SUVCW--National Constitution and Regulations

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
CONSTITUTION AND REGULATIONS

Status of the Constitution as amended through August 2000.

We, the descendants of soldiers, sailors, or marines who served in the Army or Navy of the United States of America during the War of the Rebellion of 1861 to 1865, have formed this patriotic and fraternal Order, for the purpose and objects in this Constitution set forth; and in so doing pledge ourselves to commemorate our fathers' deeds; to render loyal service to our Country, and to promote the maintenance of unqualified American citizenship with respect for and honor to the flag.

ARTICLE I.
Name

The name of this Order shall be the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

ARTICLE II.
Purpose and Objects

To perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the men who saved the Union 1861 to 1865; to assist in every practicable way in the preservation and making available for research of documents and records pertaining to the Grand Army of the Republic and its members; to cooperate in doing honor to all who have patriotically served our country in any war; to teach patriotism, and the duties of citizenship, the true history of our country, and the love and honor of our Flag; to oppose every tendency or movement that would weaken loyalty to, or make for the destruction or impairment of our constitutional Union; and to inculcate and broadly sustain the American principles of representative government, of equal rights, and of impartial justice for all.

ARTICLE III .
Eligibility to Membership

All male descendants, whether through lineal or collateral line of ages specified in Article VII of this Constitution who are blood relatives of soldiers, sailors, marines or members of the Revenue Cutter Service, who were regularly mustered and served honorably in, were honorably discharged from, or died in the service of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Cutter Service of the United States of America or such State regiments as were called into active service and were subject to orders of United States general officers, during the War of the Rebellion between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865; who have never been convicted of any infamous or heinous crime; and who have, or whose ancestors through whom membership is claimed have, never voluntarily borne arms against the Government of the United States of America shall have eligibility to membership.

ARTICLE IV.
Religion and Politics

The Order being strictly non-sectarian and non-partisan, the introduction or discussion of sectarian or partisan topics is strictly prohibited.

ARTICLE V.
Organization

Section 1. The several constituted bodies of the Order shall be as follows:

First.--Of organizations known as Camps, each of which shall bear a name and number.

Second.--Of State organizations known as Departments.

Third.--Of the National organization, of which the National Encampment is the supreme governing body.

Fourth.--Of a military department known as the Sons of Veterans Reserve.

Fifth.--Eligibles from states where no Department exists may become members-at-large attached to National Headquarters. Dues for such members shall not be less than five dollars ($5.00) per annum more than the National per capita tax. Membership application fees for new members-at- large shall not be less than five dollars ($5.00) which shall be placed in the Permanent Fund.

Section 2. The supreme power and authority of the Order of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War shall be vested in the National Encampment. To this end, no form of government shall be considered as legally established until the same has been submitted to and duly approved by the National Encampment. Between sessions of the National Encampment, the business of the Order shall be carried on in accordance with policies established by the National Encampment or, when it has not fixed a policy, by the Council of Administration which shall have the authority and duty usually exercised by a Board of Directors.

Section 3. The National Encampment shall act as a final court of appeals from all orders, decisions and rulings of the Commander-in-Chief, and the determination of such appeal at any meeting shall not be subject to review at any subsequent meeting.

ARTICLE VI.
Formation and Disbandment

Section 1. A Camp may be formed by authority of the Department Commander with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 2. The Commander-in-Chief upon the recommendation of the Department Commander shall have the power to revoke the charter of any Camp which does not conform to the Constitution and Regulations of this Order.

Section 3. A Department consisting of at least three (3) camps may be formed by the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 4. RESERVED.

Section 5. Camps organized in States where no Department exists shall be attached to the National Organization as Camps-at-Large.

Section 6. The Commander-in-Chief shall have the power to revoke the Charter of any Department which may not conform to the Constitution and Regulations of this Order, or which becomes reduced to less than the number of Camps and members required for organization thereof.

ARTICLE VII.
Membership

Section 1. Membership classes. There shall be three (3) classes of membership.

(a) Members. Males at least fourteen (14) years of age who meet the qualifications stipulated in Article III of this Constitution and Section 5 of the Articles of Incorporation. Members enjoy all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of membership.

(b) Life Members. Members who have paid the requisite Life Membership fee as established by the National Organization. Life Members are exempt from the National per capita tax and otherwise, enjoy all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of membership.

(c) Honorary Membership. The Commander-in-Chief, upon recommendation from a Camp, Department, or the National Council of Administration and with the approval of the National Council of Administration, may grant honorary memberships to persons of acknowledged eminence who are especially distinguished for conspicuous and consistent loyalty to the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and who have been active and eminent in maintaining the supremacy of the same and are known not to be eligible for membership in our order. The National Organization, Departments, and Camps shall not impose the per capita tax, fees, dues, or any other monetary assessment on Honorary Members. Honorary Members are entitled to a free subscription to the Banner.

Section 2. Associates. There shall be one class of Associates. Associates are males at least fourteen (14) years of age who do not meet the qualifications stipulated in Article III of this Constitution and Section 5 of the Articles of Incorporation but otherwise meet the requirements for membership established by the National Organization. The number of Associates in any Camp shall not exceed one-third (1/3) of the total roster of the Camp at the time of election. At no time during a meeting of a Camp, a Department, or the National Organization shall business be transacted if the number of Associates in attendance exceeds forty-nine per cent (49%) of the total attendance then present at said meeting. Associates may not be elected, appointed, or otherwise assume the offices of Commander-in-Chief, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, National Secretary, National Treasurer or be appointed Commanding Officer of the Sons of Veterans Reserve. Associates shall not be counted toward the required number of members to establish a new camp. The names of Associates may not appear on the Camp charter nor may Associates be designated as Charter Members of the Camp. Associates otherwise enjoy all the rights privileges, and responsibilities of membership.

Section 3. Establishment of Associates by Departments and Camps. Departments, at their own discretion, may establish Associates. Departments may impose further restrictions on Associates, provided that the rights established in Chapter V, Article VI of the National Regulations may not be altered, reduced, or vacated. If a Department specifically establishes Associates by amending its By-Laws, Camps within said Department may amend the Camp By-Laws and establish Associates. Camps may impose further restrictions in accordance with the provisions of the Department By-Laws and provided that the rights established in Chapter V, Article VI of the National Regulations may not be altered, reduced, or vacated. If a Department does not establish Associates, Camps within the Department's jurisdiction may not establish Associates.

Section 4. A member in good standing upon written application to his Camp shall be entitled to receive a Transfer Card or Honorable Discharge, and, if his Camp be disbanded or suspended shall be entitled to receive a Transfer Card from the Commander of the Department.

ARTICLE VIII.
Permanent Fund

Section 1. The Permanent Fund of the Order shall consist of funds now invested in U. S. Savings Bonds, such as moneys as have been or may be given or bequeathed to the National Organization in memory of a Civil War Veteran, all moneys given or bequeathed to the National Organization and not designated for some other purpose by the donor or testator, and such other moneys as may be added thereto by vote of the National Organization or of the Council of Administration. Moneys given or bequeathed in memory of a Civil War Veteran shall be accounted for under a separate heading as the "Honor Roll Fund."

Section 2. Such funds shall be kept on deposit in some one or more bank institutions whose deposits are fully insured to the amount of the deposit, or invested in obligations of the United States or in the securities of corporations or trusts located in the United States, which securities are listed or admitted to trading privileges on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or NASDAQ, and no investment shall be made in the securities of any corporation or trust which has not paid regular dividends on its common stock, or on its capital stock if it has only one class, for at least three years prior to such investment.

Section 3. All moneys shall be deposited and all investments made in the name of the Order.

Section 4. All moneys given or bequeathed to the National Organization upon any express trust shall be held and the income and principal thereof shall be used only in accordance with the terms of the trust, but the restrictions in this Article upon the investment and use of funds shall apply to Trust Funds, in so far as they are consistent with the terms of the trust.

Section 5. Except as may be provided in the will or donation giving trust funds, no part of the principal of any of the funds covered by this Article shall ever be spent, and all moneys accruing from the sale of rights and all stocks received as a dividend shall be held as part of the principal of the fund to which they accrue.

Section 6. By vote of the National Encampment or of the Council of Administration and subject to the restrictions governing any trust funds, the income of the funds covered by this Article accruing in the year in which such vote is passed, or any portion of such income, may be transferred to the General Fund and used for the expenses and purposes of the Order, but any income not so transferred shall be added to the principal.

ARTICLE IX.
Amendments

All proposed amendments to this constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Commander-in-Chief, upon prior approval by some Department, not later than forty days preceding the meeting of the National Encampment, and such proposed amendment shall be published in general orders preceding such meeting. Such proposed amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present and entitled to vote at a stated meeting of the National Encampment, and shall become effective when favorably acted upon and ratified by not less than 50% of the Departments, and proclaimed in general orders, whereupon they shall be and become a part of this Constitution.

REGULATIONS

Status of the Regulations as amended through August 2000.

Chapter I
Camps

ARTICLE I .
Charters

Section 1. When a Camp is organized, the membership thereof shall not be less than five. No Camp shall be organized or instituted until the Application for Charter has been approved by the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 2. Upon the formation of a Camp, there shall be issued to it a Charter, which shall be signed by the Department Commander, attested by the Department Secretary, and approved by the Commander-in-Chief. The Charter Fee for a new Camp shall be fixed by the Department by- laws, which fee shall be paid to the Department and shall accompany the application for a Charter.

Section 3. No Charter shall be surrendered by any Camp, so long as ten members thereof, in good standing, demand its continuance; and provided further, the Department Commander and each and every member of the Camp shall receive at least twenty days notice, in person or by mail, of the intention to surrender the Charter.

Section 4. In case of the surrender or forfeiture of a Charter, all the Camp property and money shall be turned over to the Department Commander or to his duly authorized representative, and become the property of the Department. Any transfer or disposal of any of its property by a Camp in arrears for its per capita tax shall be fraudulent and void, and any such transfer or disposal by a Camp of its property in contemplation of disbandment or surrender of its Charter shall also be fraudulent and void. All property of a Camp is held by it as a charitable trust that is to be held and used for the purpose for which the Order exists, and any such transfer or disposal within six months of disbandment or surrender of its Charter without consent of the Department shall be conclusively presumed to be in contemplation of such disbandment or surrender. No Camp shall divide its property among its members.

Section 5. A Camp one year or more in arrears in the payment of per capita tax and failing or neglecting to forward reports, may be disbanded and the charter thereof revoked.

Section 6. Camps having been dropped may be reinstated upon payment of a required fee, to be determined by the Department, and may retain their original charter.

Section 7. A Camp failing to pay per capita tax or neglecting to forward reports within the time specified by law may be suspended by the Department Commander. Suspended Camps may be reinstated by forwarding reports and paying all arrearages of per capita tax.

