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PART IX.

C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d R u l e s

VOTH
Organizing and Conducting Lyceums and Literary

Societies.

I T is necessary for all permanent associations formed for mutual
benefit to have a Constitution by which they shall be governed.
Where it is intended to crganize a society for the intellectual
improvement or social enjoymont of its members, a number of persons
meet together and select a name for the organization. The next step
is to appoint a committee, whose duly it shall be to prepare a Consti­
tution and code of By-Laivs for the society. These must be repotted
to the society at its next meeting, and must be adopted by the votes
of a majority of that body before they can take effect.
The Constitution consists of the rules which form the foundation
upon which the organization is to rest. It should be brief and explicit,
It should be considered and adopted section by section; should be
recorded in a book for that purpose, and should be signed by all the
members of the societv.
y
Amendments to the Constitution should be adopted in the same
way, and should be signed by each member of the society.
J11 addition to the Constitution it is usual to adopt a series of minor
rules, which should be explanatory of the principles of the Constitu­
tion. These are termed By Tm-ws, and should be recorded in the same
book with the Constitution, and immediately after it, New by-laws
may be added from time to time, as the necessity for them may arise.
t is best to have as few as possible. They should be brief, and
io clear that their meaning may be easily comprehended, and should
govern the action of the body.