4. The officers of the Commission shall be elected for a period of two (2) years. They shall be eligible for re-election. None of them, may, however, exercise his or her functions if he or she ceases to be a member of the Commission. Rule 18 - Power of the Chairman The Chairman shall carry out the functions assigned to him by the Charter, the Rules of Procedure and the decisions of the Commission. In the exercise of his functions the Chairman shall be under the authority of the Commission. Rule 19 - Absence of the Chairman 1. The Vice Chairman shall replace the Chairman during a session if the latter is unable to attend a whole or part of a sitting of a session. 2. In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman, members shall elect an acting Chairman. Rule 20 - Functions of the Vice Chairman The Vice Chairman, acting in the capacity of the Chairman, shall have the same rights and the same duties as the Chairman. Rule 21 - Cessation of the Functions of an Officer If any of the officers ceases to carry out his or her functions or declares that he or she is no longer able to serve as an officer or exercise the functions of a member of the Commission, a new officer shall be elected for the remaining term of office of his or her predecessor. Chapter V - Secretariat Rule 22 - Function of the Secretary General 1. The Secretary General or his representative may attend the meeting of the Commission. He shall neither participate in the deliberations, nor in the voting. He may, however, be called upon by the Chairman of the Commission to make written or oral statements at the sittings of the Commission. 2. He shall appoint, in consultation with the Chairman of the Commission, a Secretary of the Commission. 3. He shall, in consultation with the Chairman provide the Commission with the necessary staff, means and services for it to carry out effectively the functions and missions assigned to it under the Charter. 4. The Secretary General acting through the Secretary shall take all the necessary steps for the meetings of the Commission. Rule 23 - Functions of the Secretary to the Commission The Secretary of the Commission shall be responsible for the activities of the Secretariat under the general supervision of the Chairman, and particularly: 1. He/she shall assist the Commission and its members in the exercise of their functions; 2. He/she shall serve as an intermediary for all the communications concerning the Commission; 3. He/she shall be the custodian of the archives of the Commission; 4. The Secretary shall bring immediately to the knowledge of the members of the Commission all the issues that will be submitted to him/her. Rule 24 - Estimates Before the Commission approves a proposal entailing expenses, the Secretary shall prepare and distribute, as soon as possible, to the members of the Commission, the financial implications to the proposal. It is incumbent on the Chairman to draw the attention of the members to those implications so that they discuss them when the proposal is considered by the Commission. Rule 25 - Financial Rules The Financial Rules adopted pursuant to the provisions of Articles 41 and 44 of the Charter shall be appended to the present Rules of Procedure. Rule 26 - Financial Responsibility The Organisation of African Unity shall bear the expenses of the staff and the facilities and services placed at the disposal of the Commission to carry out its functions. 4