National Afro-American Council.CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.

ARTICLE I.Name.This Organization shall be known as THE NATIONAL AFRO-AMERICAN COUNCIL

ARTICLE II.Objects.The objects of this Organization shall be:(1) To investigate and make an impartial report of all Lynchings and other outrages perpetrated upon American citizens.(2) To assist in testing the constitutionality of laws which are made for the express purpose of oppressing the Afro-American.(3) To promote the work of securing legislation which in the individual States shall secure to all citizens the rights guaranteed them by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.(4) To aid in the work of Prison Reform.(5) To recommend a healthy migration from terror-ridden sections of our land to States where law is respected and maintained.(6) To encourage both industrial and higher education. 00046(7) To promote business enterprises among the people.(8) To educate sentiment on all lines that specially affect our race.(9) To inaugurate and promote plans for the moral elevation of the Afro-American people.(10) To urge the appropriation for School Funds by the Federal Government to provide education for citizens who are denied school privileges by discriminating State laws.

ARTICLE III.Membership.Sec. 1. The Afro-American Council shall be composed of members as follows:1st. All persons who hold life membership.2nd. Council Delegates, representing duly accredited Local Councils.3rd. Affiliated Delegates, representing organizations of similar plans and purposes co-operating with the Afro-American Council.

Sec. 2. Every Local Afro-American Council shall be entitled to representation in the National Council by delegates elected on a basis of one delegate to every fifty (50) members, said delegates to qualify upon presentation of credentials and payment of ten cents for each member so represented. Provided, however, that any Local Council having less than fifty (50) members shall be entitled to one vote, upon presentation of credentials and payment of the annual tax of Five Dollars.

Sec. 3. Religious and secular organizations which have for their aim and work the mental and moral elevation of the race, and which desire to co-operate with the National Council may be represented by affiliated delegates, not more than two delegates to each organization. Said delegates shall have the right to vote upon payment of Five Dollars for each delegate.

Sec. 4. Editors of Afro-American newspapers, and Principals of Academic Schools and Colleges, may be admitted to membership in the National Council and be entitled to a vote upon presentation of credentials and payment of annual tax, of $5.00.

ARTICLE IV.Officers.Sec. 1. The Officers of the National Council shall be: A President; Nine Vice-Presidents; A Recording Secretary; An Assistant Secretary; A Financial Secretary; A Treasurer; A Chaplain; A Sergeant-at-Arms; An Executive Committee.

Sec. 2. The Officers shall serve one year, or until their successors are appointed or elected, and are members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V.Duties of Officers.Sec. 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Council. He shall appoint the members of the committees whose appointment is not otherwise provided for, shall fill all vacancies pending the action of the Council or Executive Committee, and perform such other duties are usually incumbent upon the presiding officer of legislative bodies.

Sec. 2. The Vice-President shall preside in the absence of the President, and perform such other duties are usually incumbent upon his office.

Sec. 3. The Recording Secretary shall keep a faithful record of all proceedings of the Council; record the names and residences of the members in a Roll Book kept for that purpose; shall notify the members of the time and place of the annual meetings, and perform such other duties as may be required by the Council.

Sec. 4. The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Recording Secretary at the annual sessions of the Council, and act in the absence of said Secretary.

Sec. 5. The Financial Secretary shall receive and keep a record of all moneys belonging to the Council, and make such disbursements as may be ordered by the Council upon drafts signed by the Chairman of the Executive Committee and countersigned by the President of the Council. At the end of six months the Financial Secretary shall turn over to the Treasurer all moneys collected and unexpended, with a full report of receipts and disbursements for that term. A semi-annual report shall be made to the Executive Committee and an annual report to the Council. A good and sufficient safety bond shall be given by the Financial Secretary, in the sum of One Thousand Dollars, for the faithful performance of the duty of said Secretary.

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep an accurate account of all moneys received from the Financial Secretary. He shall pay out of moneys so received all orders drawn by the Financial Secretary and countersigned by the President. He shall give a safety bond in the sum of One Thousand Dollars for the faithful performance of his duties, make an annual report to the National Council and semi-annual report to the Executive Committee.

Sec. 7. The Chaplain shall open meetings of the Council with prayer, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to his office.

Sec. 8. The Sergeant at Arms shall keep order and preserve the decorum of the Council.

ARTICLE VIFees.Sec. 1. The Annual Tax shall be Five Dollars ($5.00) for each voting delegate to the National Council.

Sec. 2. Life Membership shall be granted by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The fee for such membership shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00), payable Ten Dollars ($10.00) upon filing application and the remaining Forty Dollars ($40.00) within one year from date of application.

