ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1 - The name of this organization shall be the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut.

ARTICLE II

NATURE

Section 1 - The Sons of The American Legion is a civilian organization. Membership therein does not affect nor increase liability for military or police service. Former service rank does not exist in the Sons of The American Legion.

Section 2 - The Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be absolutely non-political and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles nor for the promotion of the candidacy of any person or group seeking public office or preferment.

Section 3 - The Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be absolutely non-sectarian.

Section 4 - Each member shall perform his full duty as a citizen according to his own conscience and understanding in accord with the law.

ARTICLE III

ELIGIBILITY

Section 1 - All male descendants, adopted sons and stepsons of members of The American Legion, such as male descendants of veterans who died in the service during World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, and Persian Gulf, during the delimiting periods set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of the American Legion or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in The Sons of The American Legion.

Section 2 - There shall be no form or class of membership except an active membership.

Section 3 - No person may be a member at any one time of more than on Squadron.

Section 4 - No person, who has been expelled by a Squadron, shall be admitted to membership in another Squadron, without the consent of the expelling Squadron, except where such consent has been asked for and denied by such Squadron he may appeal to the Detachment Executive Committee for permission to be admitted to membership in another Squadron, and shall be ineligible for membership until such permission is granted.

ARTICLE IV

DETACHMENT CONVENTION

Section 1 - The legislative body of the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be a Detachment Convention to be held annually at a place and time to be fixed by vote of the preceding Convention, or in the event that the preceding Convention does not fix a time and place, such shall be fixed by the Detachment Executive Committee, hereinafter provided for.

Section 2 - The annual convention shall be composed of delegates and alternates from each Squadron. Each Squadron shall be entitled to one delegate and one additional alternate for each ten (10) memberships or the major fraction thereof paid up thirty days prior to the date of the Detachment Convention. Each Squadron shall be entitled to its authorized delegate and alternate convention representation and voting strength provided the Squadron Organization has paid in advance of such convention the registration fees as fixed by the Detachment Executive Committee for all of its delegates and for such of its alternates as it may desire to register.

Section 3 - The delegates and alternates to the Detachment Convention shall be chosen by each Squadron at a regular meeting held at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Detachment Convention.

Section 4 - All past Detachment Commanders while in good standing in their respective Squadrons in this Detachment shall be life delegates to all Detachment Conventions with vote, to be exercised by them with their respective Squadron.

Section 5 - A quorum shall exist at the Detachment Convention when there are registered and present a majority or more Squadrons, partially or wholly represented.

ARTICLE V

HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT OFFICERS

Section 1 - The Department Commander of The American Legion, Department of Connecticut, shall appoint seven (7) members of the American Legion to a standing committee to be designated as Headquarters Detachment. The committee director and assistant director shall be known as the advisors of Headquarters Detachment or Detachment Advisor and Assistant Detachment Advisor. The Department Adjutant shall be a member ex-officio of the Headquarters Detachment and will attend to all the appropriate duties for the Headquarters Detachment. The Department Treasurer shall be a member ex-officio of Headquarters Detachment and shall be charged with the collection, investment and disbursement of all funds under instructions of the Headquarters Detachment and shall be suitably bonded.

Section 2 - The Detachment Convention shall elect a Detachment Commander; a Detachment Senior Vice Commander; three (3) Detachment Area Vice Commanders, who shall serve without seniority; a Detachment Chaplain; and a Detachment Historian.

Section 3 - No person shall be eligible for re-election to the office of Detachment Commander.

Section 4 - All elective officers shall serve until the adjournment of the succeeding Detachment Convention following their election and thereafter until their successors are chosen.

Section 5 - The Detachment Adjutant shall be appointed by the Detachment Executive Committee upon the nomination of the Detachment Commander at its first meeting following the Detachment Convention and may be removed by the Detachment Executive Committee at any time. He shall serve until his successor is appointed by the Detachment Executive Committee and qualifies.

Section 6 - The Detachment Judge Advocate shall be appointed by the Detachment Executive Committee upon the nomination of the Detachment Commander and shall hold office for one year and until his successor is appointed and qualifies.

Section 7 - The Detachment Sergeant-At-Arms shall be appointed by the Detachment Executive Committee upon the nomination of the Detachment Commander and shall hold office for one year and until his successor is appointed and qualifies. Assistant Detachment Sergeants-At-Arms may be appointed as the Detachment Executive Committee deems necessary.

Section 8 - All Detachment Officers handling Detachment funds shall give adequate bonds which shall be approved by the Department Executive Committee of the American Legion, Department of Connecticut. Said bond shall cover double the average of money handled by the Detachment in a single year.

