Albert Sidney Johnston Camp #67

Sons of Confederate Veterans

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I:  Title

ARTICLE II:  Purpose and Nature

ARTICLE III:  Membership

ARTICLE IV:  Officers

ARTICLE V:  Executive Committee

ARTICLE VI:  Meetings

ARTICLE VII:  Elections

ARTICLE VIII:  Fees and Dues

ARTICLE IX:  Penalties

ARTICLE X:  Amendments

ARTICLE XI: Membership Roster

ARTICLE I - TITLE

Section l. The style and title of this association shall be Albert Sidney Johnston Camp No. 67, Sons of Confederate Veterans, with headquarters at Houston, Texas.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE AND NATURE

Section 1. In addition to upholding the principles set forth in the foregoing preamble, the purposes of this Camp shall be strictly historical and benevolent, non-political and non-sectarian. Each member shall perform his full duty as a citizen according to his own conscience and understanding.

Section 2. The nature of this organization shall be to operate as a Camp within the framework of the Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, which in turn is the state organization operating under the general Constitution and provisions of the national organization of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Section 3. Discussion of matters that appertain to a political party, whether specifically identified or identified by implication, during meetings of the Confederation or any of its subdivisions is strictly prohibited. Nothing in this Constitution, however, shall be construed to abridge or prohibit the adoption or advocacy of positions that are concerned with the general welfare of the United States of America or its national security; nor to abridge or prohibit the expression of the mind of the Confederation in such matters by the adoption of resolutions or petitioning the Executive and Legislative Branches of the government; provided that there is no identification, specific or implied, with any political party.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. All descendants, lineal or collateral, of those who served in the Confederate Army or Navy, or in the Government Service, to the end of the war, or who died in prison or while in the actual service, or who were killed in battle, or who were honorably retired or discharged, shall be eligible to apply for membership in the camp; provided that no member under sixteen years of age shall have the right to vote, and provided further, no member shall be admitted under twelve years of age.

Section 2. No one shall be admitted to membership in this Camp until satisfactory proof of the foregoing qualifications be submitted in duplicate on official blank applications prepared for that purpose. The original shall be carefully preserved by the Camp, and the duplicate shall, within ten days, be forwarded to General Headquarters for record and permanent preservation. The record must be certified to when practicable by the committee on records or by the attachment of sufficient documentary evidence to satisfy the committee of application of its correctness. These records shall be carefully preserved.

Section 3. Applications for membership shall be read at any regular (or special) meeting, referred to the committee on applications, and, if approved, acted upon at once, or at the next meeting, or the applicant may be elected subject to the approval of the Application Committee.

Section 4. Election of members shall be by viva voice vote. The affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members present at the meeting shall be necessary for election.

Section 5. Dual Membership -- Any member of another Camp may apply for dual membership in this Camp and, when elected, shall be entitled to all the privileges of this Camp except -- the dual member may not serve as an official representative of this Camp at any convention or other official SCV function, and may not be elected or appointed to any Camp office, or have the privilege of voting.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers of the Camp will be as follows:

Commander

1st Lieutenant Commander

2nd Lieutenant Commander

3rd Lieutenant Commander

Adjutant/Treasurer

Historian

Judge Advocate

Quartermaster

Surgeon

Chaplain

Color Sergeant

Genealogist

Chief Aide-de-Camp

And as many Assistant Aides as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Duties of the Officers:

a. The Commander shall preside at all meetings of the Camp, and preserve this Constitution according to the formal rules established by parliamentary usage. He shall appoint all committees, except the Executive Committee, and the Chairman of the Confederate Ball, who will be elected by the Executive Committee, and sign all official letters and documents, command the Camp in all functions, and be a member ex officio of all committees, save the Nominating Committee. In the absence of the Commander, or his incapacitation, the Lieutenant Commanders, in order, shall discharge the duties incumbent upon the position. In fulfilling the normal duties of their offices, as outlined below, the Lieutenant Commanders may call upon the Camp membership to aid them as the situation may require.

