The Institute's Royal Charter

The Institute was granted a Royal Charter in 1979. Charters are reserved for professional institutions and charities working in the public interest, which represent a field of activity that is unique and not covered by any other professional body. The Institute is a charity, not for profit and is the only membership body that covers the entire range of dispute resolution processes on a global basis. As a learned society the Institute has demonstrated pre-eminence, stability and permanence in private dispute resolution.

Significant changes to the Institute's governing structure have resulted from the new Charter and Bye-laws granted in 2005, which reflect the need to represent the Institute's worldwide membership.

The Royal Charter and Bye-Laws lay down rules for the running of CIArb, including sections on the election of members, the supervision and discipline of members, entrance fees and subscriptions, AGMs and the composition of Boards and Committees, as well as containing full definitions of each membership grade, including conferring Chartered Arbitrator status. If we wish to change any item that is contained within the Royal Charter, we must present this before the Privy Council.

The Bye-Laws can be changed at an Extraordinary General Meeting of members (passed by at least three-quarters of the members), and the Institute's Regulations can be amended by the Board of Trustees.

* the Royal Charter can only be changed by the Privy Council
* the Bye-Laws can be changed by members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
* the Regulations can be amended by the Board of Trustees

The Royal Charter and Bye-Laws and our Regulations can be viewed in the Resources section of this web-page.