Guidelines for Laws Affecting Civic Organizations

This book, revised and enlarged since the first edition in 1997, provides guidance for creating or amending domestic laws that protect and regulate civic organizations. It establishes the framework for such laws in internationally recognized rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. It is intended as a resource for the expanding global civic sector, which includes everything from advocacy groups for the environment to associations of opera aficionados, from women’s rights groups to gardening clubs.

Guidelines for Laws Affecting Civic Organizations includes chapters examining the following issues:

• the relationship of civic organization laws to other laws;
• the legal existence of civic organizations;
• prohibition on direct or indirect private benefit;
• fundraising;
• reporting, supervision, and enforcement;
• tax preferences;
• foreign civic organizations and foreign sources of funds; and
• methods of voluntary regulation.

Guidelines for Laws Affecting Civic Organizations was prepared by the Open Society Institute in cooperation with the International Center for Non-Profit Law (ICNL). In addition to being available from OSI and ICNL, the book is distributed by Central European University Press.

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