ARTICLE VI

DETACHMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - Between the Detachment Conventions, the administrative power of the Detachment shall be vested in the Detachment Executive Committee, which shall consist of the Detachment Commander, Detachment Senior Vice Commander, three (3) Detachment Area Vice Commanders, National Executive Committeeman, Alternate National Executive Committeeman, Detachment Historian, Detachment Chaplain, and a Squadron Commander from each of the Squadrons.

Section 2 - The Detachment Adjutant, Detachment Judge Advocate and Detachment Sergeant-At-Arms shall be members of the Detachment Executive Committee without vote. All past Detachment Commanders while in good standing in their respective Squadrons in the Detachment of Connecticut shall be members of the Detachment Executive Committee with vote.

Section 3 - The Detachment Executive Committee shall provide for the employment of such subordinate officers and employees as may be necessary for the administration of the affairs of the Detachment and prescribe their duties and emoluments.

ARTICLE VII

LOCAL UNITS

Section 1 - Local units shall be termed the Squadron, which shall have a minimum membership of ten (10).

Section 2 - Those who desire to form a Squadron of the Sons of The American Legion shall make application for a charter to the Post Commander of the local Post of The American Legion in the area in which they reside. Upon approval by the sponsoring American Legion Post the application shall be forwarded to the Detachment Executive Committee. Upon approval by the Detachment Executive Committee the application shall be forwarded to the Department Commander of The American Legion; upon his approval it shall be forwarded to the National Headquarters of The American Legion where the charter may be issued by the National Commander and the National Adjutant of The American Legion in the same manner as prescribed for the issuance of charters for Posts of The American Legion.

Section 3 - Each Squadron shall approve a Squadron Constitution and By-Laws, which together with any subsequent amendments thereto, shall be approved by the endorsement of the sponsoring American Legion Post, the Department Sons of The American Legion Committee, the Detachment Executive Committee and the Department Judge Advocate before becoming effective.

Section 4 - The Detachment Executive Committee may at any time prescribe such further provisions as it deems advisable, to any Squadron Constitution and By-Laws, provided that they not be inconsistent with the Detachment Constitution and By-Laws. The Squadron shall thereupon forthwith adopt the additional provision (s) so prescribed.

Section 5 - Squadron charters may be revoked, cancelled or suspended by the Detachment Executive Committee with the approval of the Department Executive Committee and may be suspended or cancelled as provided in the Detachment By-Laws pursuant to and in conformity with the procedure prescribed by the Department Executive Committee.

Section 6 - No Squadron shall be named after any living person.

ARTICLE VIII

DUES

Section 1 - The revenue of the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be derived from annual membership dues and from such other sources as may be approved by the National Executive Committee, Department Executive Committee, Detachment Executive Committee and Headquarters Detachment. National dues as levied, presently two dollars ($2.00) per member, shall be payable on or after October 20th of each year of the succeeding calendar year. In addition, annual Detachment dues shall be three dollars ($3.00) payable along with the National dues.

Section 2 - The annual National and Detachment dues shall be collected by each Squadron and transmitted on or before the 20th of each month to the Detachment Headquarters. The Department Treasurer shall pay the annual National dues to the National Treasurer of The American Legion, as directed by Headquarters Detachment.

Section 3 - The Minimum annual dues of individual members to be charged by such Squadron shall be an amount equal to the total Detachment and National dues assessments, .i.e five dollars ($5.00), as hereinabove required and in addition thereto, any amount charged as dues by any intermediate body between the Squadron and Detachment of Connecticut; however, no Squadron shall assess annual dues in excess of the amount of dues annually assessed by its sponsoring American Legion Post to its members.

ARTICLE IX

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Section 1 - Any member in good standing in a Squadron in the Detachment of Connecticut, removing here from, shall be entitled to a certificate from his Squadron stating his membership, the duration thereof, and the date to which his dues are paid.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - This Constitution may be amended at any Detachment Convention by a vote of two-thirds of the total authorized representation thereat provided that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted through the Detachment Adjutant to the Squadrons by mailing them to them at least sixty (60) days prior to the convening of the next Detachment Convention without notice. The amendment must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Department Executive Committee of The American Legion.

Section 2 - It shall also be amended from time to time by the Detachment Executive Committee whenever and in so far as necessary to conform to changes hereafter made in the National Constitution or to conform to the changes as directed by the Department Executive Committee.

ARTICLE I

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 - The Detachment Commander shall be the executive head of the Sons of The American Legion with full power to enforce the provisions of the Detachment Constitution, Detachment By-Laws and the will of the Detachment Convention. He shall appoint all necessary committees, subject to the ratification of the Detachment Executive Committee, and shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office.

