On Wednesday, August 30, 2023 in beautiful Charolotte, North Carolina the convention delegates passed two amendments. The first, an amendment to National Bylaws, Article IX Unit Organization, Section 2. The original section 2 stated:
“The minimum membership of a Unit shall be ten (10) Senior members, with the exception of a Department Headquarters Unit that shall have no minimum membership requirement.”
The newly amended section now reads:
“The minimum number of members to charter a new unit shall be ten (10) senior members, with the exception of a Department Headquarters Unit that shall have no minimum membership requirement.”
The original proposal for the amendment was brought forward by the National Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
The second amendment that was passed by the 2023 National Convention delegates was to National Standing Rules II. National Convention: Section 2. The proposal, submitted by the department of Minnesota, aimed to change the formula used to calculate the national convention delegate strength. Here is what was proposed and passed:
Representation in the National Convention shall be by Departments. Each Department shall be entitled to five (5) seven (7) delegates; and one (1) additional delegate for each fifteen hundred (1,500) one thousand two hundred (1,200) members or major fraction thereof, whose current dues have been received by the National Treasurer thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of said National Convention, and to one (1) alternate for each delegate. The delegates and alternates shall be selected not less than two (2) weeks before the National Convention at Department Conventions or in any manner specified by any Department Constitution; provided that the Department hosting the National Convention shall be privileged to hold its Department Convention and select its delegates at the time and place designated by its Department of The American Legion. In addition to the above, the National President, National Vice President, National Division Vice Presidents, National Chaplain, National Historian, members of the National Executive Committee, and Past National Presidents in good standing with their respective Units shall be delegates-at-large with vote to be exercised with their respective Departments, except for the National President who shall vote as Chairman of the National Convention.
