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Basic Law of the PLO
Basic Law of the Palestine Liberation Organization
Jerusalem, 2 June 1964
Chapter I
General Principles
Article I. The Palestinians, in accordance with the provisions of this Basic Law, form themselves into an Organization to be known as the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Article 2. The Palestine Liberation Organization shall exercise its responsibilities in accordance with the principles of the National Charter, the provisions of this Basic Law, and such rules, provisions and resolutions as may be issued in conformity with these principles and provisions.
Article 3. Relationships within the Organization shall be based on commitment to struggle and to national action, the different levels of the Organization, from its base up to its collective leadership, being closely linked together on a basis of the following principles: the minority shall defer to the will of the majority, confidence of the people shall be won through persuasion, the movement of the struggle shall be continued,, so that the impetus of the masses towards liberation may take its course.
In implementation of this principle, the Executive Committee shall draft regulations for the Organization's subsidiary bodies, due regard being paid to the circumstances of Palestinians in all places where they are concentrated, and to the realization of the objectives of the Charter and the Basic Law.
Article 4. All Palestinians are natural members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, performing their duty to liberate their country in accordance with their abilities and qualifications. The Palestinian people is the base of this Organization.
Chapter II
The National Council
Article 5. The members of the National Council shall be elected by the Palestinian people by direct ballot, in accordance with a system to be devised for this purpose by the Executive Committee.
Article 6. Should it be impossible to hold an election to the Council, the National Council shall continue to sit until circumstances permit of the holding of elections.
Article 7. The National Council is the supreme authority of the Liberation Organization. It drafts the policy, planning and programmes of the Organization.
Article 8. The National Council is elected for three years, and it shall be convened in regular session once every year in May, or in extraordinary sessions by its President at the request of the Executive Committee, or of a quarter of its members. It shall meet in Jerusalem, Gaza, or any other place, depending on circumstances. Should the President not call such a session, the session shall convene automatically in such place and at such time as are designated in the request submitted by its members or by the Executive Committee.
Article 9. The National Council shall have a President's Office, consisting of the President, two Vice-Presidents, and a Secretary General, elected by the National Council when it first meets.
Article 10. The National Council in ordinary session shall consider:
(a) The annual report submitted by the Executive Committee on the achievements of the Organization and its subsidiary bodies.
(b) The annual report of the National Fund and the adoption of the budget.
(c) Proposals submitted by the Organizations’ committees.
(d) Any other questions submitted to it.
Article 11. The National Council shall form such committees as it deems necessary to assist it in the performance of its duties.
These committees shall submit their reports and recommendations to the National Council, which shall debate them and issue its decisions as regards them.
Article 12. Attendance by two-thirds of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. Decisions shall be taken by a majority vote of those present.
Chapter III
The Executive Committee
Article 13. The National Council shall elect from among its members the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Chairman shall be responsible for selecting the members of the Executive Committee.
Article 14. The Executive Committee shall consist of fifteen members, including its Chairman. They shall elect a deputy-chairman among them.
Article 15. The Executive Committee is the highest executive power in the Organization. It shall remain in permanent session, its members devoting themselves exclusively to their work. It shall be responsible for executing the policy, programmes and planning approved by the National Council, to which it shall be responsible, collectively and individually.
Article 16. The Executive Committee shall assume responsibility for:
(a) Representing the Palestinian people.
(b) Supervising the Organization's subsidiary bodies.
(c) Issuing regulations and instructions, and taking decisions aimed at organizing the Organization's activities, provided these are not incompatible with the Charter or the Basic Law.
(d) Implementing the Organization's financial policy and drafting its budget.
In general, the Executive Committee shall assume all the responsibilities of the Liberation Organization, in accordance with the general policies and resolutions adopted by the National Council.
Article 17. The permanent headquarters of the Executive Committee shall be in Jerusalem. It shall also be entitled to hold its meetings in any other place it sees fit.
Article 18. The Executive Committee shall establish the following departments:
(a) A Liberation Department.
(b) A Department for Political and Information Affairs.
(c) A Palestine National Fund Department.
(d) A Department for General Affairs and National Guidance.
(e) Any other department the Committee considers necessary.
Each department shall have a Director-General and the requisite staff. The authority of each department shall be defined by special regulations drawn up by the Executive Committee.
Article 19. The Executive Committee shall establish close relations and coordinate activities between the Organization and all Arab and international Organizations, federations and institutions which agree with its aims, or which help it in the realization of the Organization's objectives.
Article 20. The Executive Committee shall continue to exercise its prerogatives as long as it enjoys the confidence of the National Council. The Executive Committee shall submit its resignation to the new National Council at its first session. The Council may reelect the resigning Chairman.
Article 21. Attendances of two thirds of the Executive Council members shall constitute a quorum, and its resolutions shall be adopted by majority vote of those present.
Chapter IV
General Rules
Article 22. Palestinian special units shall be formed according to military needs and to the plan that is decided by the Unified Arab Command in agreement and cooperation with the concerned Arab states.
Article 23. The Executive Committee shall make every effort to enroll Palestinians in Arab military colleges and institutes for military training, to mobilise the potentials and resources of the Palestinians, and to prepare them for the battle of liberation.
Article 24. A fund, to be known as the Palestine National Fund, shall be established to finance the activities of the Organization, which Fund shall be administered by a board of directors to be formed in accordance with special regulations for the Fund issued by the National Council.
Article 25. The Fund's sources of revenue shall be:
(a) An impost on Palestinians imposed and collected according to a special system.
(b) Financial assistance provided by Arab governments and the Arab nation.
(c) Contributions and donations.
(d) Arab loans and aid from Arab countries and friendly peoples
(e) Any other sources of revenue approved by the Council.
Article 26. Committees to be known as “Committees for the Support of Palestine” shall be formed in Arab and friendly countries to collect contributions and support the Organization in its national endeavors.
Article 27. The level at which the Palestinian people is represented in Arab Organizations and conferences shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint a representative for Palestine to the League of Arab States.
Article 28. The Executive Committee shall be entitled to make such regulations as are necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Basic Law.
Article 29. The Organization's National Council is empowered to amend, alter, or add to this Basic Law by a two thirds majority of its members.
Chapter V
Transitional Provisions
Article 30. The First National Congress shall be considered a Provisional National Council whose term will expire as soon as the First National Council is elected according to the provisions of this Basic Law. The Congress shall exercise all the prerogatives allotted to the National Council.
Article 31. The National Council shall sit for two years as from 28 May 1964.
Source: Munazzamat al-tahrir al-Filastiniyya: al-mithaq, al-nizam al-asasi, nizam al-sandouk al-qawmi [The Palestine Liberation Organization: the Charter, the Basic Law and the Basic Law of the National Fund]. n.p.: Palestine Liberation Organization, 1964. (Translated by the Institute for Palestine Studies).