09/27/2025
ARTICLE XIII – NATIONAL VFW RIDERS
Sec. 1301 - Formation.
(a) The National VFW Riders is a membership association separately constituted as a
subordinate unit chartered by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Such
association shall be governed by and subject to the jurisdiction of the National
Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Commander-in
Chief, the National Council of Administration, and shall be governed by and subject to
jurisdiction of the respective Department Convention, Commander and Council of
Administration or Post.
(b) The National VFW Riders shall be governed by such Bylaws and Ritual as may be
adopted by it, and by the lawful orders issued by its National Officers, provided such
Bylaws, Ritual and Orders do not conflict with the Congressional Charter, Bylaws,
Manual of Procedure or Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States or
the lawful orders or directives of the National Convention, the Commander-in-Chief or
the National Council of Administration of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States.
(c)
The National VFW Riders may issue charters to subordinate chapters, provided that
the establishment of such chapter shall have been approved by the respective
Department or Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and subject
to its control. Formation, control and disbandment of National VFW Riders chapters, as
well as suspension or cancellation of charters, shall be in the manner prescribed in the
Manual of Procedure.
Sec. 1302 - Eligibility.
Eligibility for membership in the National VFW Riders shall be limited to those
members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States who have met the
requirements as outlined in the National VFW Riders Bylaws and have been approved for
membership by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of a chapter.
Application for membership and certification thereof will be in the manner prescribed in the
Manual of Procedure.
Sec. 1303 - Bylaws, Ritual.
The National VFW Riders may adopt such Bylaws and Ritual as are deemed
necessary and may authorize subordinate chapters to adopt Bylaws. In the event any part
of the Bylaws and Ritual so adopted are inconsistent with the Congressional Charter,
Bylaws, Manual of Procedure or Ritual of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States,
or the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and Procedures of the respective Department or Post,
such part shall be considered null and void.
Sec. 1304 - Incorporation.
(a)
The National VFW Riders is authorized to incorporate under appropriate not for profit
corporation laws, provide such incorporation, and the Articles of Incorporation and any
amendments thereto, are reviewed and approved by the Commander-in-Chief and
approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the VFW Riders National Convention and
provided further that the Articles of Incorporation include those provisions specified in
Section 708 the Manual of Procedure. Failure to comply with these provisions will result
in suspension or revocation of the charter.
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(b) The National VFW Riders, by duly approved amendments to its Bylaws, authorize
subordinate chapters to incorporate under appropriate not for profit corporation laws
and may adopt such rules and regulations as are appropriate concerning such
incorporation, provided that the respective Department or unit of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States approves such incorporation, which approval shall
be in the same manner as for the initial formation of a subordinate chapter, and
approves the Articles of Incorporation and any amendments thereto and, provided
further, that the Articles of Incorporation of any such corporation include the provisions
specified in Section 708 of the Manual of Procedure. Should any state law prohibit the
provisions specified in the Manual of Procedure for Articles of Incorporation, it shall be
permissible to change the provisions sufficiently to conform to state law so long as the
change is not inconsistent with the purposes of the Manual of Procedure provision.
Failure to comply with those provisions will result in suspension or revocation of the
charter.