Section 2 - The Detachment Senior Vice Commander and Detachment Area Vice Commanders shall act as representatives of the Detachment Commander in their respective areas on all matters referred to them by him, and shall, on his request, preside over the meetings of the Detachment Convention or Detachment Executive Committee, and shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office.

Section 3 - The Detachment Adjutant shall give notice of all Detachment Conventions and of all meetings of the Detachment Executive Committee, shall conduct the correspondence and keep the records of the Detachment organization, including a list of names, numbers and addresses of all Squadrons in the Detachment, shall keep the minutes of all Detachment Conventions and Detachment Executive Committee meetings, shall notify the Department Officers and Committeemen of their election and be subject to the direction and control of the Detachment Executive Committee, Department Executive Committee and Detachment Commander. He shall have general charge of and supervision over Headquarters Detachment and all paid employees of the Detachment and shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to his office. He shall also be authorized in the event of the death or resignation of the Detachment Commander to summon the Detachment Executive Committee for election of a successor.

Section 4 - The Detachment Judge Advocate shall advise the Detachment Officers and the Detachment Executive Committee on all legal matters including the construction and interpretation of the Detachment Constitution and By-Laws, and shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office. His rulings to Squadron inquiries formally and officially made, shall be binding until and unless overruled in the following order: Detachment Executive Committee and Department Judge Advocate.

Section 5 - The Detachment Chaplain shall perform such divine and non-sectarian services as may be necessary, adhering to such ceremonial rituals as may be recommended by National and Detachment Headquarters from time to time.

Section 6 - The Detachment Historian shall collect from year to year all records and data of value and interest for the Detachment Headquarters of the Sons of The American Legion, and shall compile during his term of office a complete history of the year's activities. He shall also assist Squadron Historians so as to coordinate and unify the work of these officials and shall have such other duties as the Detachment Executive Committee shall prescribe.

Section 7 - The Detachment Sergeant-At-Arms shall be charged with the responsibility of preserving order at all meetings and shall be given the custody and responsibility of the colors of the organization. He shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to his office.

Section 8 - All Officers of the Sons of The American Legion in the performance of their duties shall be governed by The American Legion at the appropriate level. All actions of the Sons of The American Legion shall be subject to review and ratification at the appropriate level of The American Legion.

ARTICLE II

DETACHMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - Subject to the provisions of the Detachment Constitution, the Detachment Executive Committee shall fill any vacancy in membership of the Detachment Executive Committee for the remainder of the un-expired term.

Section 2 - The Detachment Executive Committee shall meet at regular bi-monthly periods or on at least five days' prior written notice to all members by the Detachment Commander and Detachment Adjutant, or upon the written request of a majority of the Detachment Executive Committee.

Section 3 - In the event that a Squadron Commander of the Detachment Executive Committee is unable to attend a meeting of that Committee, his Squadron Vice Commander shall serve in his place.

ARTICLE III

DETACHMENT STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1 - There shall be Detachment Standing Committees on Americanism, Finance, Publicity, Membership, Convention, Squadron Activities, Rehabilitation, Legislation, and such other standing committees at the Detachment Executive Committee may determine necessary. Each shall be composed of at least three members who shall be appointed for a one year term. They shall perform such duties and exercise such authority as may be directed from time to time by the Detachment Executive Committee.

Section 2 - All such standing committees shall keep regular minutes of all their transactions and cause them to be recorded in a book kept for that purpose and shall report the same to the Detachment Executive Committee when called for.

Section 3 - Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 of this Article, the Detachment Executive Committee shall appoint a Finance Commission of three members. One shall hold office for three years, one for two years and one for one year. Vacancies will be filled annually thereafter, for a term of three years; and, when they occur other than for expiration of term, for the balance of that committee member's term. The Finance Commission is to have charge of all fiscal matters, subject to the approval of the Department Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV

DETACHMENT CONVENTION

Section 1 - The annual meeting of the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be a Convention called pursuant to the provisions of the Detachment Constitution.

Section 2 - Squadron organizations shall be notified by the Detachment Adjutant at least sixty (60) days in advance of the time and place of such Detachment Convention.

Section 3 - Alternates shall have the privilege of voting on the floor of the Detachment Convention only in the event of the absence or disability of the regular delegates, however they shall have all other privileges of the regular delegates including the right to serve on Convention committees.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATION IN NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Section 1 - The Detachment Organization shall be represented on the National Executive Committee of the Sons of The American Legion by one member and one alternate to be elected at the Detachment Convention. Both will hold office for two (2) years from the time of the National Convention of the Sons of The American Legion immediately following their election and until their successors are chosen.

