oth a Constitution
and By-Laws are adopted. This is not always done; some societies adopt
only a Constitution, and others only By-Laws. Where both are adopted,
the constitution usually contains only the following:

(1) Name and object of the society.
(2) Qualification of members.
(3) Officers, their election and duties.
(4) Meetings of the society (only including what is essential, leaving
details to the By-Laws).
(5) How to amend the Constitution.

These can be arranged in five articles, each article being subdivided
into sections. The

=== Page 117 ===========================================================

Constitution containing nothing but what is fundamental, it should be
made very difficult to amend; usually previous notice of the amendment
is required, and also a two-thirds or three-fourths vote for its
adoption [Sec. 73]. It is better not to require a larger vote than
two-thirds, and, where the meetings are frequent, an amendment should
not be allowed to be made except at a quarterly or annual meeting, after
having been proposed at the previous quarterly meeting.

The By-Laws contain all the other standing rules of the society, of such
importance that they should be placed out of the power of any one
meeting to modify; or they may omit the rules relating to the conduct of
business in the meetings, which would then constitute the Rules of Order
of the society. Every society, in its By-Laws or Rules of Order, should
adopt a rule like this: "The rules contained in--(specifying the work
on parliamentary practice) shall govern the society in all cases to
which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with
the Rules of Order (or By-Laws) adopted by the society." Without such a
rule, any one so disposed, could cause great trouble in a meeting.

=== Page 118 ===========================================================

In addition to the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order, in nearly
every society resolutions of a permanent nature are occasionally
adopted, which are binding on the society until they are rescinded or
modified. These are called Standing Rules, and can be adopted by a
majority vote at any meeting. After they have been adopted, they cannot
be modified at the same session except by a reconsideration [Sec. 60]. At
any future session they can be suspended, modified or rescinded by a
majority vote. The Standing Rules, then, comprise those rules of a
society which