In the ITU, agendas to conferences define strictly the scope and subjects to be dealt with. Any matter which does not fall within a given agenda item cannot, in principle, be considered. One of the missions of plenipotentiary conferences – ITU’s top policy-making body – is to set the general policies of the organization for the next four years. For this reason, the agenda is a standing document sufficiently broad to enable discussions and debate on any issue. It is embodied in the ITU Constitution as its article 8, reproduced below. The work of the Conference is based on proposals tabled by Member States within the general framework of the agenda.

Article 8 of the Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992) provides that:

The Plenipotentiary Conference shall:

1. determine the general policies for fulfilling the purposes of the Union prescribed in Article 1 of this Constitution;
2. consider the reports by the Council on the activities of the Union since the previous Plenipotentiary Conference and on the strategic policy and planning of the Union;
3. establish the basis for the budget of the Union and determine, in the light of its decisions taken on the reports referred to in b) above, a ceiling for the expenditure of the Union until the next Plenipotentiary Conference after considering all relevant aspects of the work of the Union in that period;
4. provide any general directives dealing with the staffing of the Union and, if necessary, fix the basic salaries, the salary scales and the system of allowances and pensions for all the officials of the Union;
5. examine the accounts of the Union and finally approve them, if appropriate;
6. elect the Members of the Union which are to serve on the Council;
7. elect the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the Directors of the Bureaux of the Sectors as elected officials of the Union;
8. elect the members of the Radio Regulations Board;
9. consider and adopt, if appropriate, proposals for amendments to this Constitution and the Convention, put forward by Members of the Union, in accordance with the provisions of Article 55 of this Constitution and the relevant provisions of the Convention, respectively;
10. conclude or revise, if necessary, agreements between the Union and other international organizations, examine any provisional agreements with such organizations concluded by the Council on behalf of the Union, and take such measures in connection therewith as it deems appropriate;
11. deal with such other telecommunication questions as may be necessary.

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