(The word “General” herein to be considered equivalent to National.)
The officers of the society shall be elected annually.
_Article VI.—The President-General._
The duties of the President-General shall be to open and preside
over the society during its deliberations, to see that the
constitution is observed and the by-laws enforced, to appoint
committees, and exercise a watchful care over the interests of the
society, that its work may be properly done and its purposes adhered
to. In the absence of the President-General a presiding officer _pro
tem._ may be chosen.
_Article VII.—The Vice-Presidents._
It shall be the duty of the Vice-President of each state to
represent the President-General at all meetings of state chapters of
the society, and for the Vice-President of the state to which the
President-General belongs, or in which the meeting is held, to
represent him at all meetings of the parent society when he cannot
be present, and in his absence to act as chairman _pro tem._ In the
absence of both the President-General and state Vice-President, a
presiding officer _pro tem._ may be chosen from the assembled
members of the society.
_Article VIII.—The Secretary-General._
The Secretary-General shall keep a record of all the proceedings of
the society and the Executive Council; he shall have charge of the
seal and records; he shall issue and sign in conjunction with the
President-General all charters granted to the subsidiary chapters,
and shall with him certify to all acts of the society. He shall,
upon orders from the President-General, give due notice of time and
place of all meetings of the body; give notice to the several
officers of all votes, resolutions, orders, and proceedings of the
body affecting them or appertaining to their respective offices, and
perform such other duties as may be assigned him.
_Article IX.—The Treasurer-General._
The Treasurer-General shall collect and receive all dues, funds, and
securities, and deposit the same to the credit of the AMERICAN-IRISH
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, in such banking institution as may be approved
by the Executive Council. This money shall be drawn to the check of
the Treasurer-General for the purposes of the society and to pay
such sums as may be ordered by the Executive Council of the society
in meeting, said orders to be countersigned by the President-General
and Secretary-General. He must keep a full and accurate account of
all receipts and disbursements, and at each annual meeting shall
render the same to the society when a committee shall be appointed
by the President-General to audit his accounts. He shall present at
annual or special meetings a list of members in arrears.
_Article X.—The Librarian and Archivist._
The Librarian and Archivist shall be the custodian of all published
books, pamphlets, files of newspapers, and similar property of the
society. He shall have charge of all documents, manuscripts, and
other productions not assigned by this constitution to other
officers of the society, and shall keep the same in a place or
places easy of access and safe from loss by fire or other causes.
_Article XI.—The Historiographer._
The Historiographer, or official historian, of the society shall
perform the duties usually pertaining to that office.
_Article XII.—The Executive Council._
The Executive Council shall consist of the President-General,
Secretary-General, Treasurer-General, Librarian and Archivist,
Historiographer, and not less than ten nor more than twenty other
members to be elected by the society. The Executive Council shall be
judge of the qualifications of applicants for admission, and if
satisfactory, shall elect the same. The Council shall recommend
plans for promoting the objects of the society, digest and prepare
business, authorize the disbursement and expenditure of
unappropriated money in the treasury for the current expenses of the
society; shall prepare and edit—or cause to be prepared and
edited—contributions of an historical or literary character bearing
on the special work of the society, for publication and
distribution; may appropriate funds for the expenses of special
branches of research for historical data and for the purchase of
works to form a library for the society whenever it shall have a
permanent home and headquarters. The Council shall have power to
fill vacancies in offices until the annual meeting, exercise a
supervisory care over the affairs of the society, and perform such
other duties as may be intrusted to them. At a meeting of the
Executive Council five members shall constitute a quorum.
_Article XIII.—Meetings._
The annual meeting of this society shall be held on the third
Wednesday in January, at a place to be selected by the Executive
Council. A field day of the body shall be held during the summer of
each year at such time and place as the Executive Council shall
select, due regard being given to the convenience of the greatest
number, and, as far as possible, the meeting place selected shall be
one whose historical associations are of interest to American
citizens.
The annual meeting shall be for the purpose of electing officers,
hearing reports, and transacting such other business as may come
properly before it. There shall be four stated meetings each year.
Special meetings may be called at any time by the Executive Council.
_Article XIV.—Subsidiary Societies._
Chapters of the parent society may be established in any city or
town in the United States upon the petition of ten persons for a
charter, and such charter shall be issued upon payment of the sum
designated for such in the by-laws.
The President, Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, and Historiographer
of all subsidiary societies shall be admitted to all meetings of the
parent society as members during their term of office, with all the
privilege of membership except that of voting.
_Article XV.—Amendments._
Amendments to the constitution shall be submitted to the Executive
Council through the Secretary-General at least thirty days before
the meeting of the society. A vote of two-thirds of the members
present at the meeting shall be necessary for the adoption of such
amendments.