The American Legion Department of Colorado ERIC V. DICKSON POST 1980 CONSTITUTION Preamble For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to Posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. Article I—Name Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Eric V. Dickson Post 1980, The American Legion, Department of Colorado. Its location shall be in the city of Woodland Park, Teller County, Colorado. Article II—Objects Section 1. The objects and purposes of this Post shall be to promote the principles and policies as set forth in the foregoing preamble, and the National and Department of Colorado Constitutions of The American Legion. Article III—Nature Section 1. This Post is a civilian organization and membership therein does not affect or increase liability for military or police service. Section 2. This organization shall be absolutely nonpolitical and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment. Section 3. Rank does not exist in The American Legion; no member shall be addressed by his military title in any meeting of this Post. Article IV—Membership Section 1. Eligibility to membership in this Post shall be as prescribed by the National Constitution of The American Legion, and all active members in good-standing shall have a vote in all general meetings and elections. Section 2. Application for membership shall be made in writing and include presentation of the applicant’s proof of HONORABLE service (copy of Discharge Certificate or DD214 required). Section 3. The Adjutant will confirm the applicant’s eligibility for membership. After the membership eligibility is confirmed, at the next Post meeting the Adjutant (or other designated officer) will present the new member to the Post. Section 4. Any member of this Post may be expelled for cause by a two-thirds vote of the membership after charges are preferred under oath, in writing, and a fair trial had upon the same. Section 5. A member who has been expelled or suspended from this Post for any cause may be reinstated to membership by a two-thirds vote of the membership present in a Post meeting, and the payment of current dues for the year in which the reinstatement occurs. Section 6. No person who has been expelled by a Post shall be admitted to membership in this Post without the consent of the expelling Post, except that where such consent has been asked for and denied by such Post, he/she may then appeal to the Executive Committee of the Department of the expelling Post for permission to apply for membership in this Post, and shall be ineligible for membership until such permission is granted. Article V—Officers Section 1. The administrative affairs of this Post of The American Legion shall, except as may be otherwise provided by the By-Laws, be under the supervision of an Executive Committee which shall consist of the elected officers of the Post. This Post, by its By-Laws, may provide for such other Standing Committees as the business of the organization may require. Section 2. The officers of this Post shall be: Commander, Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Adjutant, Finance Officer, Historian, Chaplain, Service Officer, and Sergeant-at-arms, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary by this organization. Nominations shall be made from the floor at the Post meeting preceding the annual election. Officers will be elected at a regularly-scheduled meeting designated as the annual election meeting and will be elected by a simple majority of those members present at that meeting. Section 3. All officers shall be elected annually and they shall hold office until their successors are duly installed or as otherwise provided. Any officer may be removed for disloyalty, neglect of duty, dishonesty, or conduct unbecoming a Post officer. Removal from office requires a two-thirds vote of those members present at a regularly-scheduled Post meeting Section 4. Every member of the Post in good standing shall be eligible to hold office in this Post. Section 5. The duties of officers shall be those usually appertaining to such officers and as further provided in the By-Laws. Article VI—Finance Section 1. The revenue of this Post shall be derived from membership or initiation fees, from annual membership dues, and from such other sources as may be approved by the Post Executive Committee. Section 2. The amount of such membership or initiation fees and the amount of such annual Post dues shall be fixed and determined by this Post. Section 3. The Post shall pay to Departmental Headquarters the National and Departmental annual membership dues for every member of the Post. Section 4. Routine Post expenditures shall be made upon approval of the Executive Committee (standing approval can be given for routine expenditures). Special or extraordinary expenditure requirements shall be brought before the membership at a regularly-scheduled meeting and must be approved by a majority of the members present. Section 5. Requests for expenditures of Special Funds shall be referred to the proper Board or Committee charged with overseeing said funds for action prior to subsequent consideration by the Executive Committee and the Post membership. Article VII—American Legion Auxiliary Section 1. The Post recognizes an auxiliary organization to be known as the Auxiliary Unit of Eric V. Dickson Post 1980, The American Legion. Section 2. Membership in the Auxiliary shall be prescribed by the National Constitution of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Unit shall be organized and operated in compliance with the National and Department Constitutions of both the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. Article VII—Amendments Section 1. This Constitution is adopted subject to the provisions of the National Constitution of The American Legion and the Department Constitution of the Department of Colorado, The American Legion. Any amendment to said National Constitution or Department Constitution which is in conflict with any provisions herein shall be regarded as automatically repealing or modifying the provisions of this Constitution to the extent of such conflict. Section 2. This Constitution may be amended at any regular Post meeting by vote of two-thirds of the members of said Post attending such regular meeting, providing the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the next preceding regular meeting of said Post, and providing further, written notice shall have been given to all members at least ten (10) days in advance of the date when such amendment is to be voted upon, notifying said members that at such meeting a proposal to amend the Constitution is to be voted upon; such notice shall contain the provision of the proposed amendment. Thereafter and on 22 January 2008 the above and foregoing proposed and revised Constitution was approved, confirmed, ratified, and adopted by Eric V. Dickson Post 1980, the American Legion, Department of Colorado, as its Constitution. CERTIFICATION OF CONSTITUTION APPROVAL This Constitution is certified to be a true copy of the one approved by the Post membership at the regular meeting held on 22 January 2008. CERTIFIED: _________________________________ Post Adjutant _________________________________ Post Commander