Constitution & Bylaws

Every organization needs a set of rules to be governed by. All members should be familiar with them at all levels whether it be Unit, County, District or Department. Read them, learn them and live by them. Constitution& Bylaws should be reviewed and updated often. A copy of the Unit’s Constitution & Bylaws must be on file at the Dept. Office.

Key Program Statements 

  • The Constitution & Bylaws program informs and educates members of the American Legion Auxiliary on the importance and power of having properly written and regularly reviewed and updated governing documents at all levels of the organization.       
  • Your governing documents include your articles of incorporation (if incorporated), constitution, bylaws, standing rules, and policies. 
  • These fundamental rules of the organization state how the membership agrees to govern itself, how it will choose its leaders, hold its meetings, and policies of the administration of the organization.
  • Knowing the non-profit laws in your state provides the essential foundation for your governing documents at the department, district, county, and unit level.
  • The importance of having governing documents in place to allow operations to continue in an emergency has become absolutely vital.
  • Keeping your governing documents up to date and making them available to all members are key to a healthy organization that functions as a team to support our veterans, military, and their families.
  • Remember that department, district, county, and unit constitution, bylaws, and standing rules cannot be in conflict with national governing documents. 
  • When the national constitution, bylaws, and standing rules change, departments, districts, counties, and units should automatically update their governing documents.
  • Contact your Department Constitution & Bylaws Chairman for assistance.  The National Association of Parliamentarians is a good resource to find a professional registered parliamentarian near you.

Department Chairman: Deborah Morris
Email: nyalaconstitution@gmail.com

Deborah Morris’s address in the Plan of Action is incorrect under- Committee Chairman and under her committee constitution and bylaws. It is correct under PDP.

Her correct zip code is 13308. All the forms below have been corrected.

2023-2024 Information and Report Forms:

  1. DEPARTMENT C&B with all 2022 changes UPDATED 4/5/2023
  2. UNIT Constitution & Bylaws/ Standing Rules with all 2019 changes fillable Updated 12/2/2023
  3. Standing Rules #1 & #2 ONLY (Per Capita change) (FILLABLE)NEW April 2023
    1. Standing Rules #1 & #2 plus one blank page (fillable)
    2. Standing Rules #1 & #2 plus two blank pages (fillable)
    3. Standing Rules #1 & #2 plus three blank pages (fillable)
    4. If you need more room for your standing rules, please email the office.
  4. DISTRICT RULES_updated 09/01/2019
  5. COUNTY-COMMITTEE-RULES_updated 09/01/2019
  6. COUNTY Constitution-Bylaws updated 02.10.2020- UPDATED 12/2/23
  7. Constitution & Bylaws Bulletin #4, March 20, 2020
  8. 2023-2024 Department Standing Rules approved-July 2023
4/12/22- The National Constitution & Bylaws/Standing Rules guide was updated. Click here to download.

Constitution and Bylaws bulletin #1 

2022 C N B Bulletin 1 10.18.22

Sample of the review form

C&B review form 2022

 


From ALA National HQ:

 Constitution & Bylaws Key Resources

UPDATE 12/7/2022:

Click here to download the updated ALA Constitution and Bylaws:

ALA_CB- nov 2022