ARTICLE II.
Membership

Section 1. Each application for membership shall be recommended by a member of the Camp who shall vouch for the applicant's eligibility and moral character. It shall be then referred to a committee of three (of which the member recommending shall not be one) for investigation and report. The Committee shall make a careful investigation of the facts set forth in the application, and shall recommend the election or rejection of the applicant.

Section 2. A rejected applicant shall not be eligible to apply again for membership until six months have elapsed after such rejection.

Section 3. Any member of a Camp who is three months in arrears in the payment of his dues may, by a vote of the Camp, be dropped. Until his name is dropped from the roll, the Camp shall be subject to per capita tax on such member. A dropped member may be reinstated in the Order on reelection by his Camp after paying such dues, reinstatement fee, or indebtedness to the Camp as it may prescribe. If his Camp is no longer in existence, the sum to be paid shall be fixed by the Department Commander.

Section 4. A member may be dropped for the non-payment of fines in the same manner and form as provided for in the case of non-payment of dues.

Section 5. A member holding a Camp or Department Transfer cannot be admitted to any Camp or Encampment during its sessions unless given permission by vote of said Camp or Encampment. He is a member of the Order for purposes of discipline only, and shall be considered honorably discharged if the card is not deposited with and accepted by some Camp within a year. A Brother thus discharged can be admitted to membership again only in the same manner as an applicant for original membership.

Section 6. Departments may provide for Membership-at-Large. Applications for such membership shall be directed to the Department Commander or Secretary who shall accept or reject same. Records of such memberships shall be kept by the Department Secretary substantially as required of Camp Secretaries and Treasurers. Transfers or Honorable Discharges shall be issued to Members-at-Large upon application to the Department Secretary. Membership fees shall apply to Members-at-Large in the same manner as regular members.

ARTICLE III.
Meetings

Section 1. Regular and special meetings of Camps shall be held as provided by the respective By-Laws.

Section 2. The number of members necessary for a quorum shall be determined by Camp By-Laws.

Section 3. Any member of the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the Woman's Relief Corps, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic may be admitted to the sessions of the Camp.

Section 4. The use of ritualistic ceremonies in the conduct of meetings and initiation of candidates is optional.

Section 5. A Camp may change its location from one town to another by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a stated or special meeting called for that purpose, provided that thirty days' notice by mail has been sent to all members that such action is to be taken, the result of such action to be approved by the Department Commander.

Section 6. Camps may consolidate with one another, provided a two- thirds vote of such Camps shall so decide and provided further that notice of such intended consolidation shall have been sent to the members thereof by mail at least thirty days prior thereto. Such action to be approved by the Department Commander. In such case the books, papers and property shall belong to the consolidated Camp.

ARTICLE IV.
Officers

Section 1. The officers of a Camp shall be: Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, three members of the Camp Council, Patriotic Instructor, Chaplain, Secretary, Treasurer (or Secretary- Treasurer), Historian, Guide, Color Bearer and Guard. The Commander, Secretary and Treasurer shall not serve on the Camp Council.

Section 2. The Camp Commander, Senior and Junior Vice Camp Commander, Camp Council, Secretary, Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer), Delegates and Alternates shall be elected at a regular meeting of the Camp between the first meeting in October and the first meeting in December, inclusive. A majority vote shall be required to elect all elective officers, except members of Camp Council, Delegates and Alternates, who shall be elected by a plurality vote. On assuming office, the Commander shall appoint all other Camp officers.

Section 3. The officers of Camps shall be installed at a regular meeting of the Camp to be held between the first meeting in November, and the first meeting in the following January, inclusive, by a person designated by the Department Commander who shall make report thereof upon the prescribed blanks furnished to him. Said dates of election, and installation to be fixed by each Department and become part of the Department By-Laws. The National Council of Administration shall have authority to grant exceptions to the dates prescribed by these Regulations for Camp elections and installations of Officers, when requested, for adequate reasons, by a Department.

Section 4. Any vacancy which may occur in an elective office of a Camp shall be filled temporarily by the officer next in rank. Such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Camp Council.

Section 5. A Camp may by a two-thirds vote first giving five days' notice by mail, vacate the position of any elective officer who shall have been absent from six consecutive regular meetings without good cause and such vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as other vacancies. The Camp may likewise impeach and remove from office by a two-thirds vote any officer for immoral conduct or for any abuse in office or dishonorable practice of any kind.

ARTICLE V.
Installation

Section 1. Before proceeding with the Installation the Installing Officer shall require the Camp Treasurer to produce receipt from Department Headquarters for payment of per capita tax in full, including receipt of last Quarter, and all indebtedness due the Department. Failure to comply, the Installing Officer shall have all reports due, prepared, collect and receipt for payment of all indebtedness and induct the officers into their respective offices.

Section 2. Prior to the meeting of a Camp for the Installation of Officers the Installing Officer shall inspect and examine the books, records, forms, etc. and property of Camp, noting as to correctness, Rituals, Constitution and Regulations, and all necessary details for proper conduct of business, receipt books, dues and credits of members, etc. He shall correct irregularities, impress that the Regulations be observed. He shall make a detailed report thereof to the Department Commander who shall take action for compliance with the Regulations.

ARTICLE VI.
Duties of Officers

Section 1. The Commander shall preside at all meetings of the Camp. He shall decide all questions or order without debate, subject, however, to an appeal to the Camp. It shall be his duty to detail all officers and appoint all committees (of which he shall be a member ex-officio) not otherwise provided for, approve all orders or requisitions made on the Treasurer or Camp Council for appropriations of money, or any property of the Camp, and perform all other duties pertaining to his office.

Section 2. The Senior Vice Commander and Junior Vice Commander shall assist the Commander and shall perform such duties as pertain to their office.

Section 3. The Camp Council shall devise and recommend measures for preserving and increasing the funds of the Camp; shall make its investments, leases and other contracts; secure a place of meeting; settle and dispose of all disputed accounts between the Treasurer and members of the Camp; examine and pass upon all accounts and bills incurred by any officer or committee or the Camp; examine the books, vouchers and other papers of the different officers, and shall at the end of each quarter, render a complete report showing its transactions and the financial condition of the Camp.

Section 4. The Secretary shall perform all duties pertaining to his office, keep all books of record, shall make duplicate quarterly reports to the Department Secretary on the first days of January, April, July and October upon the forms prescribed by the Order, and furnished by the Department Secretary, showing all gains or losses in membership and the total membership, one copy of which shall be forwarded together with the per capita tax, covering the entire membership, due from the Camp, to the Department Headquarters, on or before the tenth (10th) day of the month, the other copy to be placed on file in the Camp. He shall draw all requisitions upon the Treasurer for the expenditure of money, upon the order of the Camp, and submit the same to the Commander for his approval, keeping a book for that purpose.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall hold funds of the Camp and have charge of its property not otherwise provided for. He shall pay out the said funds upon requisition in due form from the Secretary, approved by the Commander; shall keep the accounts between the Camp and its members; shall collect all moneys due the Camp, giving in all cases receipts therefor; shall notify all members in arrears; and at the next stated meeting after the close of each month, render to the Camp a detailed account of the transactions of the month, and the money balance in his hands. He shall make a quarterly report to the Department Secretary, and shall perform all such other duties as pertain to his Office.

Section 6. The Patriotic Instructor, Chaplain, Guide, Color Bearer and Guard shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the Ritual of the Order or indicated by the official blank forms, or directed by the Commander.

Section 7. Each Camp may have a Welfare Committee to be appointed by the Camp Commander who shall serve during the year. This Committee shall consist of one member for each ten (10) members of the Camp with a minimum of three (3); the Chairman to be designated by the Camp Commander. It shall be the duty of the Welfare Committee to assist in maintaining the membership upon a good standing basis of each member; to actively assist in obtaining new members by preparing a list of eligible; to suggest to the Camp means of creating and maintaining interest in its meetings and such other matters as may be of value to the Camp; and to assist members of the Camp requiring aid in obtaining employment.

Section 8. Any Camp whose members reside in different communities may arrange its members into divisions or sections corresponding to such communities; may give each such section or division a distinctive name; may prescribe its organization; and may delegate to it such of the work of the Camp in that community as the Camp may specify.

Section 9. The Secretary of each Camp shall be required to send to the Department Secretary -- together with the quarterly report required in Section 4 of Article VI, Chapter I, of these Regulations to be sent in on the first day of January in each year -- a list of the names and address (including zip code numbers) of all members there carried on the rolls of the Camp, on whom per capita tax is being paid.

Section 10. Camp officers shall have such other duties which are described in the official Camp Officers Job Descriptions as adopted by the Commandery-in-Chief and included herein by reference.

ARTICLE VII.
Finances

Section 1. Each Camp shall regulate its dues and fees for revenues, provided the minimum admission fee shall not be less than the ($10.00) dollars of which one-half shall be forwarded to the Department Treasurer with the quarterly per capita tax report. No part of the admission fee shall be credited for any other purpose. The minimum yearly dues shall not be less than the sum of the National Organization and Department per capita tax. The Camp shall have power to provide By-Laws imposing fines for neglect of duty of all officers, special committees or members.

Section 2. Each Camp may establish such admission fees to be paid by members joining by transfer, as it may deem proper, not exceeding, however, the amount required of a new member.

Section 3. Each Camp must purchase all official supplies from National Headquarters.

Section 4. Each camp to which a Brother belongs shall report him as a member or associate and pay all applicable fees and per capita tax.

ARTICLE VIII.
Associates and Juniors

Section 1. All provisions of Article II, "Membership", Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and all provisions of Article VII, "Finances", Sections 1 and 2 shall apply to Associates except that any reference to membership, member, or members shall be deemed to mean associate or associates.

Section 2. All provisions of Article II, "Membership", Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and the provisions of Article VII, "Finances" Section 2 shall apply to Juniors.

Section 3. Camps shall report Associates and Juniors under separate headings as "Associates" and "Juniors", respectively.

ARTICLE IX.
By-Laws

Section 1. Camps shall adopt By-Laws subject to the approval of the Department Commander. All amendments, alterations, or deletion of Camp By-Laws shall be submitted to the Department Commander for approval as to consistency with the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Regulations and Department By-Laws. No By-Laws, amendments, alterations, or deletions shall be effective until approved by the Department Commander in writing. Any provision of a Camp's By-Laws which is inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Regulations, or Department By-Laws is null and void.

Section 2. Suggested Outline for Camp By-Laws.

Preamble.

Name, Number and Location.

Meetings: Place, meeting nights, special meetings, postponement, notification of members.

Dues and Fees: Amount of dues--how payable. Initiation fee--transfer fee-- fines.

Salary or Compensation: What officers--amount--how payable--funds. Special Funds: Purposes of special funds--how maintained--how kept---how drawn on--how closed. Committees: Names of standing and special committees--how selected--number on each--duties--how and when to report.

Bonds: Officers to be bonded--amount--how secured.

Benefits or Relief.

Suspension of By-Laws.

Alterations and Amendments.

Date of Approval by Camp.

Date of Approval by Department Commander.

