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,