ARTICLE VII.Salaries.Sec. 1. No officer shall receive pay for service rendered to the National Council except the Financial Secretary.

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall determine the amount that shall be paid to officers for travelling expenses and stationery, also the salary of the Financial Secretary.

ARTICLE VIII.Elections.Sec. 1. The officers of the National Council shall be nominated by a special committee appointed by the Executive Committee at its annual session.

Sec. 2. Should a vacancy occur in the offices of the Council by death, resignation or otherwise, the Executive Committee shall have power to fill such office made vacant for the remainder of the term.

Sec. 3. The election of all officers shall be determined by a majority vote of the National Council.

ARTICLE IX.Local Councils.Whenever ten or more persons who are in sympathy with the objects set forth in this Constitution shall desire to organize a Local Council, they shall have power to do so.

When any State or Territory shall have as many as ten local councils said councils shall have power to organize a State Council; their representation in the National Council shall be as provided for in Art. III in this Constitution.

ARTICLE X.Amendments to the Constitution.Sec. 1. To amend the Constitution the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Executive Comittee and receive its approval: 1st, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, and 2nd, by the ratification of the National Council.

ARTICLE XI.Politics.The Afro-American Council shall be non-partisan.

ARTICLE XII.Executive Committee.Sec. 1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of members of the National Afro_American Council. Each State and Territory shall be entitled to three members, one woman and two men, on said Committee.

Sec. 2. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the annual session of the State Council in the several States and Territories; where there are no State Councils the members of the Executive Committee may be nominated by the accredited representatives of the State, present at the annual session of the Council, and elected by the National Council.

Sec. 3. If any State or Territory is without delegates at the annual session of the National Council, and therefore without representation on the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee may nominate members to be elected by the National Council, to represent said States and Territories on the Executive Committee.

Sec. 4. The Officers of the Executive Committee shall be a Chairman and Secretary, to be chosen by the Committee.

Sec. 5. Fifteen members of the Executive Committee shall form a quorum for business.

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the members of the Executive Committee to form local organizations in the States and Territories which they represent.

Sec. 7. The Executive Committee shall have the general management of the affairs of the National Council when said body is not in session, subject to the direction of the National Council.

BY LAWS.ARTICLE I.The National Council shall meet annually at the time and place named by the Council or the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE II.The meetings of the Council shall be opened with prayer and reading of the Scriptures.

ARTICLE III.All reports of officers and committees shall be made in writing.

ARTICLE IV.Immediately upon the assembly of the National Council the President shall appoint the following committees:Committee on Credentials.Committee on Resolutions and Address.Committee for Auditing Reports.Committee on Ways and Means.Committee on Halls and Program.

ARTICLE V.Members may resign by tendering resignation to the President, who shall notify the Executive Committee of the same at once.

ARTICLE VI.The Executive Committee shall have power to remove from office any person who may be found to be guilty of wilful neglect of duty.

ARTICLE VII.Application for membership in the National Afro-American Council must be made to the Financial Secretary, and the application must be accompanied by the stipulated annual tax of Five Dollars.

ARTICLE VIII.All Afro-American Councils sending delegates to the National Council must pay to the National Council a per capita tax of ten cents for each member of such Local Council.

CONSTITUTIONFORSTATE ORGANIZATIONSOFAFRO-AMERICAN COUNCIL.001215STATE CONSTITUTIONOF THEAFRO-AMERICAN COUNCIL.ARTICLE 1.When any State shall have as many as ten (10) Local Councils, said councils shall have power to organize a State Council.

ARTICLE II.The name of this State organization shall be the Afro-American of the State of.

ARTICLE III.The objects of this Council are to encourage and assist in the formation of permanent local councils, to unite such councils for effective organized work, and generally to advance the object and aim of the National Afro-American Council.

ARTICLE IV.Any permanently organized council in this State, having adopted the constitution as prescribed by the National Council, governing local councils, shall be eligible to membership, provided that no council be allowed membership with a number of less than ten members.

ARTICLE V.The Officers of this Council shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chaplain and a Sergeant-at Arms; all of whom shall be elected at the annual meeting of the State Council and shall hold office until the election and qualification of their successors.

ARTICLE VI.The State Council shall be composed of delegates from each local council in the State, the basis of representation to be one delegate for each ten members of the local council, provided, however, that each local council shall be entitled to at least one delegate.

ARTICLE VII.The State Council shall be held annually, at such time and place as may be agreed upon at its annual session. Notice of the time and place of meeting shall be given by the Secretary in writing to all councils belonging to the State Council, at least thirty days prior to the day of meeting.

