1. Proposed amendments to the Constitution may be submitted by
2. any subordinate body or an International Officer at any time prior to
3. one hundred and twenty (120) days before the convention begins.
4. All proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the
5. General Secretary and Treasurer to be referred to the Constitution
6. Committee. Each proposal shall be submitted separately, typewritten,
7. on standard paper, be properly identified, with a clear and concise
8. explanation given of the article to be amended.
9. The Constitution Committee shall be convened at the International
10. Headquarters during the year in which the convention is to be held for
11. the purpose of considering all proposed amendments. The Committee
12. shall prepare a report which shall include all amendments referred to it
13. for consideration. A copy of its report shall be submitted to each
14. Delegate, subordinate body, and International officer at least thirty (30)
15. days prior to the convention. The Committee shall report to the
16. convention all amendments recommended by it. The committee shall
17. not be empowered to make any proposals to the delegates that are not
18. presented to the committee in accordance with this Article.
19. A two-thirds vote of the Delegates present shall be necessary to
20. adopt amendments.
21. All amendments to the Constitution, except those which specify
22. otherwise, shall become effective on the first day of the third month
23. following adjournment of the convention at which they are adopted.
24. When any question of policy shall arise between conventions, or
25. any proposed change, alteration, or amendment in the Constitution is
26. suggested, which, in the opinion of a majority of the Board of Directors,
27. is of such importance and urgency that it should be submitted to the
28. Delegates; and when the calling of a special convention is not deemed
29. advisable; the proposal shall be submitted in writing to all Delegates by
30. the General Secretary and Treasurer.
31. The proposal shall be mailed to the Delegates of each local, all
32. subordinate bodies, and International officers by the General Secretary
33. and Treasurer within thirty (30) days after the action has been
34. authorized by the Board of Directors.
35. When the Delegates shall have had an opportunity to present the
36. proposal to the locals for discussion, they will cast their votes and
37. return them to the General Secretary and Treasurer. If two-thirds
38. of the Delegates voting favor the proposal, it shall have the same force
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39. and effect as any action adopted at a convention.
40. It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to canvass, determine,
41. and certify the results of the vote as returned by the Delegates. The
42. General Secretary and Treasurer shall report the result of the vote to
43. the Delegates, all subordinate bodies, and International officers,
44. indicating how each Delegate voted. Any change, ratified or adopted,
45. shall become effective thirty (30) days from the date of certification,
46. unless the proposal provides for a different effective date.
47. The amendments to the Constitution enacted at the convention
48. shall be codified, printed, and sent to each member.
