CONSTITUTION AND REGULATIONS OF THE SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR Annotated with the Decisions and Opinions of the COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF and Judge-Advocates-General/National Counselor’s and Policy Decisions of National Encampments (Annotations do not include rulings and opinions for years where the Proceedings have not been published.) Changes to Regulations adopted at the 134th National Encampment are in red. © 1881-2016, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, A Congressionally-Chartered Corporation. As amended through the 135th National Encampment August, 2016, Springfield, Illinios Annotations amended through the 133rd National Encampment August, 2014, Marietta, Georgia 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS – (Chapters & Articles Hyperlinked - just click on the title) CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE ARTICLE I. Name ARTICLE II. Purpose and Objects ARTICLE III. Eligibility to Membership ARTICLE IV. Religion and Politics ARTICLE V. Organization Section 1. Bodies of the Order Section 2a. National Encampment supreme power and authority Section 2b. If C-in-C view Encampment in violation or conflict Section 3. The National Encampment as final court of appeals ARTICLE VI. Formation and Disbandment Section 1. Formation of Camps Section 2. Camp Charter Revocation Section 3. Department Formation Section 4. RESERVED Section 5. Formation Camps-at-Large. Section 6. Department Charter Revocation ARTICLE VII. Membership Section 1. Membership classes-four (4) classes of membership. (a) Members-14 or older (b) Life Members. (c) Honorary Members (d)Junior Members Section 2. Associates (a) Associates 14 or over without ancestor (b) Junior Associates less than age 14 without ancestor (c) Cannot have over 1/3 Associates (d) Associates cannot hold certain national offices (e) Associates cannot count for starting a new camp or be on charter Section 3. Associates by Departments and Camps Section 4. Transfer or Honorable Discharge Section 5. National may place restrictions on Junior and/or Junior Associates ARTICLE VIII. Permanent Fund Section 1. Honor Roll Fund (bequeathed funds) Section 2. Types of deposits for Permanent Fund Section 3. Investments and deposits in the name of SUVCW Section 4. Trust Funds Section 5. Limits on spending permanent funds Section 6. Transferring income to General Fund ARTICLE IX. Amendments ARTICLE X. Dissolution of Corporation © 1881-2016, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, A Congressionally-Chartered Corporation. As amended through the 135th National Encampment August, 2016, Springfield, Illinios Annotations amended through the 133rd National Encampment August, 2014, Marietta, Georgia 2 REGULATIONS CHAPTER I CAMPS ARTICLE I. Formation Section 1. Camp organization- 5 members Section 2. Charter issue Section 3(a). Charters issued by old Sons of Veterans organization (b). Charters of previous Camps and/or Departments Section 4. Surrender Camp Charter Section 5. Disposal of Camp property Section 6. International brothers petition to form a Camp outside of U.S. Section 7. International Camps Section 8. International Camps use of form 50 and status as Camp-at-Large Section 9. International Camp Charters Section 10. International Camps relation through Department-at-Large Section 11. International Camp per capita, Banner, ect Section 12. Payments from brothers outside of U.S. to be in U.S. Dollars Section 13. Camps failure to pay per capita Section 14. Camps reinstatement Section 15. Camp suspension Section 16. Suspension for failure to file Form 22, Form 27, or EIN report Section 17. Suspension for failure to (“IRS”) Form 990N ARTICLE II. Membership Section 1. Application for membership Section 2. Rejected applicant Section 3(a). Non-payment of dues by member (b). Reinstatement does not restore past honors or offices Section 4. Members failure to pay fine Section 5. Brothers Transferring into Camp Section 6: Dual Membership Section 7(a). Dual Members count only in primary/home camp (b). Member to Designate home camp (c). Dual membership can be counted in new camp Section 8. Dual Member delegate to Encampments from only one Camp/Department. Section 9. Brothers transferring from Department Members-at-Large Section 10. Honorable Discharge Section 11. Report supplementary ancestors ARTICLE III Transfers and Discharges ARTICLE IV Meetings Section 1. Regular and Special Meetings Section 2. Number needed for quorum Section 3. Admit members of Allied Orders © 1881-2016, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, A Congressionally-Chartered Corporation. As amended through the 135th National Encampment August, 2016, Springfield, Illinios Annotations amended through the 133rd National Encampment August, 2014, Marietta, Georgia 3 Section 4. Optional use of ritualistic