In addition to the proposals that deal with the rules of speed skating and figure skating, the ISU congress also adopts changes to the ISU constitution and to general rules. Many of these changes are administrative in nature and not of much interest in understanding the world of figure skating, but some of them are. Proposals that deal with legal or administrative issues, do not directly impact the practice of figure skating, or are editorial in nature are denoted as "beaurocracy".
The following is a list of the general rules and changes to the ISU constitution passed at the ISU congress that have a significant impact on competitive ice skating. This list is a synopsis of the rules - not the actual text of the rules.
1, 3, 4. Beaurocracy.
6. The jurisdiction of the ISU is extended to include speed skating and figure skating on synthetic ice surfaces and roller blades.
7. Beaurocracy.
8. Part of 6.
9, 10, 11. Beaurocracy.
12. Individuals who are members of the ISU member national associations are bound by the ISU constitution and regulations and must obey the decisions of the ISU Council concerning all international matters. Such individuals are obligated in all national and international matters to support the ISU, and may not participate in any activities - national or international - against the interests of the ISU.
13, 17. Beaurocracy.
22. Persons aged 70 or older may not be elected to ISU offices or committees.
24, 28. Beaurocracy.
29. Gives the ISU Council the right to defer implementation of ISU Congress resolutions; i.e., a power grab by the ISU Council.
30. ISU members that do not toe the line in following the ISU constitution, regulations, or membership requirements can be expelled or suspended by a vote of 6 members of the ISU Council. For serious violations suspension or expulsion is mandatory.
31. Suspension or expulsion of ISU members must also be approved by the ISU Congress.
32-37. Beaurocracy.
38. The ISU Council can impose monetary penalties for serious violations by an ISU member of the constitution or regulations.
39, 40, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 54. Beaurocracy.
55. Decisions of the ISU Appeals Commission are final and binding on all parties.
56-59. Beaurocracy.
61, 67, 68, 71, 74, 76, 78-82. Beaurocracy.
83. Actions taken by the technical committees are not final until approved by the ISU Council.
84. Restatement of the eligibility requirements. Skaters lose their eligibility by; (1) appearing in a competition, exhibition or tour without a sanction from their national association; (2) appearing in a competition that does not use ISU approved judges and officials; (3) participating in events not sanctioned by the ISU or an ISU member. Only eligible skaters may take part in ISU events, except that ineligible skaters may be invited to the new ISU Open International Competitions.
85. Speedskaters may wear one trademark on the cap of the racing suit or head band.
86. Persons disqualified or suspended or breaches of the rules other than the eligibility rules do not lose their eligibility. Only breaches of the eligibility rules can cause loss of eligibility.
87. Ineligible skaters may be reinstated if they have not violated items (2) or (3) described in item 84.
88. Reinstatement may be effective immediately or after a period determined by the ISU Council.
89. Beaurocracy.
90. Beaurocracy.
91. Beaurocracy.
94. Beaurocracy.
96. ISU office holders and honorary members are added to classes of individuals that may be suspended by the ISU Council for violations of the rules or misconduct.
98. Extends control of television coverage and exhibition rights to include all modern forms of broadcast and reproduction.
99. Organizers of ISU events must provide an arena free of television and film crews and free of advertising within the view of the spectators watching the event (other than TV and advertising authorized by the ISU).
101. National Associations may not sign exclusive TV contracts exceeding three years in length for international events without the approval of the ISU.
102. Unauthorized recording of ISU events is prohibited.
103. Beaurocracy.
104. Beaurocracy.
108. Speed skating specific.
111. Speed skating specific.
116. Speed skating specific.
117. Beaurocracy.
119. ISU sanctioned events consist only of those events published by the ISU or otherwise approved by the ISU Council.
120-125, 127, 128, 130-138. Revision of age limits.
139. At international synchronized skating competitions, skaters on senior teams must all be at least age 14 by July 1st preceding the competition.
140. Same as 139 for the ISU synchronized skating Skating Championships.
141. Beaurocracy.
144. synchronized skatings are to be provided a diagram of competition rinks showing the location of the judges platform and the entrance and exit to the ice.
145. Beaurocracy.
146. Beaurocracy.
147. Beaurocracy.
148. Beaurocracy.
149. ISU Council members may not act as referees, judges, starters, or competitors stewards in ISU championships. ISU advisors if possible should not either.
150. ISU Council members and advisors do not lose their referee or judges appointments, etc., due to inactivity resulting from item 149.
151. Refusal to participate in ISU events in accordance with prior commitments for other than medical or other justifiable reason is considered improper conduct. Such improper conduct may result in exclusion from all future ISU events for a specified period of time or forever. ISU member associations who permit a suspended skater to appear in an event will themselves be subject to ISU discipline, which may include the withholding of future ISU sanctions from the event in which a suspended skater appeared.
152. Speed skating specific.
159. The World Junior Figure Skating Championships should be held in the first half of March, beginning in 2000.
161. Beaurocracy.
162. Beaurocracy.
163. Beaurocracy.
164. Beaurocracy.
165. By entering an ISU competition, the competitor and the ISU member association represented agree to permitting the competitor's performance to be televised and to be otherwise included in ISU television arrangements. They also warrant that the music and choreography is cleared for public use, broadcast, and other refuses.
166. Competitors at ISU competitions must sign an agreement acknowledging the requirements of item 166, and further agree that any pictures they might take (still or moving) will be for personal use only and not for any commercial purpose.
167. Beaurocracy.
169, 170. Description of awards ceremony to be used at the new ISU synchronized skating Skating Championships.
172. When ISU member association assign skaters to ISU events, skaters who placed in the top ten at any ISU championship the previous season should preferentially be placed in events with TV and commercial contracts. ISU member associations who fail to comply and skaters who refuse to participate are subject to the disciplinary actions described in item 151.
173. At ISU events the member/organizer must pay the prize money stipulated by the ISU Council.
175. Beaurocracy.
176. Speed skating specific.
177. Speed skating specific.
178-186, 188. Beaurocracy dealing with competition expenses for officials and competitors.
189. The ISU is responsible for the cost of doping control at ISU championships.
191. Athletes who refuse to sign the doping control notification form, refuse to give a sample, or are not present at the rink when the doping control selections are posted shall be considered in violation of the doping control rules and are subject to sanctions.
192. Violations of the doping control rules can result in suspensions of up to 3 to 6 years.
193. Athletes suspended or banned in other sports because of doping violations shall be deemed suspended or banned from all ISU events for an equal period of time.
194. Beaurocracy.
195. Sanctions imposed for doping by ISU member associations may not be less severe than the sanctions specified by ISU rules.
196. If the national doping control governing body does not follow the ISU doping control protocol, then doping control will be conducted by ISU personnel.
197. Competitions must have a medical doctor at the rink during competition and at the rink or the hotel at all other times. An ambulance must be accessible within 5 minutes.
198. Any medical appliances containing metal or hard plastic must be approved by the medical advisor/competition physician and the referee in advance of the competition.
199. Speed skating specific.