Section 2 - The Detachment Organization shall be represented at the National Convention of the Sons of The American Legion by one delegate-at-large and one alternate-at-large, plus one additional delegate and one additional alternate for each two hundred (200) memberships or major fraction thereof paid up to the National Treasurer thirty (30) days prior to the date of the National Convention. Said delegates and alternates are to be elected at the annual Detachment Convention.

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Membership in the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, shall be acquired only by affiliation with a Squadron within its jurisdiction.

Section 2 - The membership of the Detachment of Connecticut shall be organized into Squadrons as prescribed in the Detachment Constitution.

Section 3 - Only persons eligible to membership in the Sons of The American Legion shall be members of this Detachment or of any Squadron within its jurisdiction.

Section 4 - Each applicant for membership must enroll in the Sons of The American Legion and pay his dues to the Squadron in this Detachment to which he applies before becoming a member in the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, or in any Squadron of this Detachment.

ARTICLE VII

SQUADRONS

Section 1 - Each Squadron shall be the judge of its own membership, subject to the restrictions of the National and of the Detachment of Connecticut Constitution and By-Laws, respectively, and may restrict its membership as it desires, subject to the approval of the Detachment Executive Committee, No person who is a member of an organization which has as its aim to overthrow the United States Government by force or violence, or who subscribes to the principles of any group opposed to our form of government, shall be eligible to become a member of the Sons of The American Legion.

Section 2 - Each Squadron shall have a headquarters with a Post Office address to which all notices and documents may be sent. It shall be the duty of the Squadron at time of application for a charter or at any time thereafter to notify the Detachment of said address or any subsequent changes in such address; and all notices and documents shall be held as to have been duly sent to or served upon such Squadron when mailed to the address of record so furnished by the Squadron. In default of a Squadron having furnished such address, any notice or document shall be held to have been duly served upon a Squadron if the same is mailed to it at the address of its Commander or Adjutant or any other member signing the application for charter.

Section 3 - Each Squadron shall have a Constitution and By-Laws to govern its affairs and shall have officers to be known as Commander, Vice Commanders, Adjutant, Treasurer, and an Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall be adequately bonded. The Squadron shall subscribe to the Constitution and By-Laws and regulations of the National and Detachment organizations; and shall not incur any obligation in the name of any other Squadron, subdivision, organization, branch, committee, or group of members of the Sons of The American Legion in which said Squadron is attached.

Section 4 - Squadrons shall submit copies of their Constitution and By-Laws and all subsequent amendments thereto for approval of the Detachment Organization.

Section 5 - All monies received in any manner for welfare purposes of any nature by a Squadron organization shall be deposited in a duly authorized banking institution, and none of such monies shall be withdrawn except for said welfare purposes and only upon a draft signed by the Squadron Treasurer and at least one other authorized member who was duly elected for that purpose.

Section 6 - No Squadron shall solicit another Squadron organization for the purpose of financial aid or relief. Violation of this section shall be grounds for revocation or suspension of Charter,

Section 7 - All Squadrons shall elect and install their officers for the current year of the Sons of The American Legion in the month of June preceding the official start of that year.

ARTICLE VIII

DISCIPLINE OF SQUADRONS/CANCELLATION AND SUSPENSION OF CHARTERS

Section 1 - The Detachment Executive Committee may suspend, cancel or revote a Squadron Charter. The action taken by the Detachment Executive Committee shall be final and conclusive unless an appeal is taken to the Department Executive Committee within thirty (30) days from the date of said suspension, cancellation or revocation. The action taken by the Department Executive Committee upon the appeal shall be final.

Section 2 - Any Squadron failing to meet the obligations imposed upon it by the Constitution and By-Laws or ceasing to function for six months as a Sons of The American Legion Squadron, or voluntarily ceasing to function as a Squadron, or merging with one or more Squadron, or refusing to pay the Detachment and National per capita dues, or under such other conditions as might make such action necessary, shall upon order of the Detachment Executive Committee surrender its charter for cancellation. Upon failure to surrender its charter, immediate steps may be taken for its revocation, suspension or cancellation.

Section 3 - Upon revocation, cancellation or suspension of the charter of a Squadron of the Sons of The American Legion, said Squadron shall immediately cease operations and upon revocation or cancellation shall turn over its charter to the Detachment Commander or the Detachment Executive Committee, and the Post to which the Squadron is attached is authorized, empowered and directed by and through its duly authorized agent to take possession, custody and control of all the records, property and assets of said Squadron; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as requiring any Post to which the Squadron is attached to take over or assume any financial responsibility as to such property. Said Detachment Executive Committee may provide for the transfer of the members in said Squadron to other Squadrons of their choice subject to the approval of such other Squadrons.

