Law 51 on Societies (as amended by Law 22 of 2009)

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Document Information:


This law shall be known as the Law of
Societies (Law of Societies of 2008) and it shall be in force ninety days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article [3]:
A. For the purposes of this law:
1. The word “society” shall signify any legal person composed of a group of persons no less than seven and which is registered according to the provisions of this law to provide services or to undertake activities on a voluntary basis without aiming to derive or distribute profit, to realize any benefit for any of its members or for any specific person, or to achieve any political goals that enter into the scope of the work and activities of political parties in accordance with the legislation in force.
2. The expression “private society” shall signify a society whose membership is
limited to a group of persons no less than three and no more than twenty.
3. The expression “closed society” shall signify a society whose membership is limited to one person or more and whose financial resources are limited to what any of its founding members provide it with for the sake of enabling it to realize its goals.

B. Exempted from the provisions of this law are:
1. Any legal person established under the provisions of a special law.
2. The entities and the committees registered according to the provisions of the Law of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and the Law on Islamic Charitable Funds (Zakat) in force as well as the regulations and directives issued
pursuant to both laws.
3. Non-Muslim religious groups registered according to the provisions of the Law on the Boards of Non-Muslim groups currently in force.
4. Clubs, organizations, and centers registered according to the provisions of the Law on the High Council for Youth in force and the regulations issued pursuant thereto and the directives issued pursuant to such law or regulations.

C. The registration of any Masonic organization is prohibited in the Kingdom [of Jordan] and Masonic activities are prohibited in the Kingdom as well.

D. The registration of any society which has illegal goals or purposes is prohibited as is the registration of any organization contrary to public order in the Kingdom.

Amendment

Article [4]:
A. A register is created within the Ministry known as the Register of Societies. A council known as the Registration Management Council assumes responsibility for the management and supervision of the Registrar. This council is chaired by the Minister and each of the following:
1. The Registrar – Vice Chair.
2. Representative from the Ministry of the Interior.
3. Representative from the Ministry of Culture.
4. Representative from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
5. Representative from the Ministry of the Environment.
6. Representative from the Ministry of Political Development.
7. Four people who have expertise in the field of charitable or volunteer work who are appointed by the Council of Ministers upon the recommendation of the Minister for a period of two years, which may be renewed. The membership of any such persons can be terminated and a replacement person may be appointed to take their place in the same manner.

B. The Council of Ministers, upon the recommendation of the Minister, may add to the
membership of the Board a representative from any other ministry which bears a
relation to the work of Societies.

C. The Relevant Minister is referred to as the representative of the ministry in the
clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of paragraph (A) of this article and in paragraph (B)
of this article. The same term is also used for the employees of first grade from the
ministry, whose grade is no less than second.

D. The Vice Chair assumes the Chair’s role in the Chair’s absence.

E. With consent from the Council of Ministers, the Board lays out special instructions
including the bases for determining the Relevant Ministry for each society.

Amendment

Article [5]:
A. The Board shall assume the following functions and powers:
1. Approval of a society’s registration and the determination of the Relevant Ministry for it according to the directives issued for this purpose.
2. Assessment of societies’ performances and their activities in coordination with the Relevant Ministries and the publication of an annual report on the state of societies in the Kingdom.
3. Issuance of the necessary plans and programs to improve the conditions of societies and help them realize their goals.
4. Management and supervision of the Fund as well as follow-up on all matters concerning it.
5. Formation of one or more committees for arbitration in the case a dispute arises between societies.
6. Issuance of the necessary directives to organize the work on the register and coordination of the relationship between the Registrar and the Relevant Ministries according to the provisions of this law and the regulations issued in accordance with it.

B. The Board shall convene its meetings upon the invitation of its President at least once a month or whenever required. Its meetings shall be legal with the attendance of not less than two-thirds of its members and on the condition that the President or the Vice-President are amongst those in attendance. The Board shall make decisions by a majority vote of its members present. In the event of equal votes, the side with which the chairman of the meeting voted shall prevail.

C. The Registrar is appointed by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon the recommendation of the minister in his capacity as Secretary General. The Registrar shall be linked to the Minister if his appointment is associated with a royal decree.