ARTICLE X.
Juniors

Section 1. Camps may provide for Juniors provided the governing Department has not amended its By-Laws to prohibit Juniors. (This Section shall be effective in each Department following the respective Department's 1995 Department Encampment.)

Section 2. Juniors shall be males at least eight (8) years of age but less than fourteen (14) years of age who meet the qualifications stipulated in Article III of the Constitution and Section 5 of the Articles of Incorporation.

Section 3. Juniors may not hold any elected office in any Camp, Department or the National Organization nor shall they be eligible to serve in any appointive office of a Department or the National Organization.

Section 4. Juniors shall not be counted in determining the number of delegates a Camp may have to a Department encampment nor the number of delegates a Department, Camp-at-large, or Membership-at-large shall have to the National Encampment.

Section 5. The National Organization shall not impose the per capita tax on Juniors. Juniors are not entitled to a free subscription to the Banner.

Section 6. Juniors shall not be counted toward the required number of members to establish a new camp. However, the names of Juniors may appear on the camp charter and be so designated as Charter Juniors of the camp.

Section 7. Juniors may not become Life Members. Those current life members under the age of fourteen (14) years are grand fathered from this provision.

Section 8. Camps may impose further restrictions on Juniors and provide for their organization in accordance with the provisions provided that the rights of a member established in Chapter I, Article IV, Section 5 and Chapter V, Article VI of the National Regulations may not be altered, reduced, or vacated.

Section 9. Except as herein limited, Juniors enjoy all the rights privileges, and responsibilities of membership.

Section 10. Departments may adopt amendments to their By-Laws which prohibit the establishment of Juniors within their Department.

Section 11. The National Membership-at-Large Coordinator is hereby authorized to establish Juniors within the National Membership-at-Large.

Chapter II
Departments

ARTICLE I.
Charters

Section 1. Upon the formation of a Department, there shall be issued to it a Charter under the hand and seal of the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 2. Each Department shall be governed by its Department Encampment, subordinate to the National Organization.

Section 3. Upon the formation of a Department there shall be called a special Department Encampment to be held at such time and place as may be designated by the Commander-in-Chief. At such special Encampment complete organization of the Department shall be effected, including election of Officers and adoption of Department By-Laws. The Officers elected at such special Encampment shall serve until the annual Encampment, and shall be entitled to all honors accorded Officers completing an elective term.

Section 4. Departments may consolidate with one another, provided a two-thirds vote of such Departments shall so decide and provided further that notice of such intended consolidation shall have been sent to each camp and past Department Commander thereof by mail at least thirty days prior to any vote. Vote may be by mail ballot or at a Department meeting. Such action to be subject to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief. In such case the books, papers and property shall belong to the consolidated Department.

Section 5. Departments may petition the Commander-in-Chief to divide themselves into more than one Department provided that a superior majority (two-thirds) of the Camps within the Department consent to the reorganization and no resulting Department shall have less than the requisite number of Camps for a provisional status Department and the remnant of the original Department shall hot have less than the requisite number of Camps for a permanent status Department. The Commander-in-Chief shall deny such request if he believes it is not in the best interest of the Order.

Section 6. In no case may a Camp secede from a Department.

Section 7. The Commander-in-Chief may by Special Order establish a Department from the Camps-at-Large attached to the Department-at-Large when a sufficient number of Camps are established within a contiguous geopolitical area or when a sufficient number of Camps-at-Large petition for the formation of a Department.

Section 8. Departments shall be composed of one or more states, commonwealths, republics, territories or the District of Columbia. All camps within the geopolitical area assigned to a department by the Commander-in-Chief must become part of the Department. A Department may consist of a part of a state, commonwealth, republic, or territory of the United States.

Section 9. To promote fraternal relations and to coordinate those activities that can extend across Department boundaries, two or more Departments may establish a regional association. Such regional associations may include bodies of the various other allied orders as they exist within the boundaries of such region. Such regional association shall not exercise any authority of any type over member Departments. Such regional associations may elect officers. Members of the allied orders may hold any office within the regional association, as determined by the membership of the regional association. No former officer of such regional association shall be entitled to any past honors within the Order, nor shall any badge or device be authorized to indicate membership in or office held in such regional association. However, such regional association may authorize a past regional commander badge at its discretion and its own expense.

ARTICLE II.
Membership

Section 1. The membership of the Department Encampment shall be constituted as follows: all Past Commanders-in-Chief, Past Department Commanders and Past Camp Commanders, in good standing, who have served a full term or having been elected to fill a vacancy have served to the end of that term, and its sitting Camp Commanders. One delegate from each Camp, whatever its membership and one additional delegate for every ten members, or major fraction thereof, based upon the report for the quarter next preceding the Encampment. Its own elective and appointive officers (except Aides). Any member serving as Camp Secretary or Camp Treasurer continuously in office for a period of ten years may have conferred upon him the rank of Past Camp Commander with its voting privileges at Department Encampments.

Section 2. Vacancies in delegate representation to and at the time of the Department Encampment may be filled by a vote of delegates from the Camp in attendance at the Encampment; the Camp Commander having the prior right to appoint members to fill vacancies.

Section 3. A Camp which fails to pay its per capita tax or other indebtedness or fails to make reports, shall not be entitled to representation in Department Encampments.

Section 4. To obtain restoration of rank of Past Camp Commander the member shall make request in writing to the Camp of which he is a member. If acted upon favorably by the Camp in regular session, said request shall be forwarded to the Department Commander, setting forth the causes of loss of rank, and reasons for request or restoration. The Department Commander shall present same to the Department Encampment where if acted upon favorably, such rank shall be restored.

ARTICLE III.
Meetings

Section 1. Departments shall meet in Annual Encampment. Said Encampment shall be held on a day between the first day of January and the first day of July.

(a) Special meetings of a Department Encampment may be called by the Department Commander, by and with the consent of the Department Council; but no business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than that for which it was specifically called, which call shall state the purpose and object of said meetings.

(b) The National Council of Administration shall have authority to grant exceptions to the dates prescribed by these Regulations for Camp elections and installations of Officers, and for Department Encampments, when requested, for adequate reasons, by a Department.

Section 2. A majority of the membership reported present and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum unless otherwise stated in the Department By-laws.

ARTICLE IV.
Officers

Section 1. The officers of a Department shall be a Department Commander, Senior Vice Department Commander, Junior Vice Department Commander, three members of the Department Council, Department Patriotic Instructor, Department Chaplain, Department Secretary, Department Treasurer (or Department Secretary-Treasurer), Department Historian, Department Counselor, and at the option of the Department a Grand Army of the Republic Highway Officer, a Graves Registration Officer, a Civil War Memorials Officer, and such other officers as may be established in its By-laws.

Section 2. The Department Commander, Senior Vice Department Commander, Junior Vice Department Commander, Department Council, Department Secretary, Department Treasurer (or Department Secretary- Treasurer), Delegates and Alternates to the National Encampment shall be elected at the annual encampment by a roll-call of Camps in numerical order, unless the Department By-laws provide for the Australian system of balloting, and a majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary for a choice, except in the case of Department Council, delegates and alternates, wherein a plurality vote shall elect. If there be but one nominee for an office the Department may elect by viva voce vote. Provided, that no member shall be eligible for election to the office of Department Commander unless he has served as a Camp Commander. No member shall be eligible to election to the office of Department Commander who is not present and entitled to vote at the Department Encampment.

Section 3. On assuming office, the Department Commander shall appoint all other Department Officers; and may appoint an Assistant Secretary and/or Secretary-Treasurer, whichever is in keeping with the office within the individual Departments.

Section 4. The term of all elective and appointed officers shall be for one year, provided, however, that Departments shall elect their Secretary and Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer) and fix their term and location of office, and provided further that Departments may fix the term of office of members of the Department Council for two years.

Section 5. The installation of Department Officers shall be performed at the Encampment by some person chosen by the Commander elected.

Section 6. Any vacancy which may occur in an elective office of the Department shall be filled by a majority vote of the Department Council for the period until the next regular meeting of the Department, when an election is held. In the event the term of office is normally for a period longer than one (1) year, the person elected by the Department Encampment shall serve the unexpired term.

Section 7. Any officer delinquent in or failing to perform the duties of his office may be removed by his Department Commander or the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 8: No Brother may be elected to more than three (3) consecutive terms as Department Commander, nor may any Brother be elected to a term as Department Commander which would result in him serving more than 45 consecutive months as Department Commander. In extraordinary circumstances, the Commander-in-Chief, with the concurrence of 3/4 of the Council of Administration, may permit a 4th year.

ARTICLE V.
Duties of Officers

Section 1. The Department Commander shall be the executive officer of the Department, charged with the duty of administering the affairs of the Department. He shall preside at all meetings of the Department Encampment, appoint all the standing and other committees (of which he shall be a member ex-officio) unless otherwise prescribed by the Encampment or By-laws. He shall in the first month of each quarter supply to each Camp, Quarterly Camp Secretary and Camp Treasurer report blanks. He shall at frequent intervals contact Camps, their Officers, Department Officers, and issue orders and official communications.

Section 2. The Senior or Junior Vice Commander shall respectively perform the duties of a Department Commander in case of vacancy or senior officers' inability to act.

Section 3. The Department Secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the Department Encampment. He shall keep and be the custodian of the files and membership records of the Department, and shall keep such other records in connection with his office as may be required by the Department Commander or the Department Encampment. He shall within thirty days after the first of each quarter make a consolidated report of the Camp Secretary's reports to the Department Commander, and forward a copy of same to the National Secretary, together with the amount due to per capita tax. He shall forward a report of the election of officers and delegates and alternates to the National Secretary with thirty days after such election, and perform all other duties pertaining to his office.

Section 4. The Department Treasurer shall hold the funds of the Department and pay out the same upon requisition in due form from the Department Secretary approved by the Department Commander. He shall have charge of all property of the Department not otherwise provided for, shall keep a true and correct account of all receipts and expenditures, and perform such other duties as may pertain to his office.

Section 5. The Department Council immediately after its installation shall meet and elect a Chairman and Secretary. It shall devise and recommend such measures as will enable the Department to meet all its necessary expenditures, and shall audit the receipts, expenditures and books of account of the Department and make report thereof to the Department Encampment.

Section 6. The Department Patriotic Instructor shall prepare letters of instruction for the observance of Union Defenders' Day and other patriotic occasions and events and perform such other duties as pertain to his office.

Section 7. The Department Chaplain shall have charge of the devotional exercises of the Department Encampment, shall prepare letters of instruction for the observance of Memorial Day, and perform such other duties as pertain to his office.

Section 8. The Department Counselor shall act as a legal advisor of the Department Commander and the Department.

Section 9. The Department Organizer shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Department By-laws and the orders of the Department Commander.

Section 10. The Assistant Department Secretary shall perform duties under the direction of the Department Secretary.

Section 11. Each Department Secretary is required to mail a complete mailing list of the Department to the Membership List Coordinator on or before January 1st of each year.

