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Lexington Rifles "Our Laws, The Commands of Our Captain"
Constitution & By-Laws
Background
Music:
ARTICLE
I. Establishment . SECTION I. Authority The
good people of this organization, who in aggregate shall constitute the Company
and bear equal responsibility for its civil affairs, have the full power of
Impeachment and to enact By-laws, levy War, contract Alliances, establish
Commerce, and to do all other acts and things in its own interest which an
independent organization may of right do. The powers not delegated to the Company
by these By-laws, nor prohibited by them, are reserved to the good people of
this organization. . SECTION II. Mission The objective of this organization is to portray Company A of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers, during the War for Southern Independence. This organization shall also be devoted to honoring the memory of the brave soldiers and citizens of the Confederate States, who fought against Federal tyranny for the cause of State's Rights and Constitutional Liberty, by re-enacting their struggle in a manner that is authentic, professional, educational, safe, and enjoyable. . SECTION III. Name Whereas,
a
militia company of infantry named the Lexington Rifles was raised and
established in 1857
by capt John Hunt
Morgan at Lexington, Kentucky, and was later designated on the Sixth Day of
November 1860 as Company A of the 1st Regiment, Kentucky State Guard, and
Whereas, the Lexington Rifles was mustered as Morgan’s Company into military service of the Confederate States on the Twenty-seventh Day of October 1861 by maj William Preston Johnston at Woodsonville, Kentucky, and Whereas, Morgan's Company was designated as Company A of Morgan's Cavalry Squadron upon organization of that command on the Fifth Day of November 1861 by brig-gen Simon Bolivar Bucker at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Whereas,
after having gained renown under the
sobriquet of “Morgan's Raiders”, Morgan’s Squadron became the nucleus
for formation of the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry upon organization of that regiment in June 1862 by col
John Hunt Morgan at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Whereas, in
response to the tyrannical usurpations by the federal government of the United
States against the people of Kentucky, Morgan and his men committed themselves
to fight in defense of liberty against despotism and the enemies of freedom,
thereby establishing a reputation as a formidable force that became famous in
the annals of warfare for cunning, gallantry, and valor, Now, Therefore, Be
it resolved, the good people of this
organization hereby proclaim that this organization shall henceforth be known as the “Lexington
Rifles”, and that it may also be referred to as
“Morgan's Company”
or as “Company A, 2nd Cavalry
Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers”. . SECTION IV. Motto Whereas,
Brig-Gen Basil Wilson Duke, who served as 1st Lieutenant of
Morgan’s Company and as Colonel of the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, was a noted
postbellum author and historian, and Whereas, the book “History of Morgan's Cavalry”, that was written by Duke and first published in 1867, is recognized as being a historically accurate and reliable account of the subject, and Whereas, Chapter V of Duke’s book refers to the motto – “Our Laws, the Commands of Our Captain” – that was prominently displayed at the entrance to the Lexington Rifles Armory, located at Main and Upper Streets in Lexington, Kentucky, Now, Therefore, Be it resolved, the good people of this organization hereby proclaim that those words and that sentiment shall henceforth be retained as the official motto of this Company. . . .
ARTICLE
II. Administration . SECTION I. Board of Directors An
elected Board of Directors shall hold their offices during good behavior and
have the power and the duty to conduct civil affairs of the Company.
Any Director of the Board may be impeached and removed from office for
dereliction of duty, or for violation of the By-laws and/or Special Orders of
the Company. Any unilateral decision made by a Director on behalf of the
Company may be overridden by vote. The description and responsibilities of
these offices are as follows: A. Chief of
Staff 1.) The Chief of Staff shall preside over civil meetings of the Company, and is responsible for preparing an agenda for all such proceedings. 2.) The Chief of Staff is empowered to authorize payment of any bill not exceeding $50 United States currency, or $850 Confederate States currency. 3.) The Chief of Staff may appoint committee members and temporarily fill vacant civil offices until proper elections take place in accordance with these By-laws. B. Adjutant 1.) The Adjutant shall assume all responsibilities of the Chief of Staff in cases of his inability to discharge the duties of his office. 2.)
