Article II
The Society is a scientific association, comprising persons individual or collective whose common interest is intensive care medicine, observed in a multidisciplinary context.

Article III
The main objective of the Society is the scientific and technical development related to intensive care via the following:

1. To promote discussions of intensive care related problems, e.g. conferences, courses, congresses and exhibitions.
2. Compilation and circulations of Scientific documents among the members.
3. To promote relations with like-minded foreign organisations and other Portuguese scientific Societies.
4. To stimulate research.
5. To give technical and scientific support to individuals or interested entities, particularly in the setting-up and running of Intensive Care Units.
6. Provision of scholarships for members, by resolution of the General Assembly, subject to funds being available and bearing in mind the scientific development of the Society.
7. Publication of a Society Bulletin.

Article IV
There will exist the following categories of members:

1. ORDINARY members- All individuals involved in scientific or technical activities related to intensive care, who apply and are approved to become members of the Society.
2. CORRESPONDING members- Portuguese or foreign individuals who reside outside Portugal with valid activity in the area of intensive care. Whenever possible, they will act as a link between our Society and their local Scientific Societies.
3. HONORARY members- Individuals of any nationality who have contributed to the progress of knowledge in the field of intensive care, and the individuals or entities who render relevant services to the Society.

Article V

1. ORDINARY MEMBERS:
   
   1. Admission as an ordinary member is subject to approval by the Board of Directors exclusively. Admission as corresponding and ordinary members is subject to approval by the General Assembly by proposal of the Board of Directors.
   2. Prospective ordinary members are required to complete the proposal form, which must be signed by two ordinary members.
2. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS:
   May propose themselves or be proposed by the Board of Directors, and admitted by vote of the General Assembly
3. HONORARY MEMBERS:
   Will be proposed by the Board of Directors and admitted by the General Assembly requiring a majority of four fifths of expressed votes

Article VI

1. The rights of the ORDINARY members are:
   1. To make scientific reports within the approved criteria and to take part in all matters dealt with in the meetings.
   2. Whenever possible they will have priority to publish scientific works in the Society Bulletin.
   3. Access to all Society documents.
   4. To receive a copy of the Society publications.
   5. To vote at the General Assembly and meetings of the Society.
   6. To be elected for office and chosen for specific duties in the Society.

CORRESPONDING and HONORARY members do not qualify for the rights referred to in paragraphs c. and f of number 1.

Article VII
The duties of the members are:

1. To abide by the Statutes and contribute to the betterment of the Society.
2. Payment of entrance and subscription fees stipulated by the General Assembly.
3. Inform the Board of Directors, within thirty days, any change of address
4. Carry out any duties for which they have been elected.

Article VIII

1. The General Secretary will suspend members' rights in the case of non-payment of subscription fees during one year.
2. The suspension of rights will be lifted only on payment of all fees in arrears.

Article IX
Members who discredit or damage the Society materially or morally, may have their membership withdrawn subject to inclusion of above proposal in the Agenda of the General Assembly followed by a secret vote requiring a majority of two thirds.

Article X
The governing bodies of the Society are:

1. The General Assembly
2. The Board of Directors
3. The Fiscal Council

Article XI

1. The Board of Directors or the preceding General Assembly will call an Ordinary General Meeting once a year, bearing in mind the interests of the members.
2. Guests present or taking part in the General Meetings will be at the invitation of the Board of Directors.
3. The Ordinary General Meeting will take place up to the 31 of March of each year with the following objectives:
   1. Discussion and approval of the minutes and the previous year's accounts.
   2. Discussion and approval of any resolution or motion presented at the Meeting.
4. The Board of Directors, or a minimum of Twenty ordinary members, may request the Chairman to call an Ordinary General Meeting with a minimum advance notice of twenty days.
5. An Extraordinary General Meeting to elect Governing Bodies will take place every three years, three months before the end of the current mandate of the serving officers.
6. The Chairman will send to members notices of the General Meetings up to fifteen days in advance indicating date, place and agenda- any decisions taken at such Meetings will be deemed valid, regardless of any members not having been notified through no fault of the Chairman.
7. The General Meeting will begin at the appointed hour, as long as fifty per cent of the members are present - or may be postponed for one hour regardless of the number of members present.

Article XII

1. The Table consists of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and a Secretary, to be elected for a three year period, with possibility of further re-election, by secret vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting, especially convened for this purpose.
2. Voting may be by correspondence as long as it is sent correctly folded to the Chairman, up to the time of the General Meeting, in a sealed envelope with the member's name on the outside.

Article XIII
As well as other duties required by law or current statutes, the Chairman will call the General meeting, direct the Agenda and together with the Secretary sing the Minutes.

Article XIV

1. The Board Pof Directors, elected in accordance with the terms of article XII, consists of a President, three Vice-Presidents, a General Secretary, a Treasurer and a Committee of four members.
2. The duties of the President are:
   1. To preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
   2. To represent the Society whenever necessary.
3. The duties of the Vice-Presidents are:
   1. To substitute the President during his absence.
4. The duties of the General Secretary are:
   1. To present to the General Assembly the report and accounts of the Board of Directors.
   2. To inform the Board of Directors of the meetings of the Society, to propose the Agenda and to prepare the Minutes.
   3. When necessary, to inform members about important society matters.
   4. To inform members of forthcoming meetings.
   5. To possess a register of the members.
5. The duties of the Treasurer are:
   1. To receive subscriptions and send receipts.
   2. To do the acounts of the Society.
   3. As the representative of the Board of Directors, to make all payments on behalf of the Society.
6. The duties of the Committee of four members are:
   1. To substitute the General Secretary during his absence.
   2. To assist the General Secretary in his duties.

Article XV

1. The Fiscal Council consists of three ordinary members, elected according to the terms of article XII, one of whom they will nominate President.
2. It is the duty of the Fiscal Council to control the legalities of the Society and its Governing Bodies as well as to prepare the report of accounts of the Board of Directors and to present the report of the General Meeting in a separate Minute.

Article XVI

1. The funding of the Society will be guaranteed by the members' entrance fees and subscriptions, and eventually by donations and subsidies.
2. The ordinary members will pay their subscriptions annually, said subscriptions to be adjusted whenever the General Assembly considers it necessary.
3. The Board of Directors are responsible for the control of the funds or estate belonging to the Society.
4. The Society must open a bank account, which will be handled by two members of the Board of Directors, one of whom must be the Treasurer.
5. The funds of the Society will be deposited, save for necessary current expenses.
6. In the case of the Society being dissolved, the General Assembly will decide on the distribution of the funds.

Article XVII
These statutes can only be altered in a General Meeting expressly called for that purpose, with a minimum advance notice of one month, and with a two thirds majority vote.