ARTICLE VIII.The State Council shall be the sole judge of the qualification of its own members and shall have power to admit or expel from the Council.

ARTICLE IX.The State Council, in addition to the assessment of the National Council, shall have power to make such additional assessments as may be necessary to meet its current expenses.

ARTICLE X.There shall be an Executive Committee, consisting of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Sergeant-at-Arms and five other members. A majority of those present at any regular or called session of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE XI.The Executive Committee shall have the general management of the affairs of the council when the council is not in session, and shall have control of all funds of the council, subject to the direction of the council. The committee shall be called together by the president of the council immediately after the annual meeting, and shall then organize. It shall make its own rules and hold meetings at such time and place as it shall determine. A meeting may be called at any time by its chairman, and must be called by him when requested by five members in writing.

ARTICLE XII.The duties of the officers shall be such as are usually performed by like officers, and may be regulated by the Executive Committee. The secretary shall be required to give bonds in such amount as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine. The Executive Committee may remove any officer or member of the committee for cause, by a vote of a majority of all of its members.

ARTICLE XIII.A council may be admitted to membership in the State Council as soon as organized, upon reporting the names of its officers and upon its own application in writing to the secretary, provided that it has a membership of at least ten members and its application has been approved by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XIV.This Council shall not express any preference for any candidate for office, either elective or appointive, and it is further provided that no officer or member of the Council shall use stationery of the Council or that of any of its branches except upon strictly Council business.

ARTICLE XV.This constitution may be amended at any meeting by a majority vote of the delegates present, provided such amendment does not conflict with the Constitution of the National Council, and then only when thirty days notice in writing of any proposed amendment shall have been given to the Secretary of the State Council, who shall publish the same and notify the President and Secretary of the National Council.

ARTICLE XVI.The State Council shall have power to devise a constitution and by-laws for the government of the Local Councils in its jurisdiction, provided that nothing in such shall conflict with the State Council Constitution.

ARTICLE XVII.At the annual meeting of each State and Territorial Council delegates and alternates to the annual session of the National Council shall be elected on the basis made and provided in Article 111 of the National Constitution: and also three persons, two men and one woman, shall be elected to serve on the National Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XVIII.An annual tax of ten cents shall be paid by each member of a local council to the secretary of such council, who shall transmit the same to the Financial Secretary of the National Council.

ARTICLE XIX.Any local council failing to pay its semiannual tax within sixty days after the same shall be due, shall be deemed as not in good standing and be published, and forfeit all recognition by the State and National Councils.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWSFORLOCAL ORGANIZATIONSOFAFRO AMERICAN COUNCIL.001721CONSTITUTIONFORLOCAL AFRO-AMERICAN COUNCILS.Sec. 1. Any person of the age of twenty-one years and upwards (without regard to sex) can become a member of this Council by subscribing to its Constitution and By-Laws, and by the payment of One Dollar entrance fee, and a monthly assessment to be regulated by each local council.

Sec. 2. The objects of this Organization shall be:

1. To investigate and make an impartial report of all Lynchings and other outrages upon American citizens.

2. To assist in testing the constitutionality of laws which are made for the express purpose of oppressing the Afro-American.

3. To promote the work of securing the legislation which in the individual states shall secure to all citizens the rights guaranteed them by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

4. To aid in the work of Prison Reform.

5. To recommend a healthy migration from terro-ridden sections of our land to states where law is respected and maintained.

6. To encourage both industrial and higher education.

7. To promote business enterprises among the people.

8. To educate sentiment on all lines that specially affect our race.

9. To inaugurate and promote plans for the moral elevation of the Afro-American people.

10. To urge the appropriation for School Funds by the Federal Government to provide education for citizens who are denied school privileges by discriminating state laws.

Sec. 3. A general tax of ten cents per annum on all members of local councils shall be levied by the Secretary of each local council and sent to the Financial Secretary of the National Council to carry out the objects set forth in Sec. 2.

Sec. 4. This Council is in no sense a partisan body, and no person shall be debarred from membership therein because of political opinions.

BY-LAWS.(1) The name of this organization shall be the Afro-American Council ofNo

(2) The Officers of this Council shall be one President, one Vice President, one Secretary, one Assistant Secretary, one Treasurer, one Chaplain, one Sergeant-at-Arms, and an Executive Committee consisting of Five Members and all the Officers; to be elected as the Council shall determine.

(3) This local council shall meet atthe in eachat o'clock, P. M., with open or secret meetings, at the discretion of the Council.

(4) This local council shall be subject to the laws made by the National Afro-American Council.