The
Adjutant is empowered to cast a deciding vote in all cases of a tie. C. Company
Clerk 1.) The Company Clerk shall notify members of the time, place, and proposed agenda of all meetings of the Company, and shall keep the minutes of all such proceedings. 2.) The Company Clerk shall register the Company for attendance at scheduled events. 3.) The Company Clerk shall act as elections judge by conducting all elections; certifying the number of points accrued by each member; and tallying election results. D. Paymaster 1.) The Paymaster is responsible for the deposit of U.S. and C.S. currency, script, gold and other valuable in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. 2.) The Paymaster is empowered to disburse Treasury funds for the payment of any bill that is owed by the Company, and to collect any debt that is owed to it. 3.) The Paymaster is responsible for preparing the operating budget of the Company, which shall estimate expected revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year. 4.) The Paymaster shall investigate revenue evasion, counterfeiting, forgery, smuggling, and the distillation of illicit spirits. . SECTION II. Committees Committees,
consisting of a minimum of three members, may be appointed to examine important
issues and to make recommendations. They may also take responsibility for
certain services and functions of the Company. A. Committees shall have an advisory role only and shall be disbanded once their duties have been fulfilled. All decisions pertaining to their recommendations rest solely with the Company. B. Multiple committees dealing with identical issues are allowed, provided they each have the required sponsorship. C.
Nothing in this section is meant to discourage or prohibit any member from
making proposals to the Company for consideration. D. The
Company will maintain the following standing committees: 1.) Authenticity 2.) Recruiting 3.) Attendance . SECTION III. Meetings The
Company shall meet at a time and place that is convenient to its members, and an
agenda will be published for the purpose thereof with no other business being
conducted unless by consent of a majority in attendance. A quorum is met
by a simple majority of inducted members on active duty,
but the lack of a quorum will not affect the proceedings unless a point of order
is raised. “Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised”
shall
govern the procedure of these meetings. A. Annual
Convention B. Special Meeting C. Council
of War D. Order
of Business 1.) Call to Order 2.) Minutes 3.) Official Reports 4.) Old Business 5.) 6.) 7.) Adjournment . SECTION IV. Financial Affairs The
Company shall operate on an approved annual budget during the fiscal year, which
will run concurrently with each calendar year, for which deficits and surpluses
will be carried forward. To ensure
that the Company operates without deficit, the budget may be financially
supported through the levying of dues, imposts, and fees that are authorized by
its members. . SECTION V. Special Orders Regulations and procedures for governing the operation of the Company will be compiled in a separate body of Special Orders, which may be adopted, changed, or deleted by simple majority. . SECTION VI. Discipline In
the interest of preserving civil order and maintaining discipline, a judicial
system will be used to enforce Company laws and to administer justice fairly.
No member shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy, nor
shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. A. Order
of Procedure 1.)
Indictment 2.)
Hearing 3.)
Verdict 4.)
Sentencing B.
Nothing
in this Section shall preclude the military staff from invoking and/or imposing
martial law in accordance with the “Regulations
for the Army of the Confederate States of America”. .. SECTION VII. Dissolution The
organization may dissolve and terminate its affairs at a properly convened
meeting of the Company, assembled, by unanimous ratification of a resolution
proposing such action. . . ..
ARTICLE
III. Suffrage
SECTION I. Voting Civil affairs and matters of
Company business will be decided by democratic vote at properly convened
meetings. All
deliberative issues, other than office elections and the selection of an event
schedule, shall be decided by voice, by show of hands, or by non-weighted ballot
at the discretion of the presiding officer.