b. The First Lieutenant Commander shall act as the Executive Officer of the Camp, and shall preside at Camp meetings in the absence of the Commander. He shall assist the Commander in all projects as directed.

c. The Second Lieutenant Commander shall promote membership activities in the Camp and shall serve as liaison between the Camp and the other Confederate organizations.

d. The Third Lieutenant Commander shall be responsible for all programs, entertainment and physical arrangements for all Camp meetings, subject to the direction and approval of the Commander.

e. The Adjutant/Treasurer shall perform all duties belonging to the position of secretary. He shall keep a written record of the proceedings of each Camp meeting, and he shall make this report at each meeting. Original membership records of each member shall be kept by him, and he shall be held accountable for their safe-keeping. He shall collect all funds due the Camp. He shall give bond, at the expense of the Camp, in such amount and with such sureties as may be required of it. He shall report the Camp's finances at each meeting, and how the funds were collected and disbursed. Checks drawn on the Camp will bear two of the following signatures: the Adjutant, the Commander or the signature of one other member of the Executive Committee named by the Committee. His books and accounts shall be subject to examination by an auditing committee appointed by the Commander whenever he deems it necessary.

f. The Judge Advocate shall have charge of all legal matters of the Camp. He shall construe the Constitution when called upon by the Commander or any member of the Camp to do so. His legal interpretation shall be binding on the Camp, subject to the approval by the Executive Committee.

g. The Quartermaster shall have charge of all arrangements and shall discharge all duties ordinarily required by such an officer.

h. The Surgeon shall attend to the physical needs of the members at any meeting, encampment or re-enactment at which he may be in attendance.

i. The Chaplain shall attend to the spiritual needs of the Camp, give the Invocation and Benediction at regular Camp meetings.

j. The Color Sergeant shall have the responsibility of the presentation of all flags at all meetings, parades and assemblies of which the Camp may be a part.

k. The Historian shall preserve all materials relative to the history of the Camp and pass such records on to his successor. He shall keep a record of the history behind the bestowal of all Crosses of Military Service by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to members of the Camp eligible for this award. Compiles and presents the Camp scrapbook for competition at the National Convention each year.

l. The Genealogist should be well versed in the location and accessibility of historical war records of Confederate Veterans, and shall assist prospective new members in establishing their eligibility for membership in the SCV, when requested.

m. The Chief Aide-de-Camp shall be responsible for collecting payment for the dinner or other service at all regular and special meetings of the Camp. He shall be responsible for the sale of SCV pins, emblems and other related material of general interest to the membership. He may recruit the help of any of the Assistant Aides as deemed necessary.

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of. the Camp Commander, who shall serve as Chairman; the Lt. Commanders; the Adjutant/Treasurer; the five immediate Past Commanders; and five other Camp members to be selected by the commander, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Secretary. The Executive Committee shall elect a Secretary, someone who is qualified to record all transactions of the Committee and who will provide each member of the Committee with a written account of the transactions. The Secretary may be selected from the membership of the Committee or from outside the Committee, or the Camp. When the Secretary is not a member of the Executive Committee, the person will attend the meetings without a voice or vote.

Section 3. Vacancies. Should a vacancy occur among the Camp officers, the Executive Committee is authorized to appoint a replacement.

Section 4. Quorum. Eight members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Section 5. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee will be held once each month unless deferred by the Commander. The time and place of the meetings will be as specified in the By-Laws. Special meetings may be held upon the call of the Commander, or upon written request of five members of the Committee. Committee members must be given at least five days notice of all special meetings.

Section 6. Ball Chairman. The Executive Committee will appoint the Confederate Ball Chairman for the following year at the November meeting of the Executive Committee. The Ball Chairman will appoint his assistant, committee chairmen, and Honorary Ball Chairman, all of which are subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings of the Camp shall be held once each month at a time and place as specified in the By-Laws.

Section 2. Notice of regular meetings will be given by means of the Camp Newsletter, which will be mailed so as to reach each member residing in the metropolitan Houston area five days prior to the meeting.

