The Bylaw Process

BYLAWS: When writing bylaws it is better to write basic bylaws that fit your society's need rather than trying to follow sample bylaws. Sample bylaws may be used as a guideline.

Start with ROBERT'S RULE OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED and follow the guidelines given there for writing suggested articles.

The articles to include are:

• Name
• Object*
• Members*
• Officers
• Duties of officers
• Nominations & Elections
• Appointed Personnel
• Pastoral Counselors
• Meetings
• Representation at conventions*
• Executive Committee and Board of Directors
• Committees
• Finance(s)
• Mission Grants
• Parliamentary Authority*
• Amendments
• Standing Rules: such as zone dues, National Convention Expense Fund assessment, speaker fees and mileage, rotation of regional and zone rally hosting, serving for funerals, etc. (Standing rules are related to details of the administration of the organization, rather than to parliamentary procedures. Standing rules can be changed easily by a majority vote at any meeting.)

NOTE: The four articles (marked in bold *) must agree with those of the LWML on the national level.

Zone Bylaws - Procedure for zones.

• Review every five to six years, making changes to keep with current practices;
• Send to District Structure Committee Chairman for approval, comments and/or suggestions;
• Bylaws are returned to the Zone Board with approval, comments and/or suggestions from the District Structure Committee;
• Zone Board prepares proposed amendments to be voted on at the Spring Rally;
• Zone Rally participants vote on proposed bylaw changes
• Print updated bylaws and send a hard copy to the District Structure Chairman; include a note telling whether bylaws are to be reviewed by the committee or are ready for filing

Society Bylaws - Procedure for group officers or a committee.

• Review every five to six years, making changes as necessary to keep with current practices of the group and LWML,
• Mail proposed bylaw changes to District Structure Committee for approval and comments,
• District Structure Chairman will return with comments and suggestions to the group.
• Proposed amendments are to be presented to the local society for approval.
• Send updated bylaws to the District Structure Chairman, with a note that it is ready to be filed.