With exception of the two-thirds majority that is required for
amending these By-laws, all issues will be decided by a simple majority. A. Eligibility B. Proxies . SECTION II. Elections Based
upon the belief that members should have a voice that is proportional to the
level of their individual participation, office elections and the selection of
an event schedule shall be conducted by weighted secret ballot. A. Weighted
Ballots B. Voting
Points 1.) The total number of points that are accrued by a member will be available for use only during the subsequent calendar year and will not be accumulated from year to year. 2.)
One
(1) point will be earned for participation each day during a Company event. 3.)
One (1) bonus point will be added for participation at each of the
following, respectively: the annual
convention; any fund raising event; and attendance on consecutive days of a
multi-day Company event. C. Elected
Offices D. Event
Schedule . . ....
ARTICLE
IV. Membership . SECTION I. Types There are two types of membership as herein described: Inducted and Honorary. A. Inducted
Membership 1.)
Active Duty 2.)
Furloughed
Leave B. Honorary . SECTION II. Eligibility Except
for the restrictions as noted herein, all free persons who subscribe to the
By-laws and Special
Orders
of this organization are eligible to apply for membership. Those under the
age of 18 must have the consent of a parent, guardian, or master. Each
prospective member should also be effective, able-bodied, and sober, free from
disease, of good character and habits, and possess a competent knowledge of the
English language. A. Males B. Females 1.) Nothing in this section is meant to preclude or to discourage the association of unmarried female re-enactors with this organization. However, unmarried women are not eligible for inducted membership. . SECTION III. Requirements Membership is decided by the Company.
An applicant’s petition for induction may be considered following
fulfillment of the requirements listed in this section. In cases where
application is approved, the oath of enlistment will be administered thereafter
in a timely manner. A. Each
member must be able to demonstrate a level of personal integrity, competence,
authenticity, knowledge, skill, and safety in their historical portrayal that
would assist the Company in satisfying its mission statement. B. A
recruit must earn a minimum of 12 points within 13 consecutive months in order
to be considered for induction. This
requirement may be waived in considering reinstatement of a former member.
C. In
order to maintain active duty status, each inducted member must earn at least
one voting point annually. The
inability or failure to do so will convert the status to furloughed leave. . SECTION IV. Allegiance Based
on a mutual bond of trust and fidelity that is considered to exist between
members of this organization, the duty of allegiance to the Company is expected.
Members, therefore, are prohibited from engaging in conduct that would be
considered a treasonous breach of their oath, or in conflict with the interests
of this organization. A. Conflict of interest is defined as: 1.)
Treasonous service to the United
States government during any sessions of the Provisional, the First, or the
Second Congresses of the Confederate States of America, a practice commonly
referred to as
"galvanizing". 2.) Unauthorized service to another organization at a Company event. 3.)
Membership
in, or affiliation with, any organization that would impugn or denigrate the
good name and reputation of either the Company or the Confederate States of
America. B. Treason
shall consist of levying war against forces of the Confederate States. No
person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to
the same overt act, or on confession in open court. No attainder of
treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of
the person attainted. C. Nothing
in this section is meant to prohibit service to the United States government
that would not constitute a conflict of interest as herein defined, or to
prohibit service to another organization under circumstances whereby the Company
is unviable. . SECTION V. Abrogation A member’s rights, duties, and privileges may be abrogated by means as
are herein provided.
A. Suspension 1.)
A
member’s rights and privileges will be automatically suspended when debt is
owed to the Company and payment is in arrears; the reinstatement of which will
occur only when payment is made or the obligation is forgiven. 2.) A member’s rights and privileges may be suspended through action by the Company as a consequence of conviction in a disciplinary hearing. B. Termination 1.) A member may resign from the Company without reason or prejudice by tendering notice to any Director of the Board. 2.) A member may be cashiered through action by the Company as a consequence of conviction in a disciplinary hearing. 3.)
A member will be automatically cashiered
when debt is owed to the Company after the deadline for payment has passed. . . ....