Section 3. Special meetings may be held at the call of the Commander, or the Executive Committee, at any time. Special meetings must be held upon written request of five Camp members. Five days written notice must be given all Camp members prior to scheduling any special meetings.

ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS

Section 1. Eligibility to hold office. To be eligible to serve as an officer of this Camp, either elected or appointed, a Compatriot must have been a member of this Camp for one year.

Section 2. Nominating Committee. The nominating committee shall consist of five (5) Camp members, three (3) of which must be past commanders in good standing of the Albert Sidney Johnston Camp. All members of the nomination committee will be appointed and approved by a majority of the executive committee. The nominating committee once approved may select a committee chairman. All committee members will have one vote. The committee shall nominate a slate of officers at the November Camp meeting and the slate will be voted on at the December Camp meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the regular Camp meeting.

Section 3. Elections. All elections of Officers shall be by ballot, unless dispensed with by unanimous consent of those present, when they may be voted on by viva voice vote. A majority of votes cast in a contested election shall be necessary for an election. When a majority is not received, the name of the member receiving the least number of votes shall be dropped, and the voting will continue until an election is made.

Section 4. The officers elected shall be installed at the January meeting. When the January meeting falls before the Confederate Ball, the effective date of the installation will be the day following the Ball. An elected officer not present at the installation may be installed at the next scheduled Camp meeting.

Section 5. Delegates and Alternates to a General or a Division Convention shall be elected at such time and in such manner as the Camp may determine.

Section 6. In case of a tie in any election, the Commander shall cast the deciding vote.

ARTICLE VIII - FEES AND DUES

Section 1. Each applicant shall pay an admission fee as set out in the By-Laws, which amount shall be handed in with his application, or the same cannot be considered, and his fee shall be in full of all dues for the remainder of the current calendar year.

Section 2. The yearly dues of members shall be as set out in the By-Laws, payable in advance on the first day of January in each year, and from such dues the Treasurer shall pay the amount due the General and Division organization.

Section 3. Dues of Real Sons shall be remitted, and all portions that are due to be paid to the Division and to the National Organization will be paid by the Camp.

Section 4. Members in arrears four months in payment shall be classified as delinquent, and six months' arrearage shall automatically impose suspension from all privileges. Payment of all back dues within the year, together will all additional levies for that year shall permit reinstatement to active membership. A member delinquent one year or more shall only be reinstated upon vote of the Camp and payments of all amounts due him to the Camp.

ARTICLE IX - PENALTIES

Section 1. The penalty shall consist of forfeiture of right of suffrage, suspension and expulsion.

Section 2. Forfeiture of membership by a vote of two-thirds of the members present may be declared against any member committing an act repugnant to this Constitution or detriment to the objects and purpose of the Camp or the Confederation, provided, that at least two week's notice of such proposed action shall have been given to such member by registered mail, and that the member is given an opportunity to be heard.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be offered at any meeting of the Camp, but shall not be acted on until the next regular meeting. A copy of the proposed amendment or its substance shall be sent to each member with a notice of the regular meeting at which the same is to be acted on, at least thirty days prior to said meeting. A vote of two-thirds of those present shall be necessary to its adoption.

ARTICLE XI - MEMBERSHIP ROSTER

Section 1. Camp property. The Camp is the sole owner of all property rights relating to its membership roster.

Section 2. Responsibility for maintaining the roster. It shall be the duty of the Camp Adjutant, or other Executive Committee member designated by the Executive Committee, to maintain the Camp roster on a monthly basis.

Section 3. No use of the roster. No use of the membership roster by any member of the camp or other party will be allowed, except for:

a. Newsletter distribution.

b. A directory.

c. The Confederate Ball invitation list.

d. State and national membership reports.

e. Any purpose authorized by a majority of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Penalties. Any unauthorized use by a member of the Camp of the membership roster may:

a. Lead to a penalty to be determined by a majority of the Executive Committee to include but not be mutually exclusive of:

i. A reprimand before all members of the Camp and published in the Camp newsletter.

ii. Probation of membership for a specified period whereby the violator may not vote or hold office.

iii. Suspension for a specified time from all Camp functions and Camp sponsored activities.

iv. Expulsion from the Camp pursuant to Article IX of this constitution.

b. Lead to a civil action brought forth in the name of the Camp by the Camp Judge Advocate for damages if authorized by the Executive Committee against the violator.