Section 12. Department officers shall have such other duties which are described in the official Department Officers Job Descriptions as adopted by the Commandery-in-Chief and included herein by reference.

ARTICLE VI.
Finances

Section 1. Each Department shall regulate its Dues and Revenues.

Section 2. Departments shall pay to the National Organization: Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the Department Charter; Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each new Camp Charter, which amount shall accompany the application and shall be forfeited if the Camp is not instituted within six months from the date of application; and Ten ($10.00) for the reinstatement of Camps which have been suspended. Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the reinstatement of camps which voluntarily surrendered their charter or which had their charter revoked provided that this fee shall be waived if a charter exists.

ARTICLE VII.
Committees

The regular committees of the Department Encampment shall consist of such members as provided by Department By-laws.

ARTICLE VIII.
By-laws

Each Department shall adopt By-laws consistent with these Regulations, and subject to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief. All amendments, alterations, or deletion of Department By-laws shall be submitted to the Commander-in-Chief for approval as to consistency with the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and Regulations. No By-laws, amendments, alterations, or deletions shall be effective until approved by the Commander-in-Chief in writing. Any provision of a Department's By- Laws which is inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, or Regulations is null and void.

ARTICLE IX.
Department-at-Large

Section 1. For administrative purposes all Camps-at-Large attached to the National Organization pursuant to Article VI Section 5 of the Constitution shall be organized into the National Department-at-Large.

Section 2. The Commander-in-Chief shall serve as the Commander of the Department-at-Large. The National Camp and Department Organizer shall serve as the Senior Vice Commander of the Department-at-Large. The National Membership-at-Large Coordinator shall serve as the Junior Vice Commander of the Department-at-Large. There shall be no other permanent officers or standing committees of the Department-at-Large except as provided by Section 3 herein.

Section 3. The Commander-in-Chief shall appoint an Assistant National Secretary to serve as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Department-at-Large.

Section 4. The provisions of Chapter II, Article VI, Section 1, not withstanding, the Council of Administration shall establish the Department per capita tax to be levied on Camps-at-Large.

Section 5. The provisions of Chapter II, Article III, Section 1, not withstanding, the Department-at-Large shall hold its meetings at the call of the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 6. The Department-at-Large is not required to comply with the provisions of Chapter II, Article VIII.

ARTICLE X.
Department Members-at-Large

Section 1. Each Department shall make provisions for Department Members-at-Large (DMAL). DMAL shall include all Brothers (Members, Associates and Juniors) residing within the jurisdiction of the Department who are not a Brother of a camp within the Department. Such provision may be 1) Department MAL, 2) a camp established by the Department for the purpose of administering the DMAL, or 3) a requirement in the Department By-laws that all members belong to a camp of their choice or assigned to the nearest camp if the Brother does not choose a camp.

Section 2. Within a Department having a total membership of more than 500 members or more than 20 camps, two or more camps may establish a regional association. Such regional associations may include bodies of the various other allied orders as they exist within the boundaries of such region. Such regional association shall not exercise any authority of any type over member Camps. Such regional associations may elect officers. Members of the allied orders may hold any office within the regional association, as determined by the membership of the regional association. No former officer of such regional association shall be entitled to any past honors within the Order, nor shall any badge or device be authorized to indicate membership in or office held in such regional association. However, such regional association may authorize a past regional commanders badge at is discretion and its own expense.

Chapter III
National Organization

ARTICLE I.
Charter

The National Organization of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is incorporated under and by authority of a Charter issued by the Congress of the United States (Public Law 605, 83d Congress, 2d Session). The charter and papers of incorporation shall be the charge and custody of the National Secretary.

ARTICLE II.
Membership

Section 1. The membership of the National Encampment shall be constituted as follows:

All Past Commanders-in-Chief, and Past Department Commanders, in good standing, who have served a full term, or having been elected to fill a vacancy, have served to the end of that term, and Department Commanders.

Of one delegate from each Department, whatever its membership, and one additional delegate for every twenty-five members, or major fraction thereof in good standing, based upon the report next preceding the National Encampment.

National members-at-large attending the National Encampment may elect from their membership, one delegate to represent them and further delegates shall be based on the same ration provided representation of Departments.

All Honorary Members as non-voting members.

It's own elective and appointive officers (except members detailed for special duty).

A Department Secretary or Treasurer holding office for ten consecutive years may have bestowed on him the rank of Past Department Commander with its voting privileges at the National Encampment.

Section 2. Vacancies in delegate representation to and at the time National Encampments are held may be filled by the Department Commander, or the chairman of the respective delegations. The Department Commander in all instances having the priority or right to so appoint.

Section 3. A Department which fails to pay its per capita tax or other indebtedness, or fails to make reports, shall not be entitled to representation in National Encampment meetings. In addition, should a Department's report(s) be deemed incomplete by the National Secretary, they shall be returned to Department authority for correction. Should such report not be immediately corrected, the National Secretary may petition the Council of Administration for a ruling that such Department be deemed to have failed to make reports.

Section 4. To obtain restoration of rank of Past Department Commander and/or Past Commander-in-Chief, the member shall make request in writing to the Camp of which he is a member. If acted upon favorably by the Camp, in regular session, said request shall be forwarded to the Department Commander, setting forth the cause or causes of loss of rank and reason or reasons for request of restoration, and shall be signed by the Camp Commander, approved by the Camp Secretary (Secretary-Treasurer) with the seal of the Camp attached. The Department Commander shall present same to the Department Encampment under the order of new business, where, if acted upon favorably shall, by the Department Secretary (Department Secretary-Treasurer) be forwarded to the Commander-in-Chief, and shall be signed by the Department Commander approved by the Department Secretary (Department Secretary-Treasurer) with the seal of the Department attached. The National Secretary (National Secretary-Treasurer) shall notify the Brother(s) as to the decision of the National Encampment.

ARTICLE III.
Meetings

Section 1. There shall be an Annual Encampment at such time and place as the body may delegate, of which due notice shall be given by publication in general orders.

Section 2. A special meeting of the National Organization may be convened by order of the Commander-in-Chief by and with the consent of the Council of Administration for purposes therein stated and no business shall be transacted at such special meeting except for the purposes for which said body convened.

Section 3. A majority of the membership reported present and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. No member of the National Encampment or special meeting shall represent more than one Department at any National Encampment or special meeting of the National Organization.

ARTICLE IV.
Officers

Section 1. The officers of the National Organization shall consist of a Commander-in-Chief, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, National Secretary, National Treasurer, National Quartermaster, three members of the Council of Administration, National Counselor, National Graves Registration Officer, a Washington, DC Representative, National Patriotic Instructor, National Chaplain, National Historian, National Chief-of-Staff, National GAR Highway Officer, National Membership-at-Large Coordinator, Banner Editor; National Membership List Coordinator, National Camp and Department Organizer, and a National Civil War Memorials Officer. The same member may hold the office of National Secretary and the office of National Treasurer simultaneously.

Section 2. The Commander-in-Chief Senior and Junior Vice Commanders-in-Chief, National Secretary, National Treasurer (or National Secretary-Treasurer), National Quartermaster, and the elected members of the Council of Administration shall be elected at the Annual Encampment by a roll-call of the Departments, and a majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary for a choice. If there be but one nominee for an office, they may be elected by viva voce vote.

To be eligible for election to the office of Commander-in-Chief, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief or Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, a member must hold the rank of Past Department Commander and be a male lineal or co-lateral descendant of a person who served between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865, as a soldier or sailor of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue-Cutter Service, or of such State regiments as were called into active service and were subject to orders of the United States general officers between the aforementioned dates and were honorable discharged therefrom or died in such service.

Section 3. On assuming office, the Commander-in-chief shall appoint all other officers and national committees, and may appoint one or more Assistant National Secretaries and one or more Assistant National Treasurers and may appoint such aides as he may deem necessary, for such services as he may designate, except that he shall not appoint the Editor of the Banner, the Membership-at-Large Coordinator, or the Membership List Coordinator.

Section 4. The terms of office of the National Secretary, National Treasurer, and National Quartermaster shall be for three (3) years beginning in 1995. The term of office of the members of the Council of Administration shall be for three years with one member being elected annually except in 1993 when one member shall be elected for a three (3) year term and one member shall be elected for a two (2) year term. The terms of office for all other elective or appointive officers shall be for one year.

Section 5. Any vacancy which may occur in an elective office of the National Organization shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Council of Administration, until the next regular meeting of the National Organization, when an election shall be held.

Section 6. The Commander-in-Chief shall have power to remove all appointive officers. Notice of such removal shall be provided in a timely manner.

ARTICLE V.
Duties of Officers

Section 1. The Commander-in-Chief shall be the chief executive officer of the Order, and shall decide all questions of law and order subject to an appeal to the National Encampment, preside at all meetings of the National organization, shall sign all Camp and Department charters, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Constitution and Regulations of the order and by the action of the National Encampment.

Section 2. The Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief or Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief shall respectively perform the duties of the Commander-in-Chief in case of a vacancy or inability of the senior officer to act, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Constitution and regulations of the order and the orders of the Commander-in-Chief.

(a) The Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief shall be responsible for promoting programs promulgated by the order of the Commander-in-Chief.

(b) The Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief shall be responsible for promoting membership and organization under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 3. The National Secretary shall pay over to the National Treasurer all moneys received by him; he shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the National Encampment. He shall draw requisitions on the Treasurer for all bills, the same to be approved by the Commander-in-Chief, and shall perform such other duties and keep such other books, and records, as the National Organization may require of him. He shall make a monthly report of the financial and numerical strength of the Order, and cause the same to be distributed to all members of the Council of Administration. He shall receive compensation each year in the sum fixed at the Annual National Encampment.

Section 4. The National Treasurer shall receive, hold and account for all moneys paid to him, and pay out the same, upon the order of the National Secretary, approved by the Commander-in-Chief. He shall receive compensation each year in the sum fixed at the National Encampment. He shall prepare the annual reports required by Sec. 15(a) and Sec. 16 of Public Law 605, 83rd Congress, 2nd Session, and shall see that they be approved by the Commander-in-Chief and dispatched at the proper time.

Section 5. The Council of Administration shall consist of the Commander-in-Chief, Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief, Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, National Secretary, National Treasurer, three (3) elected members of the Council of Administration and the immediate Past Commander-in-Chief. All Past Commanders-in-Chief, the National Quartermaster, the National Counselor, and the Washington, DC representative shall be non-voting members of the Council of Administration. The Commander-in-Chief may invite other non-voting members from whom he or the voting members wish to receive advice and counsel or information. The Council of Administration shall have and shall exercise all powers of the Board of Directors, except in so far as such powers may be assigned to other persons in these Regulations. Without in any limiting the generality of the foregoing language, it shall:

(a) Fix the penal sums of the bonds to be given by all bonded National Officers, which bonds shall cover the office and not the individual.

