The organization and activities of civil associations shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this Act; where there are special provisions in other laws, such provisions shall apply.

(Deleted)

Competent authorities as called in this Act, at the central and provincial level, refer to the Ministry of the Interior; at the municipal level, refer to municipal governments; and at the county (city) level, refer to county (city) governments. However, the target businesses of civil associations shall be directed and supervised by the target business competent authorities.

Civil associations are divided into the following three categories:
1. Occupational association.
2. Social association.
3. Political association.

The organizational area of a civil association shall refer to the corresponding administrative region and subordinate organizations may be established.
Establishment of a subordinate organization as referred to in the above paragraph shall be registered with the local competent authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

The site of a civil association shall be located where the competent authority is located. However, with the approval of the competent authority, it may be located in another place, and branches may be established.

Two or more civil associations of the same level and the same category may be organized within the same organization area unless otherwise limited by law. However, the name of an association shall not conform to any of the following:
1. Be the same as an approved established association.
2. Be prone to providing the public with misleading impressions as being related to a government agency (institution), foundations that receive donations from the government, or a for-profit association.
3. Involves discriminatory or hateful words.