Constitution of the Alabama Division, Sons Of Confederate Veterans

 

 

 

ARTICLE I: Title
Section 1: This confederation of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS shall be known as the ALABAMA DIVISION, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. 

ARTICLE II: Object and Purpose

 

Section 1: The ALABAMA DIVISION, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS shall be historical, fraternal, educational, charitable, benevolent, patriotic, non-political, non-racial, and non-sectarian. In fulfilling its objects and purposes it strives to: 
Collect and preserve such manuscripts, books, papers, documents, flags, relics, and mementoes relating to the War Between the States as would be of assistance in the preparation and perpetuation of an impartial history of the same. 
Illuminate and clarify the great constitutional, political, social and economic issues and events leading to the War and the patriotic motives and heroism of our ancestors, the Confederate Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, in the field, on the water, in the State Houses and in the Confederate Government. 
Perpetuate the memory of the unparalleled bravery, constancy and fortitude of the Confederate Soldier by the erection, when feasible, of monuments and memorial tablets, and by properly caring for monuments and marking graves in Confederate cemeteries and other grounds where they may be found. 
Cooperate with the National Confederation and the Army of the Tennessee Department of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS.

ARTICLE III: Organization

 

Section 1: The constituted bodies of the ALABAMA DIVISION shall be as follows: 
Organization of at least seven (7) dues paid members shall constitute a camp. Each camp shall select a name and upon admission be assigned a number by General Headquarters. 
Organizations of at least two dues paid camps known as Brigades. The eight brigades shall be known as the Southeast Alabama Brigade, Southeast Central Alabama Brigade, Southwest Alabama Brigade, Southwest Central Alabama Brigade, Northwest Alabama Brigade, Northwest Central Alabama Brigade, Northeast Alabama Brigade and the Northeast Central Alabama Brigade. The Southeast Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Barbour, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Pike. The Southeast Central Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Russell, and Tallapoosa. The Southwest Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox. The Southwest Central Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Loundes, Marengo, Perry and Sumter. The Northwest Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Colbert, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion, and Winston. The Northwest Central Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Bibb, Fayette, Jefferson, Pickens, Shelby, Tuscaloosa and Walker. The Northeast Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Blount, Cullman, DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan. The Northeast Central Alabama Brigade shall consist of the counties of Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph, St. Clair and Talladega.

ARTICLE IV: Membership

 

Section 1: All male descendants, lineal or collateral, of those who served honorably in the Confederate military service shall be eligible for membership in the camps of the ALABAMA DIVISION. No member under the age of sixteen (16) shall have the right to vote. No one under twelve (12) years of age shall be admitted to membership. 

 

Section 2: No one shall be admitted to membership in any camp until satisfactory proof of the foregoing qualifications is submitted in triplicate on official applications. The original shall be preserved by the camp, one copy forwarded to the Alabama Division Adjutant for his files and one copy forwarded to General Headquarters for record and preservation. 

 

Section 3: Membership in the general organization of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS is required of each member of the ALABAMA DIVISION. 

 

Section 4: Membership in the ALABAMA DIVISION, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS shall be of four (4) kinds as follows: 
Active membership. Such membership consists of paying dues to one of the camps and to the ALABAMA DIVISION. 
Life Membership. Any member of the ALABAMA DIVISION who contributes $150 or more to the Alabama SCV Charitable Endowment Trust Fund within a 12 month period shall become a Life Member of the ALABAMA DIVISION and shall be excused from Division annual dues thereafter. A certificate of Life Membership in the ALABAMA DIVISION signed by the Division Commander, Division Adjutant and a Trustee of the Division Endowment Fund shall be issued to the Compatriot. This membership is non-transferable. A roster of all division Life Members shall be maintained by the Division Adjutant and shall be published annually in the Alabama Confederate. The Alabama Division Adjutant shall be the custodian of the monies in the fund and make reports of the financial status of the fund when directed to do so by the Division Commander. 
General Headquarters Camp Membership. 
Division At-Large Membership. An individual qualifying for membership living thirty (30) miles or more from a local camp may, if he so desires, become an At-Large member of the ALABAMA DIVISION. He shall be required to pay Division and National dues plus one dollar directly to Division Headquarters. His camp membership shall be maintained in the General Headquarters Camp. He will be entitled to receive the Alabama Confederate and any other communication mailed directly to Division members. He shall not be entitled to vote at the Alabama Division Convention. He may affiliate with a Division camp by paying the camp dues and thereby becoming a regular active member as set forth in Article IV, Section 4.1. The membership year for At-Large Membership shall be the same as the fiscal year of the ALABAMA DIVISION. An Alabama Division Headquarters Camp may be organized when a sufficient number of At-Large members warrants such a camp.