ceremonies Section 5. Camp may change location Section 6. Camps may consolidate ARTICLE V. Officers Section 1. List of Camp officers Section 2. Election of camp officers Section 3. Installed of camp officers Section 4. Filling Officer Vacancy Section 5. Removal of camp officers Section 6. Camp divisions or sections corresponding by communities ARTICLE VI. Installation Section 1. Installing Officer Duties Section 2. Inspection by Installation of Officer ARTICLE VII. Elected Officers Job Descriptions & Duties Section 1. Camp Commander Section 2. Senior Vice Commander Section 3. Junior Vice Commander Section 4. The Camp Secretary Section 5. Camp Treasurer ARTICLE VIII. Appointed Officers Job Descriptions & Duties Section 1. Camp Patriotic Instructor Section 2. Camp Chaplain Section 3. Camp Counselor Section 4. Camp Historian Section 5. Camp Graves Registration Officer Section 6. Camp Memorials Officer Section 7. Camp Guide Section 8. Camp Color Bearer Section 9. Camp Guard ARTICLE IX. Optional Officers Job Descriptions & Duties Section 1. Welfare Committee Section 2. Camp Eagle Scout Certificate Coordinator Section 3. Camp Signals Officer Section 4. Camp Recruiting Officer ARTICLE X Camp Council ARTICLE XI Finances Section 1. Camp dues and fees Section 2. Camp admission fees Section 3. Camp supply purchase Section 4. Camp report and payment of fees and per capita dues ARTICLE XII Committees ARTICLE XIII Camp Guard ARTICLE XIV By-Laws © 1881-2016, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, A Congressionally-Chartered Corporation. As amended through the 135th National Encampment August, 2016, Springfield, Illinios Annotations amended through the 133rd National Encampment August, 2014, Marietta, Georgia 4 Section 1. Camps shall adopt By-Laws Section 2. Suggested Outline for Camp By-Laws CHAPTER II DEPARTMENTS ARTICLE I Formation Section 1. Department Charter Section 2. Governed Department Encampment Section 3. Formation of Department Section 4. Consolidation of Departments Section 5. Departments may divide themselves Section 6. Camps may not secede from Department. Section 7. C-in-C may by Special Order establish a Department Section 8. All Camps in Department must join Department Section 9. Departments may establish a regional association. Section 10. Failure to file and pay annual report and per capita dues Section 11. Failure to file the consolidated report Section 12. Failure to file the annual EIN report Section 13. Department members-at-large Section 14. Departments to obtain National's permission to file legal actions ARTICLE II Membership Section 1(a). Membership of the Department Encampment (b) No member shall represent more than one camp (c) Camp Secretary/Treasurer for 10 years conferred PCC rank (d) Issuing of credentials (e) PCinC dual membership voting rights Section 2. Filling delegate vacancies Section 3. Camps failing to pay per capita dues or make reports Section 4. Restoration of Past Camp Commander rank ARTICLE III Meetings Section 1. Departments must between January 1and July 1 (a) Special meetings (b) National Council of Administration may grant date exceptions Section 2. Quorum ARTICLE IV Officers Section 1. List of officers Section 2. Term of Officers Section 3. Installation of Officers ARTICLE V Eligibility of Officers Section 1. Department Commander eligibility and Secretary/Treasurer limitations Section 2. Replacing vacancies in an elective office Section 3. Removal of delinquent officers Section 4: Term limits for Department Commanders ARTICLE VI Election of Officers © 1881-2016, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, A Congressionally-Chartered Corporation. As amended through the 135th National Encampment August, 2016, Springfield, Illinios Annotations amended through the 133rd National Encampment August, 2014, Marietta, Georgia 5 Section 1. Elected Officers method of election Section 2. Department Commander shall appoint all other Department Officers ARTICLE VII Elected Officers - Job Descriptions & Duties Section 1. Department Commander Section 2. Senior Vice Department Commander Section 3. Junior Vice Department Commander Section 4. Secretary Section 5. Treasurer ARTICLE VIII Appointed Officers - Job descriptions & Duties Section 1. Patriotic Instructor Section 2. Chaplain Section 3. Counselor Section 4. Historian Section 5. Graves Registration Officer Section 6. Camp Organizer Section 7. Color Bearer Section 8. Guard Section 9. Guide Section 10. G.A.R. Records Officer ARTICLE IX Optional Appointed Officers Job Descriptions & Duties Section 1. Report requirements of positions still due Section 2. Civil War Memorials Officer Section 3. Eagle Scout Certificate Coordinator Section 4. Assistant Department Secretary Section 5. Recruiting Officer Section 6. Signals Officer Section Section 7. GAR Highway Officer ARTICLE X Department Council Job Descriptions