In addition to this new rule , the former rules were consolidated into a single document . These requirements , which remain the same today , are that members must : On the advice of Secretary-General Don McKinnon , the 2005 CHOGM , held in Valletta , Malta , decided to re-examine the Edinburgh criteria . The Committee on Commonwealth Membership was made responsible , and reported their findings at the 2007 CHOGM , held in Kampala , Uganda . The committee 's recommendations were endorsed by the Heads of Government as reported in the final CHOGM communiqué of 2007 ( the '' ' Kampala Communiqué ' '' ) , numbered paragraphs 87 through 89 . The new rules re-affirm the centrality of the principles set forth in the Singapore Declaration and subsequent declarations ( such as the Harare Declaration ) , but give additional concrete details on the specific requirements for membership . For example , for an applicant to demonstrably comply with the principle of democracy includes the holding of free and fair elections for legislative representatives , and furthermore good governance must include well-trained public servants and transparent public accounts . Most of the other membership requirements were similar to those stated in past declarations , except the very first requirement , a " constitutional association " with existing members — this was substantially weakened by the committee ( by adding the clause " or a substantial relationship with the Commonwealth or a particular group of its members " ) and was further weakened in the executive CHOGM summary ( which instead added an even more general clause " save in exceptional circumstances ... should be considered on a case-by-case basis " )
2005 CHOGM
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2005
Edinburgh Declaration