The Purpose of a Constitution
The objects of any Constitution should be stated with clarity and simplicity. No Constitution can be effective if it attempts to legislate for details, which are more suitably dealt with in other ways, i.e., through policies, which are the everyday working rules. The test of a Constitution’s worth is whether or not it gives a prospective member a proper understanding of the nature, aims and purposes of the organization.
The objectives of a Constitution are:
- To name the Association.
- To define the aims and purposes of the Association.
- To state who is eligible for membership.
- To prescribe how the Association shall be governed by covering such matters as:
- What shall be the supreme authority; how shall it be composed; and when shall it meet?
- What officers shall it have; who shall elect or appoint them; and how shall they be elected or appointed?
- How shall the policies be implemented, and who shall be responsible for seeing that this work is fulfilled?
- To determine the method by which the Association shall be financed.
- To define parliamentary authority.
- To outline methods for amending the Constitution.
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