 

Section 5: Censure, suspension or expulsion of members. Any member of the ALABAMA DIVISION convicted of a crime invoking moral turpitude or a felony may be expelled by the Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote of those present at an Executive Committee meeting thereof, duly called. The member shall be notified of the charges, meeting time, date and place and shall be given the opportunity to be heard. A member may be censured, suspended or expelled in like manner by a like vote when found guilty by the Executive Committee of conduct unbecoming a gentleman or prejudicial to the interests of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. 

ARTICLE V: Meetings

Section 1: The legislative body of the ALABAMA DIVISION shall be the Alabama Division Convention to be held annually at a time and place fixed by the preceding Alabama Division Convention, the Commander of the Alabama Division or the Executive Committee. Written notice of said convention shall be sent to each camp, Division officer and General Headquarters at least thirty (30) days prior to the convention. 

 

Section 2: The Alabama Division Commander, or in the event of his absence, death or resignation, the Lieutenant Commanders, in succession, at the request of the majority of the active camps or the Executive Committee, shall convene the ALABAMA DIVISION in special meetings if they deem an emergency sufficient to warrant such meetings. 

 

Section 3: The Alabama Division Convention shall be called to order by the Division Commander. After a prayer and words of welcome, the Division Adjutant shall call the roll of Division Officers and camps in numerical order. As the camps are called, the chairman of each camp delegation will answer and hand the Adjutant the credentials of his delegation. The Commander will then appoint a Credentials Committee to confirm the credentials of delegates. 

 

Section 4: A quorum shall exist at Alabama Division Conventions when one-thirds of the camps are represented as provided above. 

 

Section 5: The rules of procedure at Alabama Division Conventions shall be those set forth in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, latest edition, except wherein they may be altered by the Alabama Division Convention. 

ARTICLE VI: Officers

 

Section 1: Elected officers shall be Commander, First Lieutenant Commander and Second Lieutenant Commander. 

 

Section 2: The newly elected Commander will appoint an Adjutant, Treasurer, Chief of Staff, Editor, Chaplain, Judge Advocate, Historian, Inspector, Quartermaster, Surgeon, and other staff members as provided by the Sons of Confederate Veterans National Constitution and such Aides-de-Camp as in his judgment are necessary. 

 

Section 3: Each Alabama Division Commander who as served a full term and does not continue to serve as Division Commander shall have the title of Past Alabama Division Commander. He shall take rank next to the Alabama Division Commander. All Past Division Commanders, while in good standing in their respective camps, shall be life delegates to all Alabama Division Conventions with voting privileges. 

 

Section 4: Such officers, as listed in Article VI, Section 1, shall serve until the adjournment of the succeeding Alabama Division Convention or until their successors are chosen. 

Section 5: Elective officers of the ALABAMA DIVISION shall serve a two (2) year term. 

 

Section 6: An Alabama Division Commander's term of office shall be limited to no more than two consecutive two year terms. After a two year break as Alabama Division Commander, a former Commander in good standing may be elected to an additional term. 

ARTICLE VII: Duties of Officers

 

Section 1: Division Commander. The Alabama Division Commander shall be the executive head of the ALABAMA DIVISION with full power to enforce the provisions of the Alabama Division Constitution. He shall be chairman of the Alabama Division Convention and shall be empowered to act for the Division as circumstances, in his judgment, require in cases not provided for in the Alabama Division Constitution, with such actions subject to appeal by the Alabama Division Convention. Vacancies occurring among officers shall be filled by the Commander, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The Commander shall appoint all necessary committees. 