(b) Present to each annual Encampment of the National Organization a budget of the estimated receipts of the amounts necessary to conduct the affairs of the National Organization for the ensuing year, and shall recommend the amount to be appropriated for each of the activities of the National Organization and the amount necessary to be raised by per capita tax to meet the same; and no officer or Committee shall spend any amount or incur any indebtedness beyond the sums so appropriated, except by a vote of five (5) members of the Council of Administration.

(d) Elect the Editor of the Banner, Membership List Coordinator, and Camp and Department Organizer.

(e) Review and extend the plan covering the present and future activities and objectives of the Order.

(f) It shall exercise visitatory powers to enforce any express or implied trust on which property is held by Camps or Departments.

(g) The Commander-in-Chief shall be chairman, and the National Secretary shall be Secretary of the Council of Administration, and shall keep a record of the votes of each member, except on parliamentary questions.

(h) Four members of the Council shall be a quorum, but a less number may meet and transact business provided a majority of those present shall vote in the affirmative on the question to be decided, and five members by personal vote or in writing over their signatures shall assent to any final action taken.

Section 6. The National Patriotic Instructor shall prepare and issue letters of instruction for the observance of Union Defenders' Day and of such other days and events as occasion and duty may require; and shall perform such other duties as pertain to his office.

Section 7. The National Chaplain shall have charge of the devotional exercises of the National Encampment; shall prepare and issue letters of instruction for the observance of Memorial Day and shall perform such other duties as pertain to his office.

Section 8. The National Counselor shall act as the legal advisor of the Commander-in-Chief and the National Organization.

Section 9. The National Historian shall collect and preserve all historical or biographical materials pertaining to the Civil War, members of the Grand Army of the Republic, a to members of the Order; and shall serve as chair of the National History Committee.

Section 10. The National Graves Registration Officer shall be the Chairman of the Graves Registration Committee. He shall assist Camps and individual members and Department Grave Marking Committees in obtaining information, supplying headstone applications, instructing in proper procedure for registering and marking veterans' graves.

Section 11. The Washington Representative shall have a residence in the District of Columbia or its suburbs; he shall accept on behalf of the Order service or legal papers or summons and immediately transmit the same to the Commander-in-Chief for action; he shall represent our Order on appropriate occasions and at memorial ceremonies and patriotic functions at the Capitol; he shall keep himself informed about legislation pending before Congress which is pertinent to the purposes or activities of our Order, and he shall state the views of our Order at hearings thereon; he shall promptly inform the Commander-in-Chief of any such legislation on which our Order should take action and has not already done so, and; shall be ex-officio a member of the Committee on Legislation.

Section 12. All officers of the National Organization shall promptly turn over to their successors all the property of the National Organization in their possession, taking receipts therefor.

Section 13. The Membership-at-Large Coordinator shall have the same duties as the Department Secretary and a Department Treasurer in so far as they apply to the membership-at-large. He shall maintain a membership roster, maintain all membership-at-large monies in a separated account as a Department would, he shall provide membership information upon request by a perspective applicant, shall assist other officers in the formation of camps and departments, and shall make a detailed report to the Council of Administration prior to the National Encampment and a summary report to the National Encampment.

Section 14. The Membership List Coordinator shall maintain a mailing list of the entire membership. All Camp Secretaries, Department Secretaries, Membership-at-Large Coordinator, Life Member Coordinator National Secretary, National Treasurer, and all other officers, members, and associates are required to notify the Membership List Coordinator of any changes, additions, or deletions in the membership data which comes to their attention. The Membership List Coordinator shall upon approval of the Commander-in-Chief provide appropriate lists of members to Camps, Departments, and National Officers which may be necessary for recruiting, camp organization, department organization, or fulfillment of their respective responsibilities. The membership roster shall not be made available to any person, organization, group, or commercial entity other than for the aforementioned purposes without the express consent of the National Encampment or the Council of Administration acting between National Encampments.

Section 15. The Banner Editor shall edit and prepare for printing the Banner. The Editor is required to cause one copy of each issue of the Banner to be mailed to each member of the Order whose address has been reported to the Membership List Coordinator and to annually publish the ownership statement in the issue published closest to October 1.

Section 16. The Camp and Department Organizer shall facilitate the organization of the Camps-at-Large and where sufficient numbers of camps exist the formation of Departments.

Section 17. The GAR Highway Officer is responsible for keeping alive the designation of route US 6 as the GAR highway. This includes coordination with Department GAR highway Officers and other organizations.

Section 18. The National Quartermaster shall have the responsibility of maintaining an inventory of supplies, procuring sufficient inventory to meet the needs of the National Organization, the Departments, the Camps and the members and the filling of all orders for supplies. He shall receive payment for inventory sold and shall forward same to the National Treasurer along with the order forms. He shall forward all bills for inventory purchased to the National Treasurer for payment. He shall take an inventory of all supplies on-hand at the close of the fiscal year and provide a written detailed list to the National Treasurer for summary and inclusion in the financial reports. He shall receive compensation each year in the sum fixed at the National Encampment.

Section 19. National officers shall have such other duties which are described in the official National Officers Job Descriptions as adopted by the Commandery-in-Chief and included herein by reference.

Section 20. The National Civil War Memorials Officer shall chair of the National Civil War Memorials Committee. He will also provide leadership and direction to Departments and Camps regarding the locating, physical examination of, and recording of all memorials dedicated to Union Civil War soldiers and sailors (outside the care of the National Military Parks, and the U.S. Departments of Defense, or Veterans Affairs). This includes all sizes of monuments (with or without sculpture), those with Civil War era cannon and inert ammunition, memorial fountains, memorial buildings, memorial windows (stained glass), historical markers, and even small plaques. Activities of the committee are listed in the compiled Job Descriptions of National Officers and Standing Committees.

ARTICLE VI.
Finance

Section 1. The National Encampment shall assess a per capita tax on each member reported in good standing at the end of each quarter. Such tax shall be payable in four equal installments, and forwarded by the Department Treasurer to the National Secretary, on or before the last days of January, April, July and October.

Section 2. The fiscal year of the National Organization shall close on June 30 each year.

Section 3. Life Membership is suspended as of August 19, 2000.

Section 4.

(a) There shall be a life membership fund. All Life Membership fees received after August 15, 1996 shall be placed in the Life Membership Fund. The investment of the Life Membership Fund assets will be in accordance with Sections 2 and 3 of Article VIII of the Constitution and an investment plan prepared by the Life Membership Investment Committee.

(b) The new Life Membership Program will annually distribute an amount equal to twice the National per capita tax for each living participant as follows: an amount equal to the National per capita tax to the National General Fund and an amount equal to the per capita tax to the member's Camp. The Camp shall pay the Department per capita tax from its portion of the distribution. If a Life Member belongs to more than one (1) Camp, he must designate which Camp will receive the disbursement.

Section 5. All moneys held by Camps, Departments, and the National Organization are charged with a trust for the purposes for which the Order exists, as stated in its Act of Incorporation, and any use of any of said moneys for other purposes is illegal and shall subject the parties concerned to disciplinary action under Article VI of Chapter V and may be restrained by the Commander-in-Chief or Council of Administration to the extent, if necessary, of taking possession and control of the money involved.

Section 6. There shall be established a Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief's Fund to be used for the promotion of the Order.

Section 7. There shall be established a Grand Army of the Republic Fund (GAR Fund) to be used to support activities conducted to commemorate the G.A.R., Union soldier, sailor or marine and to support the educational and historic preservation purposes of the National Organization. This fund shall be administered in such a manner that all donations to this fund shall qualify as charitable contributions pursuant to the United States Tax Code.

ARTICLE VII.
Committees

Section 1. The standing committees of the National Organization shall be as follows: Constitution and Regulations, Legislation, Military Affairs, Membership, Americanization and Education, Lincoln Tomb Observance, Remembrance Day, Fraternal Relations, Encampment Site, History, Life Membership Investment, Graves Registration, Civil War Memorials and Communication and Technology. A standing committee on Program and Policy shall be appointed by the Commander-in-Chief; the chairman of this committee shall be the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief; each year one member shall be appointed for a term of four years; and the purpose of this committee shall be the promotion of the Order and the creation of guidelines for the continuance of the organization as approved by the National Encampment.

Section 2. Special committees may be created by action of National Encampment and shall be for the period of time designated in the creation thereof. Their duties and responsibilities shall be simultaneously defined.

Section 3. The standing national committees shall consist of five members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, except the Membership Committee which shall consist of the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief as chairman and the junior vice commanders of all Departments and Camps-at-Large, and except the Encampment Site Committee which shall consist of three members. All shall be in good standing in their respective Departments and Camps.

Section 4. The standing committee on Constitution and Regulations shall have continuity of membership. The Commander-in-Chief shall appoint each year two members to hold office for two years. The retiring Commander-in-Chief shall be a member, to hold office for one year.

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Legislation to watch matters of proposed legislation affecting the welfare of the Order or the Constitution or welfare of the United States of America, proposed either in the Congress of the United States or elsewhere; to oppose such as are inimical to the same and to make a written report to the Commander-in-Chief at the session following its appointment.

Section 6. It shall be the duty of the Encampment Site Committee to select the encampment site for the National Encampment and to arrange for sufficient room accommodations, costs, concessions, complimentary rooms and necessities for a comfortable encampment, and in the absence of a local encampment committee to make and carry out appropriate plans for the encampment. It may adopt rules for the proper accomplishment of the foregoing, and may appoint an encampment planner.

Section 7. The Purpose of the History Committee shall be to identify and preserve historical and biographical material pertaining to the Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and their Respective memberships. The committee shall consist of the National Historian.

Section 8. The purpose of the Graves Registration Committee shall be to identify and record graves and memorials to Union Civil War Soldiers and to assist Departments and Camps in the securing of veteran headstones from the Federal government. The committee shall consist of the National Graves Registration Officer, who shall serve as chair, and four Brothers appointed by the Commander-in-Chief. The committee shall have continuity of membership with the Commander-in-Chief appointing in 1994 two Brothers to serve for two years and two Brothers to serve for one year, and appointing in subsequent years two Brothers to serve for two years.

Section 9. The Life Membership Investment Committee shall be composed of three Brothers with one Brother appointed by the Commander-in-Chief each year for a three year term except in 1996 when one Brother shall be appointed for one year, one for two years and one for three years. The Life Membership Investment Committee shall present an annual investment plan to the Council of Administration at their first meeting following each annual Encampment. A status report on the investments made under the plan will be presented to the Council of Administration six months following the close of the annual Encampment. The Council of Administration shall either accept or reject the investment plan but may not amend it. In the event the Council of Administration rejects a plan presented to it, an amended investment plan will be prepared by the Investment Committee and presented at the next Council of Administration meeting.