Section 4 - In taking action pursuant to this Article, the Squadron and Officers of the Detachment shall be governed by the uniform code, defining the procedure to be followed in the revocation, cancellation or suspension of Squadron charters; and providing for a method of appeal, having been adopted by the National Executive Committee of the National By-Laws as the same may be from time to time amended pursuant to the authority of said section.

ARTICLE X

DISCIPLINE OF SQUADRON MEMBERS

Section 1 - Members may be suspended or expelled from the Sons of The American Legion only upon proper show of cause. Charges shall be based upon disloyalty, neglect of duty, dishonesty, or other conduct unbecoming a member of the Sons of The American Legion. All charges must be made under oath in writing by the accusers, and, no member in good standing shall lose his membership until given a fair trial in such manner and form as the Detachment By-Laws and the Department Executive Committee of The American Legion shall prescribe. This section shall govern procedure whenever charges are brought against any person at any time appearing upon the rolls of a Squadron as a member, upon the grounds of his ineligibility to membership either in the Squadron or in the Sons of The American Legion.

Section 2 - Any member who has been suspended or expelled has the right of appeal to the Department Executive Committee of The American Legion in the manner prescribed by the Department Commander. The decision of the Department shall be final.

Section 3 - A member whose dues for the current year have not been paid by January first shall be classed as delinquent. If his dues are paid on or before February first, he shall be automatically reinstated. If he is still delinquent after February first, he shall be suspended from all privileges. If he is still under suspension on June fifteenth of such year, his membership in the Sons of The American Legion shall be forfeited. A membership so suspended or whose membership has been so forfeited may be reinstated to active membership in good standing by vote of the Squadron and payment of current dues for the year in which the reinstatement occurs. Provided, however, that the Squadron, Detachment and National organization may waive the provisions hereof, with reference to former members who have been prevented from the payment of dues by reason of active military service.

ARTICLE X

LIMITATION OF JURISDICTION OF SQUADRON MEMBERS, POSTS, COUNTIES, DISTRICTS AND DEPARTMENTS

Section 1 - No individual member of the Sons of The American Legion, unless specifically previously authorized by the proper body, shall have the right to speak in the name of the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Connecticut, or any Squadron of the Sons of The American Legion. His individual action is full and unhampered, being that of an American citizen, but he shall not present such action to be that of any Sons of The American Legion organization.

Section 2 - All matters of state, national or international scope that appeal to the Sons of The American Legion, Squadrons, or Detachment may be treated, discussed and acted upon by any unit of the Sons of The American Legion, provided, however, that such action shall be submitted for approval through the prescribed Sons of The American Legion and The American Legion channels to the body having jurisdiction thereof.

Section 3 - A Squadron organization may discuss the action taken by the Detachment or National organization and adopt a resolution protesting against any action taken by the Detachment or National organization and request through proper channels that such action be reversed.

Section 4 - The principles set forth in this Article shall be observed by all Sons of The American Legion members, by all Squadrons, and by this Detachment. A violation of any of the provisions of this Article by a member of the Sons of The American Legion, or by a Squadron, shall be sufficient cause for investigation and disciplinary action by the Detachment Executive Committee and in the case of a Sons of The American Legion member, by the Squadron of which he is a member.

ARTICLE XI

MONEYS AND COLLECTIONS

Section 1 - All Detachment and Squadron officials handling Sons of The American Legion moneys shall be properly bonded with a good and solvent bonding and surety company, as surety to cover double the average amount of money handled in a single year. In case of delinquencies of the payment of moneys dues Detachment Headquarters or Department Headquarters of The American Legion, action shall be taken at once by the proper officials to bring about a speedy and complete settlement. The bonds provided by Detachment officials shall be approved by the Department Executive Committee of The American Legion and those provided by a Squadron shall be approved by the Post Executive Committee.

Section 2 - Department Headquarters of The American Legion shall, should it deem advisable, detail special auditors to investigate the membership roll and financial statement of any Squadron or other subdivision within this Detachment.

ARTICLE XII

REGULATIONS

Section 1 - The Department Executive Committee of The American Legion is authorized to make and publish regulations for the organization, management and conduct of this Detachment and of the Squadrons of this Detachment. Such regulations shall be consistent with the Department Constitution and these By-Laws, and shall be complied with by all concerned.

ARTICLE XIII

RULES

Section 1 - The procedure of the Detachment Convention shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, revised.

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - All amendments hereto must conform to the requirements of Article X of the Detachment Constitution.