 

Section 2: Lieutenant Commanders. The Lieutenant Commanders, in succession, shall perform the duties of the Commander in his absences and, in the event of his death or resignation, shall become Commander for the unexpired term. The Lieutenant Commanders shall assist the Commander in the performance of his duties as so directed by the Commander. The First Lieutenant Commander shall serve as Commander of the Alabama Division Headquarters Camp. 

 

Section 3: Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff shall be responsible for carrying out the orders of the Commander, coordinating the work of the Division Staff and performing such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Commander. 

 

Section 4: Adjutant. The Adjutant shall be charged with the administration of the policies of the Alabama Division Convention, the Division Executive Committee and the Alabama Division Commander. He shall keep correct records of the proceedings of the Alabama Division Convention, a roster of camps, conduct correspondence of the ALABAMA DIVISION and issue general orders of the Alabama Division Commander, under his signature. He shall collect the funds of the ALABAMA DIVISION and forward them to the treasurer with due and proper explanation of the source of such funds. He shall be the keeper of the seal of the ALABAMA DIVISION and shall issue under it all certificates, documents, legal papers and official orders that may require the seal of the ALABAMA DIVISION. 

 

Section 5: Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive and assume custodianship of all funds of the ALABAMA DIVISION from the Adjutant and shall make reports of the condition of the treasury when called for by the Commander. All funds received from the Adjutant shall be receipted. The Division Treasurer shall keep such records regarding income and disbursements as are necessary for a full and accurate accounting. 

 

Section 6: Judge Advocate. The Judge Advocate shall advise the Commander and the Executive Committee on all legal matters and construction and interpretation of the ALABAMA DIVISION and General Constitutions. He shall act as Parliamentarian at all ALABAMA DIVISION meetings. 

 

Section 7: Chaplain. The Chaplain shall open and close with prayer all ALABAMA DIVISION meetings and shall perform such divine and Christian activities as prescribed by the Commander. He shall send proper condolences to the families of deceased members as he is notified by the respective camps. He may write articles for the Alabama Confederate, conduct memorial services and perform other such duties as are normally performed by a Chaplain. 

 

Section 8: Editor. The Editor of the ALABAMA DIVISION shall, under the authority of the Commander, be responsible for the regular publication and distribution of the Alabama Confederate and such other publications as may be authorized by the Commander, Executive Committee, or the Alabama Division Convention. 

 

Section 9: Historian. The Historian shall be responsible for the construction and maintenance of the Alabama Division Scrapbook and any other duties prescribed by the Commander. He shall contribute appropriate articles for publication in the Alabama Confederate when requested to do so by the Commander. 

 

Section 10: Aides-de-Camp. Aides-de-Camp and other ALABAMA DIVISION officers will perform duties as prescribed by the Commander. 

 

Section 11: Brigade Commanders. Brigade Commanders shall aid the camps within their Brigades, are responsible to and fulfill all duties as required by the Alabama Division Commander. Special attention shall be given by Brigade Commanders to giving aid and assistance to those desiring to create new camps or reactivating previously existing camps within their Brigades. Each Brigade Commander may appoint an adjutant and aides to assist him in his duties. Brigade Commanders shall serve a term of two years. They shall be elected at the Alabama Division Convention by a majority vote of the delegates of the camps within their respective Brigades. 

 

Section 12: Camp Commanders. Camp Commanders shall command their camps. They shall supervise the work of their camps, enforce all orders from Alabama Division Headquarters and submit reports to the Alabama Division Commander stating the condition and activities of their camp when requested. Annual reports to the National and Alabama Division Headquarters must be submitted on July 1 of each year and must include a camp membership roster. 

ARTICLE VIII: Executive Committee

Section 1: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Commander, First Lieutenant Commander, Second Lieutenant Commander, Adjutant, Past Commanders of the Alabama Division, Brigade Commanders and each Camp Commander. 