Section 10. The purpose of the Civil War Memorials Committee is to provide guidance to Departments and Camps regarding the locating, physical examination of, and recording of all memorials dedicated to Union Civil War soldiers and sailors (outside the care of the National Military Parks, and the U.S. Departments of Defense, or Veterans Affairs). This includes all sizes of monuments (with or without sculpture), those with Civil War era cannon and inert ammunition, memorial fountains, memorial buildings, memorial windows (stained glass), historical markers, and even small plaques. The committee shall consist of the National Civil War Memorials Officer, who shall serve as chair, and four Brothers appointed by the Commander-in-Chief. Activities of the committee are listed in the compiled Job Descriptions of National Officers and Standing Committees.

Chapter IV
Sons of Veterans Reserve

ARTICLE I.
Organization and Structure

Section 1. The Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) shall constitute the authorized military component of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. It shall include all military bodies of the Order with the exception that Camps may maintain an independent military organization as a Camp Guard for parades, services and ceremonies under the auspices of the Camp with which the unit is associated. The highest military rank attainable within any Camp Guard shall be that of Captain.

Section 2. To be eligible for and in order to maintain membership in the SVR, a Brother shall be a Member or Associate in good standing in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Section 3. The SVR shall be governed by the Constitution and Regulations of the Order and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the SVR, herein incorporated in these Regulations by reference. The responsibilities of the SVR shall include participation in ceremonies, programs and parades such as Remembrance Day, Lincoln Birthday, Memorial Day, and National Encampment programs, and at the request of the Commander-in-Chief, special ceremonies and parades on behalf of and representing the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Individual units of the SVR and individual members of SVR units may participate in non-SVR or SUVCW sponsored National Civil War reenactments, living histories and educational demonstrations. Non-SVR members of independent Civil War reenactment units may participate with the SVR at SVR or SUVCW sponsored events and/ or programs.

Section 4. The standing National Military Affairs Committee created under Chapter III, Article VII of these Regulations shall be composed of five (5) Brothers of the Order appointed by the Commander-in-Chief. The Committee shall have continuity of membership with the Commander-in-Chief appointing in 1997 three Brothers to serve two years and two Brothers to serve for one year, and, in subsequent years, appointing two (2) Brothers in even numbered years and three (3) Brothers in odd numbered years to serve for two years. The Chair of the National Military Affairs Committee shall be appointed from among the committee members by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Commander-in-Chief. The duties of the Committee shall include preparation of an initial SOP in 1997 and subsequent modifications of the SOP through proposed amendments, general oversight of the SVR, and, with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief, appointment of the Commanding Officer of the SVR. The SOP and any amendments thereof must be approved by the Commandery-in-Chief at the National Encampment.

Section 5. The Commanding Officer of the SVR shall be appointed by the National Military Affairs Committee with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief. The appointment shall be made for a period of not more than three (3) years and may be renewed for additional three (3) year terms subject to the same procedures used for the original appointment. The duties of the Commanding Officer of the SVR shall be to administer and command the SVR pursuant to the Regulations of the Order and the SOP. The rank of the Commanding Officer of the SVR shall not be higher that provided for in the SOP and based upon the total membership of the SVR. In no case may the rank of the Commanding Officer be higher than Brigadier General. Current and past SVR Commanding Officers holding ranks higher than that permitted according the SOP, may retain their current rank for the remaining period of the SVR appointment, adhere to the rank permissible under the SOP, transfer to the Cadre at their current rank, or retire from the SVR at their current rank. The Commanding Officer of the SVR may be relieved by a majority of the Military Affairs Committee, subject to the concurrence of the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 6. The SVR shall be administered by a national body known as the National Military Department, Sons of Veterans Reserve (NMD, SVR) The Commanding Officer of the SVR may appoint a NMD staff consistent with the SOP. All appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the Commanding Officer of the SVR. The period of all such appointments shall be made concurrent with that of the Commanding Officer of the SVR. Current holders of such appointments who hold ranks higher that the maximum provided for such appointments in the SOP may either adhere to the stated ranks, transfer to the Cadre at their current ranks or retire from the SVR at their current ranks. All NMD staff shall serve at the pleasure of the Commanding Officer of the SVR.

Chapter V
General Regulations

ARTICLE I.

Section 1. The Commander-in-Chief shall issue "General Orders", Department Commanders "Department Orders", and Camp Commanders may issue "Camp Orders", and all may issue Official Circulars, all attested by the respective Secretaries.

Section 2. General Orders.

(a) The Commander-in-Chief shall promulgate his General Orders and communicate with the membership in a publication to be known as the Banner.

(b) These Orders shall be printed and distributed at least four times yearly, and sufficient quantities by provided to supply one copy to every member of our Order.

(c) At such time as the Banner may not be published, the Commander- in-Chief may issue and promulgate his General Orders and Communicate with the membership in writing in any other effective manner.

Section 3. Definitions. For purposes of administering Section 5 of the Articles of Incorporation, blood relative is defined as a direct descendent, or a direct descendent of a Brother, sister, half-Brother, or half-sister of a veteran. This definition section shall not apply to any Brother admitted to membership prior to August 21, 1999.

Member in good standing: a Member, Junior or Associate whose dues are current or who possess a valid transfer card, who has no outstanding indebtedness to the Order, and who is not under suspension as the result of a disciplinary procedure.

Section 4. Voting.

(a) Proxy voting is hereby prohibited at all Camp, Department and National meetings. Further proxy voting is prohibited at meetings of the Council of Administration, Department Council or Camp Council.

(b) Absentee voting is hereby prohibited at all Camp, Department and National meetings. Further absentee voting is prohibited at meetings of the Council of Administration, Department Council or Camp Council.

Section 5. New membership applicants whose application is received from the National Order's membership campaign and processed through the office of the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief or Membership Recruiting Officer and who reside within the jurisdiction of an established Department shall be enrolled as a Department Member-at-Large of said Department.

(a) Each Department shall make available to each Department MAL at least once annually a list of the existing camps within the Department and offer the option of transferring from DMAL to a camp of the Brother's choice.

(b) The National Encampment shall annually set a National Application fee and first year's dues for members who join through the office of the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief or the National Recruiting Officer. All moneys collected shall either be forwarded to the Department within which the applicant resides for enrollment as a DMAL or to the NMAL Coordinator if the applicant resides within an area not part of an established Department. The Department will report the new member on the succeeding quarterly report and pay the appropriate application fee and per capita tax from the fees and dues collected. In the absence of action by the National Encampment the CofA shall set the fee and dues.

ARTICLE II.
Bonds

Section 1. The bonded officers shall be as follows: The Camp Treasurer (and the Camp Secretary and Camp Council when holding funds of the Camp); Department Secretary, Department Treasurer (Department Secretary-Treasurer); National Secretary, National Treasurer (National Secretary-Treasurer). Also Department Commanders if so ordered by Department By-laws.

Section 2. The above officers shall be bonded in amounts to be fixed by the various Council of the respective bodies, in some acceptable Surety Company, provided that Camp and Department Officers may furnish acceptable personal surety.

Bonded officers shall be held liable for the funds remaining in their possessions until payment to their successors who have been properly installed, qualified and have given bond and have receipted for all money and property.

Section 3. When a Department Commander, who is required to be bonded, through his own fault fails to neglects to furnish sufficient bond within thirty days after assuming office the Commander-in-Chief should remove him from office pending action by the Council of Administration.

Section 4. The Bonds of the Camp Treasurer and Camp Council shall be approved by the Camp Commander; the bonds of the Department Secretary and Department Treasurer (Department Secretary-Treasurer) shall be approved and held by the Department Commander; the bonds of the National Secretary and National Treasurer (National Secretary-Treasurer) shall be approved and held by the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 5. The bonds of the Camp officers shall run to the Camp Council. The bond of the Department Commander, if one is required, shall run to the Department Council. Bonds of all other officers shall run to the officer by whom they are held.

ARTICLE III.
Badges and Decorations

Section 1. Officers, Members, Associates, Juniors and Honorary Members of the Order, while in Camp, Department or National Encampment, on parade or while performing other duties of the Order (other than while performing tasks involving manual labor), shall be identified by the wearing of a badge of the order upon the left breast. Brothers should take care to ensure their dress is appropriate to the occasion, such as business attire. Should the individual desire, he may also wear badges, awards and decorations awarded to him by U. S. Government and military officials, patriotic and hereditary societies and foreign governments. The order of precedence of the awards shall be:

First: Awards of the United States Government, to include military decorations and medals of the Armed Services in order of precedence set by the U.S. Government and Armed Forces.

Second: Foreign decorations in the order which they were received

Third: State awards in order of precedence recommended by the state

Fourth: Medals and badges of this Order, along with other military, veterans, hereditary and patriotic societies, in the order of the founding of each.

Section 2. The member badge of the Order consists of a top bar in bronze, inscribed with the words: "Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War". The ribbon shall be as specified below. The drop shall be the insignia of the Order in bronze.

(a) Members shall wear a ribbon with a blue center, and a red, white and blue border on each side. Associates shall wear a plain blue ribbon. Honorary members shall wear a plain blue ribbon, with a one-half inch silver star affixed to the center of the ribbon. Juniors shall wear a ribbon with a white center and a red, white, and blue border on each side.

(b) All elected officers of the National Organization, while holding such office or having been granted emeritus status by a National Encampment, a ribbon, the center a broad stripe of old gold, with a narrow border of red, white and blue on each side. All elected Department officers, while holding office or having been granted emeritus status by his Department Encampment, a ribbon with a red center, and the red, white and blue border on each side.

(c) While wearing dinner suit, dinner jacket or tails, members may wear upon the left breast lapel of the coat, about four inches below the top of the shoulder, a miniature of the badge of the Order without the top bar, suspended from the regulation ribbons 5/8 inch in width. For the Commander-in-Chief, Past Commander-in-Chief, currently elected National officers and past National officers granted emeritus status by a National Encampment, the ribbon shall have a yellow center. For Presiding and Past Department Commanders, currently elected Department officers and past Department officers granted emeritus status by their Department Encampment, the ribbon shall have a red center. For all other members it shall have a blue center. Stars may be worn on the miniature badge as authorized elsewhere in this Article. Members who have served in the armed forces of the United States in time of war and have been awarded the War Medal of this Order, may wear a silver palm on the ribbon of their miniature badge. Stars or other devices may not be worn on the full size badges of this Order, unless specifically allowed in this Article, such as the gold meritorious service star, the silver star of an honorary member, SVR devices, etc. Members wearing the miniatures of the Order may only wear one such miniature badge.

Section 3. Criteria for the badges, decorations and other devices of the Order are:

A. Membership Badge. Authorized for each Member who has been admitted into the Order of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War at any level.

B. Associate Badge. Authorized for each Associate who has been admitted into the Order of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War at any level.

C. Junior Badge. Authorized for each Junior who has been admitted into the Order of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War at any level.

D. 50-Year Badge. Any Member or Associate with fifty (50) years of continuous service (never having been dropped) is entitled to wear this badge. This badge shall be the regulation badge of the Order, suspended from a plain bar (on which may be inscribed the name of this member), in lieu of the regulation top bar. The ribbon shall be that of the National Organization. A device shall be worn upon the ribbon, being a bar inscribed "Fifty Year Membership". Upon attaining 70 or 75 years, the numeral 50 can be replaced with 70 or 75 respectively.

