NON-ELECTED COMMISSIONS

Approved by FIDE Council on 25/11/2022

Applied from 25/11/2022

1.       General provisions

1.1     Non-Elected Commissions created by FIDE are following:

1.1.1      Arbiters’ Commission (ARB)

1.1.2      Athletes Commission (ATH)

1.1.3      Chess in Education Commission (EDU)

1.1.4      Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM)

1.1.5      Events Commission (EVE)

1.1.6      Fair Play Commission (FPL)

1.1.7      Global Strategy Commission (GSC)

1.1.8      Medical Commission (MED)

1.1.9      Planning and Development Commission (PDC)

1.1.10    Players with Disabilities Commission (DIS)

1.1.11    Qualification Commission (QC)

1.1.12    Rules Commission (RC)

1.1.13    Social Commission (SC)

1.1.14    Technical Commission (TEC)

1.1.15    Trainers’ Commission (TRG)

1.2     A majority vote of FIDE Council, or the FIDE President, has the power to:

1.2.1      Institute a new Non-Elected Commission

1.2.2      Change the name, mandate or powers of a Non-Elected Commission

1.2.3      Close a Non-Elected Commission

1.3     With the exception of ATH, Commissioners (Articles 1.4 to 1.8) will be appointed within 3 months of the end of the General Assembly in which an election for FIDE President took place. Each appointment will be for a term which lasts until the next Commission appointments are made in accordance with this article. Commissioners will be appointed to ATH in accordance with Article 2 of their Internal Rules (FIDE Handbook, A12).

1.4     The President will appoint a Chairman to each Non-Elected Commission, who will be a voting member.

1.5     The President will appoint the following voting members to each Non-Elected Commission, having first consulted the appointed Chairman:

1.5.1      A Secretary

1.5.2      Either three or four Councillors

1.6     The President may optionally appoint the following voting members to each Non-Elected Commission:

1.6.1      A Deputy Chairman

1.7     The President may optionally appoint the following non-voting members to each Non-Elected Commission:

1.7.1      An Honorary Chairman

1.7.2      Unlimited Senior Advisors

1.7.3      Unlimited Advisors

1.7.4      Unlimited Members

1.8     Each Continent has the right to nominate one non-voting member to each Non-Elected Commission. The President has the right to approve or decline this nomination.

1.9     The Honorary Chairman must be a former longstanding Chairman of that Commission. An Honorary Chairman can only be appointed as Honorary Chairman of that Commission for one term in total.

1.10   No more than 75% of the number of people appointed to all Non-Elected Commissions in total shall be of the same gender.

1.11   Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1.3, during a term of appointment:

1.11.1    The President reserves the right to appoint new Commissioners where appointments were not initially made (Articles 1.5.2, 1.6 and 1.7).

1.11.2    The President reserves the right to appoint a new Commissioner to a position that becomes vacant for any reason (Article 1.12), with the exception of a Continental nomination, where the process in Article 1.8 will apply.

1.12   An appointed Commissioner will be removed from their position if:

1.12.1    The Commissioner is under investigation, or sanctioned by, the Arbiters Commission Disciplinary Committee, the Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, or the Fair Play Commission.

1.12.2    The Commissioner has written to the FIDE President to resign.

1.12.3    The President decides to remove them upon receiving a recommendation to that effect from the Chairman of that Commission, on account of the Commissioner’s inactivity.

1.13   The Chairman of each Non-Elected Commission shall report twice per year to FIDE Council.

1.14   Non-Elected Commissions shall make recommendations for updating FIDE regulations within their competence to FIDE Council.

1.15   Chairmen of Commissions shall prepare their budget for approval by the FIDE Treasurer.

 

 

2.       Commissions’ Responsibilities

All Non-Elected Commissions have the following responsibilities:

• Defining missions, vision, objectives and strategy in line with overall FIDE objectives
• Consulting with Federations, other Commissions and FIDE organs on proposals to change regulations
• Ensuring Commissions with overlapping areas of responsibility are involved in matters of mutual interest, by inviting experts from other Commissions to form inter-Commission working groups (see Article 3)
• Ensuring proper use of their budget
• Initiating and leading new projects relating to their Commission’s activities

2.1     Arbiters’ Commission (ARB)

The Arbiters Commission (ARB) shall be responsible for all matters related to chess arbiters in FIDE.