ARTICLE
V. Military Affairs . SECTION I. Regulations “Regulations
for the Army of the Confederate States”,
adopted by the Confederate War Department on 28 January 1863, will govern the
military affairs of this organization and nothing contrary to them will be
enjoined or permitted. . SECTION II. Rank The
military ranks of the Company will be limited to males over the conscription age
of 16, and will be determined according to standards that are set forth in the
Special Orders
of this organization.
The ranks that are allowed, and the descriptions and responsibilities of
each, are as follows: A. Commissioned
Officers 1.) Captain 2.) Lieutenant B. Enlisted
Personnel 1.) First
Sergeant 2.) Sergeant 3.) Corporal 4.) Private . . ..
ARTICLE
VI. Ratification & Amendments . SECTION I. Ratification WE, the petitioners in convention, assembled, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God for the rectitude of our intentions, and by authority of the good people of this organization, do ordain and hereby establish these By-laws for the Lexington Rifles – Company A, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers. In doing so, the petitioners solemnly publish and declare that this Company is free and independent, and is absolved from all allegiance to any other organization except the Confederate States of America. DONE in convention by the unanimous consent of the petitioners present at Wauconda, Illinois on the First Day of April, Anno Domini MM. In
Witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our
names. . SECTION II. Amendments These
By-laws may be amended upon ratification by two-thirds of Company members.
Any amendment adopting or deleting any provision thereof shall revise the
main body of the original text; and the date, place, and roll of those attending
the ratification shall be recorded. 1st
Revision Roll: Brett Fisher,
Jenny Knight, Thomas Knight, Allan Petrusky, Lisa Petrusky, Catherine Pierce,
Caroline Sanderson, Robert Sanderson, and Stephen Sonnon. 2d
Revision Roll: Jenny
Knight, Thomas Knight, Allan Petrusky, Lisa Petrusky, Catherine Pierce, Caroline
Sanderson, Robert Sanderson, Diana Sauter, John Sauter, Amanda Stenger, and
Jason Wilson. 3d
Revision Roll: Jason Bristow,
Jeffrey Bristow, Cyndee Eaton, Jason Eaton, Michael Eaton, Shane Glandon, Tanya
Glandon, Charlotte Hensel, Jenny Knight, Thomas Knight, Allan Petrusky,
Catherine Pierce, Caroline Sanderson, Robert Sanderson, Diana Sauter, John
Sauter, and Jason Wilson. 4th
Revision
Roll: Jason Bristow, Jeffrey
Bristow, Michael Eaton, Shane Glandon, Timothy Herrmann, Jenny Knight, Thomas
Knight, Allan Petrusky, Catherine Pierce, Caroline Sanderson, Robert Sanderson,
Diana Sauter, John Sauter, and Mark Wright. 5th
Revision Roll: Jason Bristow, Jeffrey
Bristow, Shane Glandon, Tanya Glandon, Allan Petrusky, Bjorn Sanderson, Caroline
Sanderson, Robert Sanderson, and Jason Wilson. 6th
Revision
Roll: Jason Bristow, Jeffrey
Bristow, Shane Glandon, Tanya Glandon, Allan Petrusky, Bjorn Sanderson, Caroline
Sanderson, Robert Sanderson, Amanda Wilson, and Jason Wilson.
7th
Revision Roll: Shane Glandon,
Tanya Glandon, Allan Petrusky, Bjorn Sanderson, Caroline Sanderson, Robert
Sanderson, and Paul Truitt. 8th
Revision Roll: David
Gordy, Jess Gordy, Steven Hoeflinger, Jacob Lake, Timothy Lake, Allan Petrusky,
Bjorn Sanderson, Caroline Sanderson, Robert Sanderson, Roger Svinning, and Paul
Truitt. 9th
Revision Roll: David
Gordy, Jess Gordy, Steven Hoeflinger, Jacob Lake, Timothy Lake, Allan Petrusky,
Bjorn Sanderson, Caroline Sanderson, Robert Sanderson, adn Sarah Sanderson.
. .
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