COL

歷史的一刻─

立法會議如何成長

Historic Moments -- How the Council has evolved

Rotary International News -- 22 April 2010

法蘭克‧莫荷蘭，1948 年立法會議主席，於里約熱內盧國際年會上演講之神情。Rotary Images Frank

Mulholland, chair of the 1948 Council on Legislation,speaks during the International Convention in Rio de Janeiro. Rotary Images

立法會議歷經76 年歲月，在國際年會中從單一的全會已經發展成為一個有自主的立法實體。

In the 76 years of its existence, the Council on Legislation has evolved from a single plenary session at the international convention to an autonomous legislative entity.

在1933 年國際年會中，立法會議的成立係作為一個顧問性質的團體；作為協助在年會中提出之條例覆審及決議之機構。

The Council was created by the 1933 convention to serve as an “advisory body” to assist with the review of enactments and resolutions proposed at the annual convention.

在1934 年之年會中，第一次召集成為年會之一部份。當時扶輪社員為全球性之經濟蕭條而掙扎奮鬥時，它威脅了世界的和平，並且失業率增加。

It first convened as part of the 1934 convention, as Rotarians struggled with a worldwide recession, threats to world peace, and rising unemployment.

在1954 年前，立法會議已經很完整的成立。在當年度之年會上，扶輪社員決定立法會議之會期在全會中改為較長之間隔時期，並且，採用兩年一次的架構以提案表決條例及決議事項，下次的討論會在1956 年之年會中舉辦。

By 1954, the Council was well established. At that year's convention, Rotarians decided to allow for longer intervals between legislative sessions and adopted a biennial framework for voting upon enactments and resolutions. The next deliberations were held at the 1956 convention.

在1970 年會上更進一步改為國際扶輪之立法程序，當時決議立法會議不應僅限於一個顧問性質。而應成為國際扶輪之正式立法單位，商討建言以便修正國際扶輪章程及細則及標準扶輪社之章程。四年後，立法會議代表決議立法會議每三年開會一次。但仍然與年會有所關聯。最後在1977 年，立法會議採納一項條例即獨立開會。

The 1970 convention further modified Rotary International’s legislative process when it decided that the Council should no longer serve in an advisory capacity, but instead become RI’s official legislative body, considering proposals to amend the RI Constitution and Bylaws and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution. Four years later, delegates decided that the Council would meet triennially, still in conjunction with the convention. Finally, in 1977, the Council adopted an enactment to meet independently of the convention.

科技之進步也對立法會議有很深之衝擊，在1970 年代，立法會議代表使用了大量的耳機跟隨著議事記錄，使用他們自己的語言。而現今之代表們使用同步翻譯設備。在立法會議之議事旁之小房間中，由單一翻譯人員己經變成多方翻譯人員。電子之表決在2001 年被採用。

Technological advances have also had a profound impact on the Council. In the 1970s, delegates sported large headphones to follow the proceedings in their own language. Today's delegates have access to compact simultaneous interpretation equipment. The use of a single interpreter has given way to multiple interpreters working out of booths on the side of the Council chambers. Electronic voting was introduced in 2001.

在前面幾十年之沿革，立法會議一再論及衡量國際扶輪政策之每一細微差異及每一社員細節及出席規則。每一扶輪社員或許會同意其決議，但有件事情是很清楚的，立法會議是扶輪要改變的最主要的代理人，容許這個機構去評估其關聯性在現今快速擴展的世界，反映在生活方式，優先次序，科技及商務。

Over the decades, the Council has debated and weighed virtually every nuance of RI policy and every detail of membership and attendance rules. While individual Rotarians may not always agree with its decisions, one thing is clear: The Council is Rotary's primary agent for change, allowing the organization to evaluate its relevance in today's rapidly evolving world, reflecting shifts in lifestyles, priorities, technology, and business.