Any unauthorized use of the membership roster by a person or party not a member of the Camp may lead to a civil and/or criminal action brought forth in the name of the Camp by the judge advocate if authorized by the Executive Committee against the violator.

Section 5. Publication. Each membership roster distributed to a Camp member for the use as a camp directory will contain the following in large type and prominently displayed at the beginning of the directory.

BY LAWS OF

ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON CAMP NUMBER 67

  ARTICLE I Meetings

ARTICLE II Purpose and Nature

ARTICLE III Vote

ARTICLE IV Appeal

ARTICLE V Standing Committees

ARTICLE VI Memorial Day

ARTICLE VII Rules

ARTICLE VIII Amendments

ARTICLE I - MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings of the Camp shall be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Briar Club, located at the corner of Westheimer and Timmons in Houston, Texas. Eight members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting where business is to be transacted.

Section 2. Special meetings may be held in accordance with the provisions of Article VI, Section 3, of the Constitution of this Camp, at a time and place selected by the Commander and upon due notice to the members, also as required by Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution of this Camp.

Section 3. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The following order of business shall be observed in the meetings of the Camp, viz:

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation by Chaplain

3. Salute to the Flags

4. Reading of minutes of the last meeting 5. Nominations and election of applicants for membership

6. Election of Officers

7. Inauguration of Officers 8. Inaugural Address of Commander-elect

9. Reports of Officers

10. Report of Executive Committee

11. Reports of Standing Committees

12. Reports of Special Committees

13. Reading of communications 14. Motions and Resolutions

15. Unfinished Business

16. New Business

17. Benediction by Chaplain

18. Adjournment

ARTICLE II - INITIATION FEES AND ANNUAL DUES

Section 1. Entrance Fee shall be $ 45.00 and will cover all dues for the current fiscal year. Distribution of entrance fee shall be as follows:

To National $ 25.00

To Division $ 5.00

To Camp $ 15.00

Section 2. Annual dues shall be $40.00 payable January 1^st of each year. Distribution shall be as follows:

To National $ 20.00

To Division $ 5.00

To Camp $ 15.00

ARTICLE III - VOTE

Section 1. No member shall be allowed to vote, to hold office, or have the privilege of the floor, who is not in good standing, as set forth in Article VIII, Section 4 of the Constitution of this Camp.

ARTICLE IV - APPEAL

Section 1. Any member having made an appeal from the decision of the chair, may discuss such an appeal, and the Commander may give his reasons for such a decision before the question is put; which, being passed upon, shall be considered as settled.

ARTICLE V - STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. There shall be the following Standing Committees appointed by the Commander upon his election, which committees shall make written annual reports and recommendations to the Camp.

a. APPLICATION COMMITTEE. The Committee on Applications shall consist of the Commander and the Adjutant and shall examine into the report upon all applications for membership, and so far as possible, verify the record of the applicant's ancestor.

b. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE. The Committee on Membership shall consist of so many as shall be deemed necessary by the Commander. It shall see that all eligible prospects are extended an invitation to join the Camp.

c. PROGRAM COMMITTEE. The Committee on Programs shall consist of three members and it shall provide programs for the Camp Meetings.

ARTICLE VI - MEMORIAL DAY

Section 1. MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE. A Memorial Service to commemorate the sacrifice of the Confederate Veterans shall be held each year at the discretion of the Commander.

ARTICLE VII - RULES

Section 1. The rules at meetings of the Camp shall be those set forth in Robert's Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS 

Section 1. Amendments to or suspension of these By-Laws may be made at any meeting of the Camp, monthly or special, by two-thirds vote of the members present, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given in the call of the meetings. No amendments shall be made which are in conflict with any rules or regulations of the General or Division Conventions or Executive Councils.