E. Honorary Member Badge. The Commander-in-Chief, with the approval of the Council of Administration may grant Honorary Membership to a person who is not otherwise eligible for membership.

F. War Medal. Authorized for any Brother who has served honorably in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States during a period of war or military conflict as defined by the Council of Administration. Entitlement is determined by the Brother's Camp at a regular meeting of that Camp. A gold bar naming the war or conflict in which the Brother served may be attached to the ribbon of the medal. This bar may not be attached to any other badge of the Order.

G. Camp Commander Badge. The Camp Commander's badge replaces the membership badge and is worn by Brothers who are serving as Camp Commander. This badge shall be the same as the Membership badge in all respects, except the top bar and drop shall be silver in color. On a miniature Membership badge, this position is identified by three 1/8 inch bronze stars centered upon the ribbon in vertical alignment. Each elected Camp officer is identified by two 1/8 inch bronze stars centered upon the blue ribbon in vertical alignment of their miniature badge.

H. Department Commander Badge. The Department Commander badge replaces the membership badge and is worn by Brothers who are serving as Department Commander. his badge shall be the same as the Membership badge in all respects, except the ribbon shall be that as authorized for elected Department officers, top bar and drop shall be gold in color. A second bar shall be worn below the top bar and/or attached to the top bar, gold in color, inscribed with the words: "Department Commander". On a miniature Department Officer badge this position is identified by three 1/8 inch silver stars centered upon the red ribbon in vertical alignment. Each elected Department officers identified by two 1/8 inch silver stars centered upon the red ribbon in vertical alignment of their miniature badge.

I. Commander-in-Chief Badge. The Commander-in-Chief badge replaces the membership badge and is worn by the Brother who is currently serving as Commander-in-Chief. This badge shall be the same as the Membership badge in all respects, except the ribbon shall be that as authorized for elected National Officers. The top bar shall be inscribed: "Commander-in-Chief". The top bar and drop shall be gold in color. On a miniature National Officer badge, this position is identified by four 1/8 inch gold stars centered upon the national color ribbon in vertical alignment. Each elected National officer is identified by two 1/8 gold stars centered upon the gold ribbon in vertical alignment of their miniature badge.

J. Past Camp Commander Badge. Brothers who have served a full term as Camp Commander or who have been elected to fill an un-expired term and who served until the end of that term are authorized to wear the Past Camp Commander badge and use the suffix P.C.C. in conjunction with their name. This badge shall have the ribbon of the membership badge, without top bar and the drop shall be the iron cross of the Order, with the insignia of the Order affixed in the center of the iron cross. This honor is signified on the miniature Membership or Associate ribbon the same as an active Camp Commander.

K. Past Department Commander Badge. Brothers who have served a full term as Department Commander or who have been elected to fill a vacancy and who serve to the end of that term may wear the Past Department Commander badge and are entitled to use the suffix P.D.C. in conjunction with their name. This badge shall have the ribbon as prescribed for Department officers, without top bar. The drop shall be the sterling silver cross of the Order, with jewel. Departments may authorize, without cost to the National Organization, a top bar of sterling silver, on which may be inscribed the name of this member. A device may be attached to the top bar, being the symbol of the Department as adopted by that Department - usually being a Corp badge or other such symbol as deemed appropriate by the Department. Such device shall not extend beyond the edges of the ribbon of the badge, nor shall such device cover more than 50% of the ribbon of such badge. This honor is signified on the miniature Department Officer badge the same as an active Department Commander.

L. Past Commander-in-Chief Badge. Members who have served a full term as Commander-in-Chief or who have been elected to fill a vacancy and who serve to the end of that term may wear the Past Commander-in-Chief badge and are entitled to use the suffix PCinC in conjunction with their name. This badge shall have the ribbon as prescribed for National officers, without top bar. The drop shall be the gold star of the Order, with jewel. This honor is signified on the miniature National Officer badge by three 1/8 inch gold stars centered upon the gold ribbon in vertical alignment.

M. Sons of Veterans Reserve Badges. Award of and wearing of badges, medals and devices to members of the Sons of Veterans Reserve are controlled by the SVR Standard Operating Procedure. SVR decorations are authorized, to be specified and defined in SVR Standard Operating Procedure.

N. Recognition Button. Brothers may wear the Recognition Button, which shall consist of a reproduction, in miniature, made of bronze material of the Official Badge of the Order. It shall not exceed 11/16 inches in height or 9/16 inches in width.

O. Buttonhole Decoration. Brothers may wear a buttonhole decoration consisting of a red, white and blue rosette not exceeding 5/8 inches in diameter. The central circular disk is divided into four segments, more than half the area devoted to opposing segments of blue alternating with white and the band to be composed of alternating red and white.

P. Meritorious Service Award. Especially meritorious service to our Order beyond the efficient and loyal performance of a Brother's duties may be recognized by the Commander-in-Chief by suitable citations in orders, letters and certificates bearing the seal of the Order. If the service is considered to merit the distinction and if approved by the Council of Administration, the Brother who performed the service shall be authorized to wear a one-half inch gold star on his Membership badge, badge of current office or past commanders badge. It is not mandatory upon the Commander-in- Chief to make this award.

Q. A Past Commander-in-Chief may, at his discretion, while in business suit or on formal occasions, rather than wear his Past Commander-in-Chief badge, wear his Past Commander-in-Chief insignia suspended from a neck ribbon of the National Commandery colors. A Past Department Commander, at his discretion, while in business suit or on formal occasions, rather than wear his Past Department Commanders badge, wear his Past Department Commander insignia suspended from a neck ribbon of the Department colors. A Past Camp Commander, at his discretion, while in business suit or on formal occasions, rather than wear his Past Camp Commanders badge, wear his Past Camp Commander insignia suspended from a neck ribbon of the Camp colors.

R. Any National, Department or Camp elected officer may, at his discretion, on formal occasions only, wear a 3-inch sash of solid gold (national), red (department) or blue (camp) as appropriate. The sash shall be worn under the formal jacket, across the chest and vest, from right shoulder to left hip.

Section 4. All badges issued by the Order shall be equipped with a safety clasp.

Section 5. The order of precedence for badges defined in this Article shall be:

Group A - Membership Badge (or Associate, Junior or Honorary Member badge)

Commander-in-Chief Badge
Department Commander Badge
Camp Commander Badge
National Officer Badge
Department Officer Badge

The Membership badge is appropriate for wear on all occasions where identification or recognition of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is fitting. In the alternative, the member may wear the badge of office for which he currently occupies from the list in Group A. Members may not wear more than one badge from this group at any one time.

Group B

Past Commander-in-Chief badge
Past Department Commander badge
Past Camp Commander badge

Each badge in Group B is unique and uses various historical elements as part of its composition. The member may choose to wear only a Group B badge, without wearing at the same time a Group A badge and as such, badges from Group B are considered a "badge of the Order".

Group C

War Medal

When worn, the War Medal must be accompanied by a Group A or Group B Badge of the Order. The War Medal is approved for wear by the Brother's Camp and shall include a device identifying the period of qualifying service. Those devices shall not be worn upon any other badge.

Group D

Sons of Veterans Reserve Badges
Current National Encampment badges
Current Department Encampment badges

When worn, a Group D badge must be accompanied by a Group A or Group B Badge of the Order. With the exception of SVR badges, Group D badges should be worn on the right breast only when appropriate to the event. Encampment badges are neither awards nor personal decorations, but in keeping with the traditions of the Grand Army of the Republic, they may be worn to recognize participation in an event or activity. Should a Department issue a badge as part of its Department Encampment, that Department may specify that such badge may also be worn by the Department's delegates and any member of that Department who has automatic credentials to attend a National Encampment, at a National Encampment of the Order.

Section 6. The order of precedence for badges of other hereditary, patriotic or veterans' societies are based upon the date of founding or creation of the organization.

Section 7. Badges, ribbons and medals of the Grand Army of the Republic may not be worn by a Brother of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War unless that Brother is actively involved in a first person portrayal of a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at the time the badge is being worn. Reproduced miniature versions of G.A.R. badges may be worn.

Section 8. The mixing of regular and miniature badges is not allowed. Members may wear either full size badges or the miniature badges they are entitled to, as they deem appropriate.

ARTICLE IV.
Membership Card

Section 1. Each Member, Junior or Associate upon payment of his dues, will be issued by the Camp Secretary an official membership card certifying that the Member, Junior or Associate to whom it is issued is in good standing, having paid his dues for the period indicated thereon.

Section 2. Any Member, Junior or Associate may be required by the Camp Commander to exhibit his current official membership card in order to gain admission, to vote, or hold office in a Camp of the Order.

Section 3. The National Treasurer is charged with the responsibility of supplying Camp Secretaries with suitable membership cards and developing an appropriate system for the issuance and accounting thereof.

ARTICLE V.
Seals

The seals of the Order shall consist of the full Coat of Arms of the Order, surrounded for the National Organization with the words Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; and for the Departments with the words "Department, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War."

The Camp seals shall consist of the Crest of the Coat of Arms, surrounded by thirteen stars, and under the roll shall appear in Roman numerals the year of the organization of the Order (1881). The whole shall be surrounded by the words, "__________. Camp No. ____. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War," and the location, town or city and State shall be added to the same.

ARTICLE VI.
Discipline

Section 1. The offenses cognizable by the SUVCW shall be:

First -- Disloyalty to the United States of America, or any other violation of any pledge given at the time of election into the Order, or violation of any obligation given at the time of assuming any office in the Order.

Second -- Disobedience of the Constitution, By-laws, Rules, Regulations, Policies or other lawful orders of the SUVCW, emanating from proper authority.

Third -- The commission of a serious misdemeanor or any felony crime against the laws of the United States or any State or Commonwealth thereof.

Fourth -- Conduct unbecoming a member in his relation to the Order.

Fifth -- Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.

Section 2. The penalties shall be either:

First -- Dishonorable discharge from the Order.

Second -- Degradation from office.

Third -- Degradation of honors.

Fourth -- Suspension from membership for a specified period.

Fifth -- Reprimand.

Section 3. All accusations shall be made in the form of charges alleging a violation of one or more of the offenses as contained in Section 1 of this Article and specifications as to the specific acts that are alleged to constitute the violations.

Section 4. When charges are made by a Brother against a Brother of the same Camp, the charges and specifications shall be submitted in writing to the Commander of that Camp.

Section 5. When charges are made by a Brother against a Brother of another Camp within the same Department, the charges and specifications shall be submitted in writing to the Department Commander.

Section 6. When charges are made by a Brother against a Brother of another Camp in another Department, the charges and specifications shall be submitted in writing to the Department Commander in which the accused is a member.

