Quote:
Originally posted by PSK480
Actually you shouldn't have both constitution and by-laws. The only reason most of us do is that the constitution is a national contistution and the by-laws are the local rules we set up for our chapter.
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I'm going to disagree -- respectfully, I hope.
Constitutions and by-laws (which may have another name -- statutes, regulations, etc.) serve different purposes, and many if not most national organizations have both.
A constitutution is supposed to be the "basic law" of the group. It sets forth the basic governing principles of the group: name, purpose, classes of and requirements for membership, basics of chapter structure, officers, governing structure, perhaps insignia, requirement of use of the official ritual and how the ritual can be revised, and the like. A good constitution is not too detailed.
That is because the details are left for the by-laws, which provide specifics on a variety of things. By-laws fill in blanks left by the constitution and may address additional subjects as well. (This is where an alcohol policy would go, for example).
By-laws may be amended by a simple majority, while amending the constitution requires a super-majority (usually 2/3 or 3/4) and may require succesive votes for the national governing body, ratification by chapters, or the like.
Hope this helps a little.