Tool: Sample Bylaws This is a general, "fill-in-the-blank" set of bylaws. You may wish to use this as a general outline for your own bylaws. Bylaws of _____________________________________________________ Article I: Name and Purpose. Section 1: The name of the organization shall be _______________________________ Section 2: (Name of organization) is organized for the purpose of ___________________ _________________________________________________________________ Article II. Membership. Section 1: In order to become a member of (name of organization), potential members must meet the following requirements: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 2: Members of (name of organization) have the following rights and responsibilities: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Article III. Officers and decision-making. Section 1: The governing structure of (name of organization) is as follows: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 2: Officers' titles and main duties are as follows: a. President: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ b. Vice President: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ c. _________________: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ d. _________________: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 3: Procedures for filling and vacating offices. An officer shall be dropped for excess absences from his or her office if he or she has _____ unexcused absences from meetings in a year. An officer may also be removed under the following circumstances: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 4: Committees: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5: Decisions a. Decisions are to be made as follows: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ b. At least ______% of the total membership must be present in order to have a quorum. c. Amendments to the bylaws must be made as follows: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Article IV. General, special, and annual meetings. Section 1: Regular meetings are to be held as follows: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Meetings may be called by the following people: _________________________________________________________________ For meetings, notice __________________ (in writing, via phone, via email) of at least ____________ (days/weeks/months) must be given to members. Section 2: Special meetings may be called by ______________________________ (who has authority to call them) under the following circumstances: _______________________ Section 3: Annual meeting: The date of the annual meeting shall be set by _______ and notice ________ (in writing, via phone, via email) of at least______ (days/weeks/months) will be given to members for the annual meeting. Article V. Board of Directors Section 1: Board size and role. The board shall have up to ___ and not fewer than ___ members. The board is responsible for____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 2: The Board shall meet at least ____ (frequency), at an agreed upon time and place. Section 3: Elections and terms. Board members will be chosen by ____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ All board members shall serve _____ (month/year) terms, but ____ (are/are not) eligible for re-election. Section 4: Quorum. At least _____% of the board members must be present before board business may be conducted. Section 5: Resignations and Termination. Resignations from the board must be in writing and must be given to ____________ (whom). A board member shall be dropped for excess absences from the board if he or she has _____ unexcused absences from board meetings in a year. An board member may also be removed under the following circumstances: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 6: Special meetings. Special meetings of the board may be called under the following circumstances: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ These bylaws were approved at a meeting of the ___________________ (board of directors, officers, general membership) on ____________________(date).
