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CONSTITUTION OF DESMOND T. DOSS AMERICAN LEGION POST 257 COLLEGEDALE, TENNESSEE, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE |
| PREAMBLE
For God and country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate one-hundred-percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in this nations wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principals of justice, freedom, and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. ARTICLE 1NAME The name of this organization shall be Post 257, The American Legion, Department of Tennessee. ARTICLE IIOBJECTS The objects and purposes of this post shall be to promote the principles and policies as set forth in the foregoing preamble, and the national and departmental constitution of The American Legion. ARTICLE IIINATURE Section 1. This post is a civilian organization, and membership therein does not affect or increase liability for military or police service. Section 2. This organization shall be absolutely non-political and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles nor for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment. Section 3. Rank does not exist in The American Legion; no member shall be addressed by his or her military or naval title in any meeting of this post. ARTICLE IVMEMBERSHIP Section 1. Eligibility to membership in this post shall be as prescribed by the National Constitution of The American Legion. Section 2. Application for membership shall be made in writing under such regulations as may from time to time be prescribed by the post executive committee. Section 3. All applications for membership shall be acted upon at the next post meeting following the making of such application, and shall, at such meeting, be accepted, rejected, or referred for further investigation and consideration. If five or more members cast their vote against the acceptance of such application, then such application shall be recorded as rejected. A rejected application shall not again be considered until after the expiration of six months from the date of such rejection. Section 4. A member who has been expelled or suspended from this post for any cause may be reinstated to membership by a two-thirds vote of the membership present in a post meeting, and the payment of current dues for the year in which reinstatement occurs. ARTICLE VOFFICERS Section 1. The administration of this post of The American Legion shall, as may be otherwise provided by the by-laws, be under the supervision of an Executive Committee which shall consist of the officers of Post 257 plus the immediate past commander and two other members. The term of office of members of the executive committee shall be one year. The by-laws of this post may provide for such other standing committees as the business of the organization may require. Section 2. The officers of this post shall be Commander, Vice Commander, Adjutant, Finance Officer, Chaplain, Service Officer, Historian, and Sergeant-at-Arms, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary by this post. They shall be nominated by the nominating committee and from the floor at the meeting of the annual election. Section 3. All members of the Executive Committee shall be elected annually and shall hold office until their successors are duly installed, or as otherwise provided. Section 4. Any member of the Executive Committee may be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Committee, which shall appoint an immediate successor until the next business meeting of the post when the general membership shall elect a permanent replacement. Section 5. Every member of this post in good standing shall be eligible to hold office in this post. Section 6. The duties of Executive Committee members shall be as provided in the by-laws of this post. ARTICLE VIFINANCE Section 1. The revenue of this post shall be derived from membership or initiation fees, from annual membership dues, and such sources as may be approved by the Executive Committee. Sources shall be voted on by membership at the next regular post meeting. Section 2. The amount of such membership or initiation fees and the amount of annual dues shall be fixed by majority vote in a regular post meeting. Section 3. The post shall pay to department headquarters the national and departmental annual fee for every paid member of the post. ARTICLE VIIAMENDMENTS Section 1. This constitution is adopted subject to the National Constitution of The American Legion and the Department Constitution of the Department of Tennessee, The American Legion. Any amendment to said constitutions which is in conflict with any part of this constitution shall automatically repeal or modify the provisions of this constitution to the extent of the conflict. Section 2. This constitution may be amended at any regularly called post meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present, provided that (1) the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the immediately preceding regularly called meeting, and (2) that written copy of the amendment and shall have been given to all members at least 14 days in advance of the date of the regularly called meeting when the amendment is to be voted upon. This constitution was approved at a regularly called meeting of Desmond T. Doss American Legion Post 257, Collegedale, Tennessee on this date: 19 MARCH 2009 Signature on file_______________ WILLIAM TWOMBLY, POST COMMANDER _______Signature on file_____________________ MARK PARKS, POST ADJUTANT |