 

Section 2: The Executive Committee shall meet at the place of the Alabama Division Convention or at a place with in the state as designated by the Alabama Division Commander. 

 

Section 3: The Alabama Division Commander shall be chairman of the Executive Committee. 
Section 4: A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE IX: Finance

 

Section 1: The fiscal year of the ALABAMA DIVISION shall be from August 1 through July 31 of each succeeding year. 

 

Section 2: The revenue of the ALABAMA DIVISION shall be derived from annual membership dies and from other sources as may be approved by the Executive Committee. 

 

Section 3: A yearly per capita tax shall be paid by each camp for every active member in good standing to the Alabama Division Adjutant. Real Sons are excused from the per capita tax. A roster of member names and addresses of members in good standing is to be submitted with the per capita tax. 

 

Section 4: The yearly per capita tax shall be set by the Executive Committee. Such amount is subject to the approval of the Alabama Division Convention. 

 

Section 5: Camps will not be allowed representation at the Alabama Division Convention unless their per capita tax has been paid to the Alabama Division Adjutant in full as required no less than ten day prior to the opening of the Alabama Division Convention. 

ARTICLE X: Prohibitions

 

Section 1: No discussion of sectarian religious subjects nor any endorsements of political subjects that are identifiable with a particular political candidate not any endorsements of aspirants of a political office shall permitted by the ALABAMA DIVISION. 

 

Section 2: No debts shall be contracted by the ALABAMA DIVISION except upon approval of the Executive Committee. 

 

Section 3: The use of the seal, badges, or name of the ALABAMA DIVISION for unauthorized purposes or the giving of its badges to persons unauthorized to wear them is strictly prohibited. 

 

Section 4: No person may be elected or appointed an officer of the ALABAMA DIVISION unless he is a member in good standing of a camp within the ALABAMA DIVISION. 

ARTICLE XI: Committees

 

Section 1: Committees may be appointed by the Alabama Division Commander as necessity dictates and dissolved at his pleasure. 

 

Section 2: Committees shall meet when called to do so by committee chairmen. Committees shall make written reports and recommendations to the Alabama Division Commander when assigned duties are performed. 

ARTICLE XII: Delegates

Section 1: Representation of the various camps at the Alabama Division Convention shall be by delegates as follows: One (1) delegate for every ten (10) active members with one (1) additional delegate for a fraction of five (5) or more members, provided that each camp in good standing shall be entitled to at least two (2) delegates. Delegates shall have credentials signed by their Camp Commanders and Adjutants. Delegates must be present and in good standing to vote. Each delegate has one vote. 

ARTICLE XIII: Amendments

Section 1: This Constitution may be amended at any Alabama Division Convention by a vote of three-fourths of the authorized representatives in assembly, provided that the proposed amendment is sent by United States mail to each camp in good standing at least thirty (30) days prior to convening of the Alabama Division Convention. 

ARTICLE XIV: Annual Date of the Alabama Division Convention

 

Section 1: The ALABAMA DIVISION of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS shall hold its annual convention at a time and place established by the preceding Alabama Division Convention, Alabama Division Commander or the Executive Committee and will be announced in regular issues of the Alabama Confederate. Announcement of the Alabama Division Convention shall be sent by the Alabama Division adjutant to all camps in good standing at least thirty (30) days prior to the convention. 

ARTICLE XV: Dissolution Clause

 

Section 1: In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the ALABAMA DIVISION shall be transferred to a reciprocate organization whose objectives and aspirations are compatible with those of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, with preference given to the national organization of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. No individual is to profit from the dissolution of the ALABAMA DIVISION, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. The Executive Committee shall determine the recipient of the assets. Such distribution shall be made only after said Executive Committee has paid or has made provision for the payment of liabilities of the ALABAMA DIVISION. Records, paraphernalia, seal, certificates, etc. shall be deposited with the national organization of the SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. 

ADOPTED: 11 May 1985 in Division Convention, City of Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama. AMENDED: April 1994 in Division Convention, City of Athens, Alabama. 

 

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