ARB has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Licensing of arbiters (National, FIDE and International level)
• Evaluating title applications and classification of arbiters in categories to be presented to the FIDE Council or the General Assembly
• Supervising of FIDE seminars and workshops for arbiters (endorsement, advertisement, archiving)
• Administration of the FIDE arbiter’s database
• Initiating and leading new projects to support arbiter development
• Organising seminars, workshops and joint training courses with other Commissions
• Designing the curriculum for arbiter seminars and examinations
• Providing reference documents for trainees and lecturers
• Producing official publications (Arbiters Manual and Arbiters Magazine), which may be printed and distributed
• Advertising seminars and development projects and initiatives on their official website and social networks
• Enforcing the Disciplinary Regulations for Arbiters
• Selecting Arbiter Panels as required by the Arbiter Appointment Regulations

ARB is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Regulations for the Titles of Arbiters
• Regulations for the Training of Chess Arbiters
• Regulations for the Classification of Chess Arbiters
• Arbiters’ Disciplinary Regulations

2.2     Athletes’ Commission (ATH)

ATH’s advises Council (and other Commissions within FIDE) on various topics from an athlete’s perspective.

ATH has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Providing an athlete’s vision to the decision-making processes within FIDE
• Promoting and advocating for the rights and interests of athletes
• Promoting and advancing an even playing field for chess players including one which is clean, inclusive, safe and upholds the highest ethical standards
• Promoting and supporting the establishment of Athletes’ Commissions in Area Associations and Member Federations to provide an athlete’s perspective into their respective decision-making processes

2.3     Chess in Education Commission (EDU)

EDU acts to promote chess as a tool for education:

• Within FIDE, from top management to federations, and the wider chess world, explaining what ‘educational chess’ is, and how and why the chess world should support it.
• Within the general population outside the chess world, especially teachers, parents and educational institutions, explaining what ‘educational chess’ is, and how and why the world of education should support it.

EDU has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Assist organisations, both large and small, both inside and outside the chess world to implement educational chess programs on a local, regional, national or international level.
• Evaluate and certify educational chess teaching materials.
• Highlight ‘Best Practice’ in educational chess programs around the world, and to share this information as widely as possible.
• Certify and operate a program of online courses for preparing teachers.
• Support research into the impact of educational chess.
• Craft the ‘Chess in Education’ (CIE) strategy for FIDE.
• Promote educational chess in conferences and workshops, both within FIDE and, especially, in the wider context of education.
• Cooperate with different institutions and individuals which show interest in chess in education.
• Create a system of annual awards for achievement in the field of educational chess.
• Devote one or more sections of its website to an information centre for materials and research.

 

EDU is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Regulations for the Titles of Chess in Education

2.4     Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM)

WOM acts to facilitate women’s chess initiatives.

WOM has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Play a leading role in FIDE in forming gender equity policies, practices and programs
• Promote women’s participation in chess and chess related organisations
• Create and provide support for initiatives that enhance women’s role in chess and enhance the environment to make chess more attractive to women
• Support education of girls and women and their chess carriers as players, trainers, arbiters, organisers and officials
• Encourage continental organisations and national federations to create dedicated Commissions (equivalent to FIDE’s WOM Commission) or designate a person to work specifically on gender equity programs and to allocate an appropriate budget for this purpose
• Create a network of women around the world who are actively involved in their local chess community

2.5     Events Commission (EVE)

EVE is responsible for FIDE Competitions outside the aegis of GSC, and administering the International Organiser title process.

EVE has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Analyse Organiser title applications and if necessary, make recommendations to Council on whether or not each title application should be approved
• Preparing and updating Regulations for FIDE Competitions under their aegis, played OTB and online
• Preparing and executing the bidding procedures for FIDE Competitions under their aegis
• Preparing or supervising the organisation of FIDE Competitions under their aegis
• Selecting Tie-Breaks for FIDE Competitions under their aegis

EVE is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Regulations on Seminars & Title Award for Organisers
• General Regulations for FIDE Competitions
• Regulations for World competitions outside the World Championship cycle and not under the aegis of GSC

2.6     Fair Play Commission (FPL)

FPL leads the fight against cheating in all its manifestations, and dedicates itself to ensuring that in chess the spirit of Fair Play prevails.

