Constitution Checklist

• Name of organization
• Organization’s objectives
• Address of the office
• Distribution of powers within the organization
• Criteria for membership, including voting eligibility
• Criteria dictating voting powers of delegates or representatives
• Titles, duties and length of terms for officers
• Terms of reference for the board members and/or the executive committee, including voting powers
• Delegation of authority
• A process to amend the constitution
• A statement that the organization must not be operated for gain by the members

By-laws Checklist

• Methods for admission of regular members (group or individual)
• Criteria for any other types of membership
• Conditions and procedures for termination of membership
• Procedures for election and removal of officers, board members and chairs of standing committees
• Procedures for election and terms of reference for standing committees
• Procedures for setting membership dues
• Procedures for calling and conducting annual general meetings, board meetings, and committee meetings
• The number constituting a quorum for general meetings, board meetings and committee meetings
• The authority for rules of order
• Methods of voting, including the proportion of votes required for important decisions
• Conditions for employment and termination of staff, and their status within the organization
• Procedures for amending the bylaws.

(From Starting an Organization Fact sheet, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 1988.)