The next section will provide more information on these elements.
It’s best to have two or more members take notes. You’ll get a more comprehensive summary of the meeting, and you’ll be less likely to miss something important.
Many universities will provide a template for you to follow. Some institutions require that clubs adhere to set membership policies.
Consider if you want your club’s name to be fun and catchy, or more formal.
Try to answer the following questions: Where are will your club perform its work? Who benefits from your club’s work? In what way do they benefit? This is the most important part of the constitution, so make sure everyone is on the same page.
This is also the time to decide if you will have a membership fee. If so, how much will it be, and how often will members have to pay? Members might be anyone who pays dues, anyone who attends meetings, or anyone who participates in the club’s activities.
Common officer positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. When writing your constitution, use the officer position title rather than the current officer’s name. After all, officers will come and go throughout the club’s life.
Committees usually have a Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. [7] X Research source
You can also include some information about meeting procedures in your constitution. Think about how decisions will be made. If you want to make decisions by voting, provide a brief description of the voting criteria.
Don’t forget to include a statement about how club funds will be spent. Generally, club money should only be spent on club materials and activities.
You might have all club members vote to ratify a change, or only the officers. Requiring the vote of two-thirds of club members is the norm. [9] X Research source If you have bylaws, a more flexible document that outlines the daily functioning of your club, your constitution should provide rules for amending the bylaws as well.
Feel free to add additional articles. For example, if members of your club are paying dues, then you could include a separate article for dues, if you want. However, you could also place dues under the membership article. Label articles by number and category. For example, your first article should be titled “Article 1. Name. ” If your club is affiliated with an institution, refer to their constitution guidelines. Often, they require specific articles.
For example, in your article about officers, you might want to include sections about different officer titles, the responsibilities of each officer, the election process, and officer eligibility requirements. Write a sentence or two for each section. Label sections by number. For example, the first section in any article would be labeled “Section 1. ”
For example, when writing about your club’s name, opt for a simple sentence like, “The name of the club will be The Youth Rangers. ”
For example, you should include rules about meeting frequency in your constitution, but not about meeting time or location. Those things will likely change based on members’ schedules and space availability.
Look at various sample constitutions to guide you. You can find tons of them online. If your club is affiliated with an institution, they may provide you with a sample constitution.
If your constitution wasn’t accepted the first time, you’ll need to call another meeting after making edits to get it approved.
Signing makes the constitution valid.
Don’t forget to file your constitution away in a safe location! Again, a digital file is best.