FPL has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Analyse and design measures and tools aimed at preventing cheating in chess.
• Make recommendations to other FIDE organs and members on topics related to fair play measures.
• Award the titles of FPL Lecturer, Fair Play Officer (FPO) and Fair Play Expert (FPE).
• Nominate FPOs and FPP members for FIDE events.
• Educate the chess community on topics related to cheating and fair play.
• Educate officials called to deal fair play measures
• Carry out independent investigations on violations of the Ethics & Disciplinary Code concerning fair-play related matters, including but not limited to match fixing, suspected fair play violation, assumed cheating and cheating.
• Submit motivated reports to the Ethics and Disciplinary Commission or to national competent bodies, when relevant.
• Oversee the general implementation of fair play related provisions in the FIDE Charter and Ethics & Disciplinary Code, including the investigation of alleged cheating cases by way of Investigatory Panels and the imposition of limited sanctions for the violation of other fair play rules in competition, as determined by the Fair Play Panel for the competition.

FPL is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Anti-Cheating Regulations
• Anti-Cheating Protection Measures

 

2.7     Global Strategy Commission (GSC)

GSC develops a long-term strategy of worldwide chess development, and ensures that events in the World Championship cycle are organised.

GSC has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Liaising with commercial partners and sponsors
• Liaising with Continents on World Championship cycle issues
• Proposing modifications to the format of Top-Level Competitions and the World Championship cycle
• Preparing and updating Regulations for the Olympiad and FIDE Top-Level Competitions played OTB and online
• Preparing and executing the bidding procedures for the Olympiad and FIDE Top-Level Competitions
• Preparing or supervising the organisation of the Olympiad and FIDE Top-Level Competitions
• Selecting Tie-Breaks for the Olympiad and FIDE Top-Level Competitions

GSC is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Olympiad and FIDE Top-Level Competitions
• World Championship Cycle
• Recommendations for the Organisation of FIDE Top-Level Competitions

2.8     Medical Commission (MED)

MED organises Anti-Doping controls in FIDE Top-Level Competitions, and other FIDE Competitions at the request of Council.

MED has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Advise and inform Council on Anti-Doping matters
• Appoint a representative to be present at all competitions where anti-doping control is carried out.
• Educate and inform all players and federations on Anti-Doping Matters
• Educate and inform all players and federations on all health, diet and exercise matters as they relate to chess

MED is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Anti-Doping Regulations
• Medical and Security Protocols for Top-Level FIDE competitions

2.9     Planning and Development Commission (PDC)

PDC seeks to develop Federations through the provision of technical and financial assistance with the ultimate aim of institutional strengthening of the Federations, Continents and FIDE.

PDC has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• PDC shall institute a monitoring and evaluation system for Federations, Continents and FIDE with the primary objective of continuous improvement, which will include the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• PDC shall ensure Federations and Continents comply with the mandatory reporting requirements on the utilisation of FIDE funds for the development of chess within their jurisdictions.
• PDC shall provide reports to Council on a semi-annual basis on the performance of Federations, Continents and FIDE against their respective KPIs.
• PDC shall highlight areas for improvement of the various FIDE bodies and present opportunities to be pursued to further develop and promote the sport of Chess.
• PDC shall assist in the preparation of strategic, operational and action plans for the pursuit of FIDE’s goals and objectives.

PDC is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• FIDE Development Index

2.10   Players with Disabilities Commission (DIS)

DIS shall promote chess as an inclusive sport and shall oversee fair opportunities for disabled chess players.

DIS has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Organising with EVE any FIDE Competitions for Disabled Players
• Advise other FIDE Commissions in aspects and regulations related to disabled players
• Liaise with other organisations with similar objectives
• Recommend and propose amendments, as it sees fit, regarding its field of competence

DIS is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Regulations for the Olympiad for Disabled Players
• Regulations for the World Championship for Disabled Players
• Regulations for the World Youth Championship for Disabled Players

2.11   Qualification Commission (QC)

QC provides processes for Federations to:

• FIDE-rate tournaments on behalf of organisers
• Submit title applications on behalf of players
• Licence players to play in rated over-the-board chess tournaments
• Arrange player transfers with other Federations

QC has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Approve tournaments for FIDE rating
• Maintain the FIDE-rating list
• Maintain FIDE-rating lists for rapid and blitz
• Analyse title applications and if necessary, make recommendations to Council on whether or not each title application should be approved
• Award direct titles to players
• Liaise with the Office regarding transfer and licencing issues

QC is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Title Regulations
• Rating Regulations
• Rapid & Blitz Rating Regulations
• Regulations for Registration & Licensing of Players
• Transfer Regulations & Rules of Eligibility for Players

2.12   Rules Commission (RC)

RC defines and updates the Laws of Chess and Online Chess Regulations, in consultation with players, event organisers and other Commissions, to provide a standard set of rules for chess to be played worldwide.

