The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Statement on the Co-operative Identity describes a co-operative as ‘an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise’. All co-operative organisations operate under the ICA co-operative values and principles. There are many different legal forms that can be used to create an organisation which falls within this definition. One of the key features is usually 'one member one vote'. See Contacts section for more advice about co-operatives.