the Board of Governors elects a Honorary President, invites several Advisors, elects a President, several Vice-Presidents, a Secretary General and several Deputy Secretaries General. The Executive Committee which is composed of President,
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