Editing Metre Convention (section)

=== International organization ===
The Convention created an [[international organization]] with two governing organs to facilitate the standardization of weights and measures around the world. The first, the CGPM provides a forum for representative of member states, the second, the CIPM is an advisory committee of metrologists of high standing. The Secretariat or Headquarters provides appropriate meeting and laboratory facilities in support of the CGPM and CIPM.<ref name=":2">
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/
 |title=The Metre Convention
 |publisher=Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
 |access-date=1 October 2012
 |archive-date=26 September 2012
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926202046/http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/
 |url-status=live
}}</ref>

The structure may be compared to a [[corporation]], the CIPM is analogous to a [[board of directors]], and the CGPM to a [[shareholders' meeting]].

==== General Conference on Weights and Measures ====
The [[General Conference on Weights and Measures]] ({{lang|fr|Conférence générale des poids et mesures}} or CGPM) is the principal decision-making body put on place by the convention. It is made up of delegates from member states and [non-voting] observers from associate states and economies.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/cgpm/
 |title       = General Conference on Weights and Measures
 |year        = 2011
 |publisher   = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
 |access-date  = 26 September 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120926233323/http://www.bipm.org/en/convention/cgpm/
 |archive-date = 26 September 2012
}}</ref> The conference usually meets every four years to receive and discuss a report from the CIPM and to endorse new developments in the SI on the advice of the CIPM though at the 2011 meeting, it agreed to meet again in 2014 rather than 2015 to discuss the maturity of the [[New SI definitions|new SI proposals]].<ref name="bipm.org">
{{cite press release
 | url = http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/Press_release_resolution_1_CGPM.pdf
 | title = General Conference on Weights and Measures approves possible changes to the International System of Units, including redefinition of the kilogram.
 | publisher = [[General Conference on Weights and Measures]]
 | location = Saint-Cloud, France
 | date = 23 October 2011
 | access-date = 25 October 2011
 | archive-date = 9 February 2012
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120209175127/http://www.bipm.org/utils/en/pdf/Press_release_resolution_1_CGPM.pdf
 | url-status = live
}}</ref> It is also responsible for new appointments to the CIPM and decides on major issues concerning the development and financing of the BIPM. According to the Metre Convention (Art. 4) the President of the [[French Academy of Sciences]] is also the President of the General Conference on Weights and Measures.

==== International Committee for Weights and Measures ====
[[File:Metric seal.svg|thumb|200px|Seal of the BIPM]]
The [[General Conference on Weights and Measures#CIPM|International Committee for Weights and Measures]] ({{lang|fr|Comité international des poids et mesures}} or CIPM) is made up of eighteen (originally fourteen)<ref>Convention of the Metre (1875), Appendix 1 (Regulation), Article 8</ref> individuals from a member state of high scientific standing, nominated by the CGPM to advise the CGPM on administrative and technical matters. It is responsible for the running of ten consultative committees (CCs), each of which investigates different aspects of metrology – one CC discusses the measurement of temperature, another the measurement of mass and so on. The CIPM meets annually at Saint-Cloud to discuss annual reports from the various CCs, to submit an annual report to the governments of member states in respect of the administration and finances of the BIPM and to advise the CGPM on technical matters as and when necessary. Each member of the CIPM is from a different member state – with France, in recognition of its work in setting up the convention, always having one seat on the CIPM.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url = http://www.bipm.org/en/committees/cipm/
 |title = CIPM: International Committee for Weights and Measures
 |year = 2011
 |publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
 |access-date = 26 September 2012
 |archive-date = 24 September 2012
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120924192125/http://www.bipm.org/en/committees/cipm/
 |url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.bipm.org/en/about-us/member-states/fr/|title=BIPM – France [Member State]|website=bipm.org|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106072343/https://www.bipm.org/en/about-us/member-states/fr/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Secretariat of the BIPM ====
The Secretariat (or Headquarters) of the [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures]] ({{lang|fr|Bureau international des poids et mesures}} or BIPM) is based at Saint-Cloud, France. It has custody of the now historical [[international prototype of the kilogram]] and provides [[metrology]] services for Member States and hosts  formal meetings. It also has custody of the former [[international prototype of the metre]] which was retired in 1960. Over the years the various prototypes of the metre and of the kilogram were returned to the BIPM laboratories for recalibration services.

Initially it had a staff of 9, falling to 4 once the initial batch of prototypes had been distributed;<ref>Convention of the Metre (1875), Appendix 1 (Regulation), Article 6</ref> in 2012 it had a staff of over 70 people and an annual budget of over €10&nbsp;million.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url = http://www.bipm.org/en/bipm/
 |title = The BIPM headquarters
 |year = 2011
 |publisher = Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
 |access-date = 26 September 2012
 |archive-date = 7 November 2012
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121107000551/http://www.bipm.org/en/bipm/
 |url-status = live
}}</ref> The director of the BIPM is ''ex-officio'' a member of the CIPM and a member of all consultative committees.