Voluntary association facts for kids
A voluntary association is a group of people who choose to come together for a shared goal. They agree to work together as an organization.
Often, it's easy to start an association without much paperwork. But in some places, a certain number of people might be needed to form a group. Sometimes, associations must register with the government. This helps the public know the group exists. It also helps protect people from dishonest groups.
Contents
What is a Voluntary Association?
A voluntary association is like a club or a team. It's where two or more people join together for a common purpose. They have shared duties and agreements. The group has rules about who controls it and its money. People can join or leave the group whenever they want.
How Associations Work
In most countries, a voluntary association doesn't have its own separate legal identity. This means the group itself can't be sued like a company. Also, the members usually don't have "limited liability." This means members might be personally responsible for the group's actions or debts. However, for tax reasons, some countries treat these groups as if they have a separate identity.
Groups that aim to make money are often called partnerships. A special type of partnership is a co-operative. In a co-operative, each member usually gets one vote. They share profits based on how much they buy or sell through the co-op.
Many associations are non-profit organizations. This means they don't aim to make money for their owners. Any money they earn must be put back into the group to help it achieve its goals. Most associations have important documents. These documents explain how the group meets and operates. They are often called bylaws or regulations.
Freedom to Join Groups
Everyone has the right to join groups peacefully. This is an important human right. It is written in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
- Article 20
- (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
- (2) No one may be forced to belong to an association.
This means you can choose to join a club, a team, or any group you like. And no one can make you join a group if you don't want to.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Civil lecture at Budapest Brainbar
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See also
In Spanish: Asociación (derecho) para niños
