Resolution No. 21

NATIONAL EXCUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF
THE AMERICAN LEGION
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
MAY 4 – 5, 2016

Resolution No. 21: Reiteration of 1960 National Executive Committee to Urge Departments to Restrict Resolutions to Matters Relevant to Purposes for Which The American Legion was Organized
Origin: Internal Affairs Commission
Submitted By: Internal Affairs Commission

WHEREAS, One of the major objectives of The American Legion is the enactment of its national legislative program; and

WHEREAS, Each year the National Convention committees are required to give consideration to numerous resolutions referred to them, through channels, as the result of action taken at department conventions in adopting resolutions calling for the enactment by Congress of legislation concerning matters which are far afield of the main objectives for which The American Legion was organized, namely Rehabilitation, Child Welfare, National Security and Americanism; and

WHEREAS, It has become necessary to remind the departments, a main source for all resolutions, that the national organization operates through commissions and their subordinate committees established by the National By-laws of Article I, Section 6; and

WHEREAS, Such commissions and their subordinate committees should forthwith discontinue their present policy of considering resolutions submitted by private organizations to further their own interests by submitting to departments resolutions calling for legislative action by Congress and urging their adoption by the delegates to our National Convention; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the National Executive Committee of The American Legion in regular meeting assembled at Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 4-5, 2016, That the national adjutant be, and he hereby is empowered and directed to send a copy of this resolution, together with an appropriate covering letter no later than September 15th of each year, to all department commanders, department adjutants, National Executive Committeemen, the chairmen of all national commissions and committees, the directors of all commissions, and the chairmen of all National Convention committees, with the directive that every reasonable effort be made to reject resolutions which are far a field of the main objectives for which The American Legion was organized which are today known as “The Four Pillars” at the department level; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the National Executive Committee hereby requests that all of the departments, through their department commanders, department adjutants and National Executive Committeemen, bring this situation to the attention of the delegates assembled at their annual department conventions; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the National Executive Committee hereby requests that all resolutions calling for consideration by the National Executive Committee or the National Convention of The American Legion, be supported by the identification of the individual or group originating the resolution, and also by a written statement or brief containing the support arguments in favor of the action sought, and clearly establishing the material relevance of the subject to the purposes for which The American Legion was formed; and, be it finally

RESOLVED, That Resolution No. 21, adopted May 4-5, 1960, is hereby rescinded.

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