General Assembly (GA)

The General Assembly is comprised of all IOV members who are in good standing. The General Assembly is required by the IOV Statutes to meet at least once every four years. It is convened by the Secretary-General with the approval of the Presidential Council. The General Assembly has the authority to modify the Statutes, Implementing Rules and Regulations, set membership fees, elect officers and members of the Presidential Council and bestow Honorary Membership. Each national section is allowed one vote in the General Assembly. The person entitled to cast the vote on behalf of the national section shall be determined by a majority vote of its members.

Presidential Council (PC)

The Presidential Council consists of the President, the Secretary-General, the Vice-Presidents and the Treasurer. Members are elected by majority vote of the General Assembly for a term of four years. The Presidential Council meets at least once a year and is authorized to make policy decisions within the mandate of the organization. Until the next General Assembly meets in 2011, the Presidential Council has been granted extraordinary power by the last General Assembly (which met in Volos, Greece in 2007) to create and implement Interim Statutes and Implementing Rules and Regulations to ensure the continued operation of IOV.

Executive Board (EB)

The Executive Board consists of the members of the Presidential Council, Regional Executive Secretaries, Commission Chairs, Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer. Other IOV members may also be elected to the Executive Board by the General Assembly. The Executive Board, which meets at least every second year, is the body which implements IOV programs and projects and has responsibility for all areas not specifically reserved for the Secretariat.

Secretariat and Secretary-General

The Secretariat is the office of the Secretary-General. The Secretary General is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization and functions much as an Executive Director in other nonprofit organizations. The Secretary-General, with the assistance of his staff, is responsible for maintaining the IOV databank.

Commissions

Commissions are composed of specialist and professionals who have expertise in one or more of the various areas within the broader category of folk art and folk culture. Commissions are created either by the Presidential Council, the Executive Board or by the specialists themselves. The Presidential Council evaluates the performance of the commissions. Each commission is headed by a Chair which is appointed by the Presidential Council.

Auditing Committee

The General Assembly elects three Auditors for a period of four years. The Auditors are responsible for reporting on the financial health of the organization to the General Assembly.

Arbitral Committee

The Arbitral Committee resolves controversies between IOV members and bodies which may arise in the conduct of IOV programs, projects, operation and in furtherance of the mission of the organization. The rules of the Arbitral Committee are set by the Presidential Council and may be amended by the General Assembly. Seven IOV members comprise the Arbitral Committee

Committee on Elections (Comelec):

Upon the recommendation of the Secretary-General, the Executive Board appoints three IOV members to form the Comelec. The Comelec conducts the election of officers.

The IOV Legal Committee

The Legal Committee is composed of three members appointed by the presidential Council. Its purpose is to ensure compliance with IOV Statutes, make recommendations for modifications of Statutes and IRR, and generally act in the capacity of legal and procedural advisor to the PC, EB and GA.