PREAMBLE
For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; To maintain law and order; To foster and perpetuate a hundred percent Americanism; To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars; To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; To make right the master of might; To promote peace and goodwill on earth; To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of Justice, Freedom and Democracy; To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Crandall-Palmer Post No. 61, The American Legion, Department of Arizona.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSES
Section 1. The purposes of the Post shall be to promote the principles and policies as set forth in the foregoing Preamble, and the National and Departmental Constitution of the American Legion.
ARTICLE III
NATURE
Section 1. This Post is a civilian organization, and membership therein does not affect or increase the liability for military or police service.
Section 2. This organization shall be absolutely non-political and non- sectarian, and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy for or incumbency of an elective office.
Section 3. Rank does not exist in The American Legion; no member shall be addressed by his military or naval title in any meeting of this Post.
ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Eligibility for membership in this Post shall be as prescribed by the National Constitution of The American Legion.
Section 2. There shall be no form or class of membership except as Active Member, Paid up for Life (PUFL) or Life Member as herein provided. Honorary membership cards shall not be issued by this Post.
Section 3. All applications for membership including Life Members shall be acted upon at the next Post meeting following the making of such application, providing proof of eligibility has been provided. At that time, it shall be accepted or rejected or referred for further investigation and consideration. If a majority of the members present and voting cast their vote against the acceptance of said application, then such application shall be rejected. A rejected application shall not again be considered until after the expiration of six (6) months from the date of such rejection. If, at the General Meeting at which the applications for membership in The American Legion are to be presented cannot be held due to the lack of a quorum, then approval of a new member application(s) or transfer may be given by the Executive Committee and membership cards may be issued.
Section 4. An applicant for membership in this Post who has been suspended from any other Post in the American Legion for misconduct or
misrepresentation shall not be admitted to this Post.
Section 5. Any member of this Post may for cause be reprimanded, suspended, or expelled, after a hearing and trial, by two thirds (2/3) vote of all members of the Executive Committee upon charges being presented in writing. One (1) week written notice of the time and place when the Executive Committee will consider the charges against them. A written specification of the charges shall be given to the accused member and at such time and place shall be entitled to appear and defend himself against such charges. Cause for reprimand, suspension and expulsion within the meaning of this section shall consist of disloyalty, neglect of duty, dishonesty or conduct unbecoming a member of the American Legion. At anytime within thirty (30) days after a
sentence of dismissal or expulsion; a meeting of the Post to consider same shall be called upon written request of twenty (20) members. At such a meeting an appeal may be restored by a vote of the majority of the members present. Notice of the purpose of the meeting shall be made available to the Post at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. This Section does not apply for suspensions of Clubroom Privileges.
Section 6. A member who has been expelled from Post 61 for any cause may never be reinstated to membership in that Post.
Section 7. The resignation of a member indebted to the Post shall take effect only when accepted by the Executive Committee..
Section 8. Life Membership shall be made by selection rules as set forth in the By-Laws of the Post.
ARTICLE V ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The administrative affairs of the Post, as provided in the By-Laws, shall be under the supervision of an Executive Committee, which consists of four (4) members; in addition to the elective officers herein provided. The terms of office for the four (4) members shall be staggered with one member elected for a three (3) year term, two (2) members elected for a two (2) year term and one (1) member elected for a one (1) year term. Length of the term for each to be based on the number of votes cast for each or another method acceptable to the four (4) elected members. The Executive Committee shall have such duties as provided in the By-laws. The Post may provide for such standing committees as the business of the organization may require. Duties and powers of such standing committees shall be supervised by the Commander.
Section 2. Crandall-Palmer Post 61, The American Legion, Department of Arizona shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the statutes of the State of Arizona providing for such corporations. It shall also be registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service under the appropriate Federal statutes and codes covering such organizations.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of this Post shall be as specified in the By-Laws.
Section 2. All elective officers shall be elected annually and they shall hold office for one (1) year or until their successors are duly installed.
Section 3. Every member of the Post in good standing shall be eligible to vote. After one year's membership in the Post members shall be eligible to hold office. Those officers (appointed or elected) who have resigned without providing extenuating circumstances, approved by the Executive Committee, shall not be eligible to hold a future appointed or elected office. Full-time employees shall not hold an elected or appointed office in this Post.
Section 4. The duties of the Officers and the Executive Committee shall be as provided in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCE
Section 1. The revenue of this Post shall be derived from membership dues and from such other sources as may be approved by the Post Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will ensure that all funds received are deposited in the appropriate accounts and that all donations received are immediately deposited in Post 61's general account.
Section 2. The amount of membership dues shall be fixed and determined by the Post.
Section 3. The Post shall pay to the Department Headquarters the National and Department per capita dues.
ARTICLE VIII
ATTACHED ORGANIZATIONS
Section 1. The Post recognizes an auxiliary organization to be known-as Crandall-Palmer Unit 61, the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of
Arizona.
Section 2. Membership in the Auxiliary shall be prescribed by the National Constitution of the American Legion and the National Constitution of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Section 3. The Auxiliary shall be governed by such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the National Constitution of the American Legion and the National Constitution of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Section 4. The Post recognizes Squadron 61, Sons of the American Legion, Detachment of Arizona as a program within this Post.
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution is adopted subject to the provision of the National Constitution of The American Legion and of the Department Constitution of the Department of Arizona, The American Legion. Any amendment to said National Constitution or Department Constitution which is in conflict with any provisions herein shall be regarded as automatically repealing or modifying the provisions of this Constitution to the extent of any conflict.
Section 2. This Constitution may be amended at any regular Post meeting by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of said Post attending such regular meeting, providing that the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing and read at the previous general meeting. Notification of members will be by posting of a notice of the proposed amendment in the Post 10 days prior to the meeting in which it shall be voted on. The notice shall contain the provision of the proposed amendment.
ARTICLE X
AUTHORITY
Section 1. The authority under which this Post shall function is vested in the National and Department Constitutions and Bylaws. Any provision in this Post's Constitution or Bylaws in conflict with that authority shall be void.
ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION
This Constitution was adopted in its entirety by action of the Executive Committee at its regular Meeting on the 5th day of February, 2026, and by the General Membership at its regular meeting on the 10th day of March, 2026
Commander Rich Garmong
Adjutant Evan Glendenning