This document discusses the definition and characteristics of associations. It defines an association as a group of individuals who come together voluntarily to pursue common interests or goals through cooperation. The key characteristics of associations mentioned are that they have a group of people, common interests, rules and regulations, an organizational structure, and seek to achieve their goals through cooperative spirit among members. Associations can be formed on different bases such as duration, power, or function. Examples provided include political parties, trade unions, and family.

1. Dr.Vikas Nandal
Assistant Professor
Geeta Institute of Law
Karhans, G.T. Road
Panipat (Haryana)

2.  Men have diverse needs, desires and interests which
demand satisfaction. There are three ways of fulfilling
these needs.
 Firstly they may act independently each in his/her own
way without caring for others. This is unsocial with
limitations.
 Secondly men may seek their ends through conflicts
with one another.
 Finally men may try to fulfill their ends through
cooperation and mutual assistance. This cooperation
has a reference to association.

3.  When a group or collection of individuals organize
themselves particularly for the purpose of pursuing certain of
its interests together on a cooperative pursuit an association
is said to be born.
 According to Morris Ginsberg, “An association is a group
of social beings related to one another by the fact that they
possess or have instituted in common an organization with a
view to securing a specific end or specific ends.”
 The associations may be found in different fields. No single
association can satisfy all the interests of the individual or
individuals. Since Man has many interests, he organizes
various associations for the purpose of fulfilling varied
interests. He may belong to more than one organization.

4. Examples of Association
 Associations may be formed on several bases, for example,
 on the basis of duration, i.e. temporary or permanent like
Flood Relief Association which is temporary and State
which is permanent;
 on the basis of power, i.e. sovereign like state, semi-
sovereign like university and non-sovereign like club,
 on the basis of function, i.e. biological like family,
vocational like Trade Union or Teachers’Association, etc.

5. Main Characteristics of Association
 A group of People: An association is basically a group of
people who have some common objectives. Without a
group of people no association can be formed. Hence a
group of people is important.
 Common Interest: An association is not merely a
collection of individuals. It consists of those individuals
who have more or less the same interests. Accordingly
those who have political interests may join political
association and those who have religious interests may join
religious associations and so on.

6.  Durability of Association: An association may be
permanent or temporary. There are some long standing
associations like the state; family, religious associations etc.
Some associations may be temporary in nature.
 Rules and Regulations: Every association floats on the
ground of certain rules and regulations. It also contains
code of conduct for the members. Those who follow the
rules and regulations provided for and participate in the
pursuit of the aim of the association are only called as the
members of it.

7.  Organization: Association denotes some kind of
organization. An association is known essentially as an
organized group. Organization gives stability and proper
shape to an association. Organization refers to the way in
which the statuses and roles are distributed among the
members.
 Membership: Membership of an association is voluntary. A
person becomes the members because he wants it and only
because he likes it and if he grows a feeling of dislike he is
absolutely free to disown any such association.

8.  Co-operative Spirit :An association is based on the
cooperative spirit of its members. People work together to
achieve some definite purposes. For example a political
party has to work together as a united group on the basis of
cooperation in order to fulfill its objective of coming to
power.
 Legal Status :Association is an organised social group
which has responsible members. This shows that association
has legal status. It can sue and be sued. Legal action can
also be taken against the members as well as officials if
disobey it’s rules and regulations.
 Office Bearers :An association have office bearers who
manage it’s affairs and guides it’s functioning. These office
bearers are elected for a definite period of time by it’s
members.

9. Conclusion
 We conclude that association is a group within society or
community.
 It is a formal organization as its membership is formal in
nature. But all formal organizations like army are not
associations.
 Association is guided by formal rules and regulations.
Hence though association seems like a formal organization
but in reality it is not so.
 But both association and formal organizations is the
product of modern industrial society and new political
system.
 At present association plays a very important role in the
new socio-economic and political set up.