RC has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Serve as the point of contact for questions from member Federations and other interested parties on the Laws of Chess, Online Chess Regulations and the General Regulations for Competitions
• Facilitate translation of the Laws of Chess into other languages

 

RC is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Laws of Chess
• Online Chess Regulations
• General Regulations for Competitions

2.13   Social Commission (SC)

SC acts to promote chess as a tool for the benefit of good social causes.

SC has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Promote the use of chess as an equaliser, especially by bridging the gap between the social and economic differences that impact people across the world, including gender equality.
• Promote the use of chess as a tool to reach out to children at risk, including those in impoverished communities, refugee camps and those in prisons. This includes actions for life skills, ethics, good character development and empowerment.
• Promote the use of chess as an aid for persons at risk from, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental illnesses, particularly among seniors. SC shall deal with issues related to brain aging.
• Develop and distribute strategies, guidance, metrics, standards, education and information on how to increase sustainability in connection with social projects.
• Liaise with other organisations with similar objectives.

2.14   Technical Commission (TEC)

TEC provides information for organisers to prepare their tournaments, and tests electronic devices to ensure they are compliant with FIDE standards.

TEC has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Test new equipment (electronic chess clocks, electronic boards and electronic scoresheets)
• Prepare the testing protocols for the tests
• Develop and verify algorithms that implement pairing rules set by the Laws of Chess / General Regulations for Competitions.
• Develop and verify algorithms to calculate tiebreak criteria established by the General Regulations for Competitions.
• Develop test criteria and test suites to assess whether a software program provides the correct implementation of a certain algorithm.
• Develop minimum usability guidelines, UX / UI / traceability recommendations for tournament software.
• Certify software programs that meet the established criteria, pending a final approval by the FIDE Council.
• Develop standards to ensure adoption of Chess ID by all tournament software.
• Develop open protocols for data exchange between electronic chess devices. Test and certify software implementations of such protocols.
• Develop definitions of Tie-Breaks, and prepare recommendations of appropriate tie-breaks to use in different types of tournaments.

 

TEC is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Standards of Chess Equipment
• FIDE Compliant Electronic Chess Equipment
• Tie-Break Regulations
• FIDE Swiss Rules
• Basic Rules for Swiss Systems
• General Handling Rules for Swiss Tournaments
• FIDE (Dutch) System
• Other FIDE Approved Pairing Systems
• FIDE Approved Accelerated Systems
• Endorsement of a Software Program

2.15   Trainers’ Commission (TRG)

TRG provides processes for Federations and trainers to:

• Acquire Trainer Titles and Licences
• Establish Endorsed Academies
• Win Trainer Awards

TRG has the following ongoing responsibilities:

• Regulating FIDE Trainer Titles and Licenses through the FIDE Trainer System
• Organising FIDE Trainer Seminars and TRG Professional Education & Development Workshops
• Administering the FIDE Endorsed Academies Program
• Organising the FIDE Trainer Awards
• Lead for FIDE in development and implementation of training and development programs
• Administering the Captaincy Licence for FIDE events

TRG is responsible for suggesting amendments for the following regulations to Council, and applying them in their ongoing responsibilities:

• Regulations for the Titles of Trainers / FIDE Endorsed Academies

 

3.       Working Groups

3.1     The responsibilities of each Commission are set out in Article 2, however there are some areas within their portfolio that are either of interest to, or directly impact the work of, other Commissions. In this case, the Lead Commission (i.e. the Commission that has the primary responsibility for those regulations) must form a Working Group, by inviting other Commissions to contribute to the proposals.

3.2     When forming the Working Group, the Lead Commission Chairman will define the scope of the Working Group, and having identified which other Commissions have an interest, invite the Chairmen of those other Commissions to nominate up to two members of their Commission to take part. The nominated members should be people with a specific interest and expertise in the field.

3.3     At the conclusion of the work, the members of each Working Group will report back to their own Commissions with the outputs from the Working Group. The Commission may approve or propose amendments to each output. The proposals will be taken back to the Working Group.

3.4     The Working Group shall continue to work until such time as each of the Commissions approves their outputs.

3.5     The Lead Commission will send the outputs to the FIDE Management Board for approval.

3.6     The FIDE Management Board may, from time-to-time, set up a Working Group. They will appoint someone to assume the responsibilities of the Lead Commission Chairman in 3.2. These Working Groups will report directly to the FIDE Management Board, rather than to their own Commissions, and thus Articles 3.3 and 3.4 do not apply.