Section 7. All accusations must be made by one or more Brothers against one or more Brothers. Charges cannot be filed against a Camp, a Department or the Commander-in-Chief, nor can charges be filed by a Camp or Department.

Section 8. When a complaint is received consisting of charges and specifications, the Commander so receiving the Complaint shall appoint a hearing council, which shall consist of at least five (5) Brothers and no more than nine (9) Brothers who can fairly and justly hear the matter and issue a fair and just decision. If the Commander so appointing cannot locate sufficient Brothers within his command, he may call upon adjoining commands to furnish Brothers for the hearing council. The Commander so receiving the Complaint shall insure that the accused is provided a copy of the charges and specifications at the earliest possible opportunity and these charges and specifications shall not be disclosed to anyone until the accused has been provided with a copy thereof.

Section 9. The party preferring charges and the accused may challenge for cause the membership of the hearing council and may request the hearing council to remove one or more members of the hearing council. The party making the request must show actual bias and a likelihood that the hearing council member cannot fairly hear and decide the issues. A vote of the majority of the remaining members of the hearing council is necessary to remove a member from the hearing council. If a member of the hearing council is removed or resigns, then the appointing authority shall select another Brother of the Order to replace the removed/resigned member. After resolution of the composition of the hearing council, the hearing council shall proceed with their hearings.

Section 10. Upon appointment of the hearing council, the hearing council shall elect a chairman. The hearing council shall then convene and shall give at least ten days' notice to the party preferring the charges and to the accused by certified mail, and shall state in such notice the time and place for the hearing. The hearing council shall have the power to postpone or continue the hearing, subpoena witnesses and shall impartially ascertain all the facts relative to the issue. A party to the issues may submit their evidence and argument by written statement, rather than personally attend a hearing.

Section 11. The Commander-in-Chief shall be tried for alleged offenses only on the request of three (3) elected members of the Council of Administration and on such request, the hearing council shall consist of the elected members of the Council of Administration, convened by the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief.

Section 12. The hearing council shall conduct the hearing in an informal manner so as to do substantial justice between the parties, according to the rules of substantive law. The hearing council shall not be bound by the statutory provisions or legal rules of practice, procedure, pleading, or evidence, except provisions relating to privileged communications. The sole object of the hearing is to dispense expeditious justice between the parties. The hearing council shall conduct the hearing in conformance to the Constitution, Regulations, policy and any orders as may be issued by the Commander-in-Chief. In the absence of the accused, after due notice of the time and place of hearing has been given him, hearing council may proceed in all respects as if he were present and had plead not guilty.

Section 13. All Brothers of the SUVCW when summoned, shall attend as witnesses before any hearing council and their testimony shall be taken on their honor as Brothers. Their testimony may be provided by written deposition if the Brother lives over 100 miles from the site of the hearing or the Brother is otherwise unable to attend in person. The evidence of persons not members of the Order shall be taken under oath or affirmation. Their testimony may be secured by written deposition, submitted under oath or affirmation and certified by a notary public (or other like official) if the individual lives over 100 miles from the site of the hearing or the individual is otherwise unable to attend in person. The hearing council need not make a transcript of the proceedings, but shall make an audio record of the proceedings. Any party submitting exhibits or affidavits to the hearing council shall also provide exact copies of the same to the opposing party.

The hearing council shall then make specific findings of fact and issue their decision as either guilty or not guilty as to each specification, 2/3's affirmative vote necessary to convict. If a guilty verdict is determined, the hearing council shall then determine an appropriate penalty as to the matter.

Section 14. No sentence of dishonorable discharge from the SUVCW shall become effective, until the whole proceedings shall have been forwarded to the Commander-in-Chief, with the recommendation of the Department Commander attached, for his confirmation or disapproval. This section is not applicable when the hearing council is convened by order of the Commander-in-Chief.

Section 15. When charges are preferred against any Brother holding office, the Department Commander or the Commander-in-Chief, in their respective jurisdiction, may suspend the accused from office. During the suspension of an elected Camp or Department officer, their place shall be filled by the next officer in rank. During the suspension of an appointed officer, the authority making the original appointment shall appoint someone to fill the office during suspension. If the accused is a Department Commander, then only the Commander-in-Chief may suspend the accused from office. When the accused is the Commander-in-Chief, an affirmative vote of the Council of Administration to suspend is required.

Section 16. In case the accused is charged with an offense under Section 1, paragraph third, of this Article, the record of his conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction shall be prima facie evidence of his guilt of the offense of which he is charged.

Section 17. A Commander-in-Chief may take summary discipline under the following procedure: A) Complete and file with the National Council of Administration a Complaint with charges and specifications per this Article. A majority vote of the Council of Administration is required to support the charges and specifications and authorize the Commander-in-Chief to proceed, the Commander-in-Chief abstaining from participating in such vote and the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief may only vote to break a tie. Such presentation and vote may be taken by electronic means of communication.

Such summary discipline may only suspend a Member from his status as a member in good standing and/or such summary discipline may temporarily suspend an officer of their duties.

The Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief then appoints a hearing council as per this Article. The matter shall proceed as per this article, however, the a majority vote of the Council of Administration replacing the Commander-in-Chief in affirming any decision involving dishonorable discharge from the Order.

If the discipline sought includes removal of an elected National Officer from office, two/thirds affirmative vote is required, the Commander-in-Chief abstaining from voting and the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief only voting to break a tie. The accused shall not be present in the Council of Administration meeting room when the vote is taken. Such vote to be by secret ballot and the ballots to be destroyed upon the announcement of the vote. There shall be at least three tellers.

Upon removal of an elected National Officer, the Commander-in-Chief, upon the approval of the Council of Administration, may then make a provisional appointment to fill vacancy until the next National Encampment. There shall be no appeal of the ruling by the National Council of Administration to the next National Encampment, unless the Brother was removed from membership in the Order, in which case, the Brother removed must file notice of appeal within thirty (30) days from the effective date of the order removing him from membership. Nothing herein shall prevent a Brother still in good standing, who has been removed from National Office, from being nominated and elected to the office he was removed from.

Section 18. An appeal may be taken from the action of a hearing council as appointed by a Camp Commander, to the Department Commander. An appeal may be taken from the action of a hearing council as appointed by a Department commander, or an appeal panel appointed by a Department Commander, to the Commander-in-Chief. Such appeal shall detail the reasons for the appeal and contain appropriate argument as to why the appeal should be granted. Such appeal must be filed within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the final sentence.

Section 19. Upon an appeal, all records and exhibits shall be transmitted by the party appealing to the authority receiving the appeal. The chair of the hearing council shall forward the audio tape of the proceeding to the authority receiving the appeal.

Section 20. Whenever a Department Commander or the Commander-in-Chief shall receive an appeal, they shall appoint a three member appeals panel. Such appeals panel shall consist of members of this Order and shall, so far as practicable, not be acquainted with the individuals involved or as to the factual matters in dispute. Should it not be possible to reasonably find members of the Order who are not acquainted with the individuals or the factual matters, then the appeals panel shall be selected from those members of this Order who can fairly and justly hear this appeal and issue a fair and just decision.

Section 21. The appeals panel shall notify the opposite party on appeal, who shall then be entitled to file written objection to the appeal, accompanied by written argument. The appeals panel may, but shall not be required to, hold a hearing where the parties may appear to present further oral arguments.

Section 22. The appeals panel shall then render their decision. No sentence of dishonorable discharge from the SUVCW shall become effective, until the whole appeal shall have been forwarded to the Commander-in-Chief, for his confirmation or disapproval.

Section 23. The decision of an appeals panel appointed by the Commander-in-Chief, upon the conclusion of the process as outlined in Section 22, is final and no further right of appeal exists. A party may request leave to appeal to a National Encampment, which request must be made within 30 days of the issuance of the decision of the appeals panel appointed by the Commander-in-Chief. Any decision of the National Encampment is final and may not be reviewed by any authority at any future time.

ARTICLE VII.
Rules of Order

Robert's Rules of order shall govern the meetings of our Order and its elements except as in the Ritual and herein otherwise provided.

ARTICLE VIII.
Flag

Each duly constituted body of the Order shall have the United States Flag.

The official flag of the National Organization shall be gold in color bearing an embroidered badge of the order no smaller than 8 by 11 inches centered and surrounded by lettering identifying the National Organization and the Commandery-in-Chief.

The official flag of a Department shall be of red material, bearing a gold embroidered badge of the order no smaller than 8 by 11 inches centered and surrounded by gold lettering identifying the National Organization and the particular Department, overall flag size to be the same as the American Flag it will accompany.

The official flag of a Camp shall be of similar design except that the principal color shall be blue.

The principal color of the flag of the Davis Camp No. 1, Department of Pennsylvania, shall be gold in recognition of its place as the original camp organized by August Plummer Davis on November 12, 1881.

ARTICLE IX.
Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms of the Order shall be as follows:

Shield: The field is white; two sabers crossed, points up, in proper colors, ensigned by a wreath of laurels, green; on a chief azure (Heraldic blue cobalt); the rising sun, gold; in the disc the monogram "S.U.V." in vermilion, on the white field arrange thirteen stars of five points, as in cut in vermilion.

Supporters: On the right a soldier, in fatigue uniform, (without arms) of 1861-65, viz.: dark blue blouse, light blue trousers, zouave cap, cross and waist belts of brown leather, on the buckle the letters "U.S." On the left a sailor in navy-blue shirt and trousers, black silk necktie and regulation cap.

Crest: An eagle (American) on rocks, in proper colors.

The scrolls containing the mottoes are white, shaded at the end with crimson lake; letters black; the ornaments bordering the shield, and under the same, of gold; the flags, naval and military, with cannon and muskets, all in their proper places and colors.

ARTICLE X.
Ritual

The Ritual of the Order is hereby made a part of the Regulations of the Order and all matters not inconsistent herewith.

ARTICLE XI.
Order of Business

For National and Department Encampments

1. Opening of Encampment.

2. Roll-call of Officers.

3. Appointment of Committee on Credentials.

4. Report of Committee on Credentials.

5. Roll-call for members as recorded.

6. Appointment of Committees:

(a) On Constitution and Regulations.
(b) On Ritual and Ceremonies.
(c) On Resolutions.
(d) On Reports of Officers.
(e) On Press.
(f) On Fraternal Relations.

7. Reports of Officers.

8. Reception and reference of communications [All communications should be submitted in writing, and be referred to the proper committees without debate].

9. Unfinished Business.

10. Reports of Committees.

11. Report of Council [Directed to and acted upon by the Encampment -- not referred to committee].

12. New Business.

13. Nomination of Officers.

14. Election and Installation of Officers.

This order of business may be transposed, except that the installation of officers shall not be held until all other business has been completed.

ARTICLE XII .
Repealing Clause and Amendments

Section 1. All rules and regulations heretofore existing and in force are hereby repealed.

Section 2. The within and foregoing Regulations may be altered or amended at any regular National Encampment by a two-thirds vote of all members present as reported on the roll of the Encampment.