10/01/2026
ARTICLE XIII – NATIONAL VFW RIDERS GROUP
Sec. 1301 - Formation.
(a) Formation.
(1) Chapters. Chapters may be formed and chartered in accordance with the
National Bylaws of the VFW Riders Group provided no chapter shall be formed
by less than eight (8) members in good standing of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States or its Auxiliary, and, provided further that no chapter
shall be chartered unless the Post with which such chapter is to be affiliated has
consented to the chartering thereof. Consent shall require two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the members present and voting at a regular or special meeting, provided that
Post members are given written notice that a vote will take place, such notice to
be given the entire membership in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the
regular or special meeting called for the aforementioned purpose.
Each chapter shall be assigned a number by the VFW Riders Group.
Each chapter shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Post with which it is
affiliated. It shall also be subject to the jurisdiction of the Department
Convention, Council of Administration and Commander of its respective
Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States with respect
to matters within their authority.
Each chapter shall function in accordance with the National Bylaws, Ritual
and lawful orders issued by National and Department officers of the VFW Riders
Group, provided they do not conflict with the Congressional Charter, Bylaws and
Manual of Procedure of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the
Bylaws of the Department in which it is situated or the Post with which it is
affiliated or lawful orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief, the National or
Department Council of Administration or Department Commander.
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(2) Department Chapters. Department Chapters may be formed by a vote of the
Department Convention. Each Department Unit of the VFW Riders Group shall
be governed by and under the jurisdiction of the Convention, Council of
Administration, and Commander of its respective Department of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States, who shall decide questions of law and usage
for the Department Unit subject to an appeal to the Commander-in-Chief or
National Council of Administration; but the Department Chapter shall function in
accordance with the National Bylaws and Ritual of the VFW Riders Group and
lawful orders issued by National and Department officers thereof, provided they
do not conflict with the Congressional Charter, Bylaws and Manual of Procedure
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and Bylaws of the
Department with which the Department Chapter is affiliated or the lawful orders
issued by the Commander-in-Chief and/or National or Department Council of
Administration and the Department Commander.
(b) Suspension and Discontinuance.
(1) The Commander-in-Chief or National Council of Administration of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States may suspend the National Charter of the
VFW Riders Group for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days, for conduct of the
organization, its Convention, National Officers or National Council of
Administration which may be detrimental to the best interest of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States. Upon recommendation of the Commanderin-
Chief, the National Council of Administration may, by two-thirds (2/3) vote,
cancel and revoke the charter of the VFW Riders Group, provided written notice
of such recommendation is given to the National Commander at least ten (10)
days prior to any National Council action and the National Commander of the
VFW Riders Group or their designee has been afforded an opportunity to appear
before the National Council and be heard concerning such recommendation.
(2) The Commander-in-Chief may direct the suspension, for a period not to exceed
sixty (60) days, or the cancellation of the charter of any subordinate chapter of
the VFW Riders Group, upon recommendation of the Commander of the
Department wherein such chapter is located, when it is shown the conduct of
officers or members thereof may be detrimental to the best interest of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
(3) Disbanding of Chapter by a Post. A Post may, by vote of eighty percent of its
members present and voting at a meeting following a written notice mailed or
delivered to each member of the Post in good standing at least ten (10) days
before said meeting, vote to request cancellation of the charter of its chapter.
The notice must state the contemplated action and the reason therefor. If the
Post votes to request cancellation of the charter of its chapter, it shall certify the
action in writing and forward same to the Department Commander who shall
forward it to the Commander-in-Chief with their recommendations. If the
Commander-in-Chief believes that it is in the best interest of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States to do so, the Commander-in-Chief shall direct
the National Commander of the VFW Riders Group to cancel the charter of the
chapter.
(4) Change of Post Affiliation. For a chapter to change affiliation, it must first
receive consent from two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members of the Post to which
it is now affiliated present and voting at a regular or special meeting providing
the Post members are given written notice that a vote will take place, such notice
to be given the entire membership in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the
regular or special meeting called for the aforementioned purpose.
The new Post to which the chapter will be affiliated must provide consent
by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at a regular or special
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meeting, providing the Post members are given written notice that a vote will
take place, such notice to be given the entire membership in writing at least ten
(10) days prior to the regular or special meeting called for the aforementioned
purpose.
The change of affiliation then must be approved by the Department
Commander, as well as the National Commander of the VFW Riders Group.
Once approval has been given, all records and properties of the chapter
will then be transferred with the chapter to the new Post of affiliation.
(5) While the charter of the National Organization of the VFW Riders Group, or a
subordinate chapter thereof, is suspended said chapter shall not be permitted
to function and the officers thereof shall be without authority; provided, however,
it or its officers shall have the right to appeal to the Commander-in-Chief to lift
the suspension; and in the case of suspension of the charter of the National
Organization, an appeal may be made to the National Council of Administration
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
(c) Suspension of Officers. The officers (elected and appointed) of the VFW Riders
Group or of subordinate chapters thereof may be suspended by action of the
Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, subject
to review by the National Council of Administration. While so suspended, the
offending officer or officers of the VFW Riders Group shall be without authority, and
if it is found that the conduct of an officer or officers thereof is detrimental to the best
interest of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the National Council
of Administration of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States may order the
removal of such officer or officers.
(d) Disposition of Property. In the event of a surrender, cancellation or forfeiture of a
charter of a subordinate chapter of the VFW Riders Group, all official records, money
and other property shall be surrendered to such officer or officers as is provided in
the National Bylaws and Ritual of the VFW Riders Group.
(e) Reports.
(1) The National Commander of the VFW Riders Group shall, within thirty (30)
days after induction into office, submit to the Commander-in-Chief an itemized
report of the financial and membership status of the National Organization of
the VFW Riders Group for their information and for submission by the
Commander-in-Chief to the National Council of Administration.
(2) The Department Commander of the VFW Riders Group shall within thirty (30)
days after induction into office, submit to the Department Commander of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States an itemized report of the
financial and membership status of the Department Chapter of the VFW Riders
Group for their information and for submission by the Commander to the
Department Council of Administration.
(f) Liaison. The Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States may appoint a committee who shall meet with a committee appointed by the
National Commander of the VFW Riders Group. This combined committee when
appointed shall meet at intervals between National Conventions of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States to consider all matters affecting the welfare of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States insofar as the activities of the VFW
Riders Group are concerned. The purpose of this committee shall be to coordinate
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the activities of the VFW
Riders Group so that there shall be full compliance with the Congressional Charter,
Bylaws and Manual of Procedure of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States and best interest of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
and the VFW Riders Group are furthered.
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Sec. 1302 - Eligibility.
An application for membership in the VFW Riders Group must be accompanied by a
certificate verifying satisfaction of the requirements for membership specified in the VFW
Riders Group Bylaws. The certificate shall bear the endorsement of the Post Commander
attested by the Post Adjutant.
Sec. 1303 - Bylaws, Ritual. (See Section 1303 of the Bylaws)
Sec. 1304 - Incorporation.
(a) The Articles of Incorporation of the National VFW Riders Group, should it incorporate,
and any amendments thereto, must have the following provisions:
(1) The active and voting membership of this corporation shall, at all times, consist
of and be confined to the active membership in good standing of the VFW
Riders Group.
(2) This incorporated organization shall be and remain under the jurisdiction of the
National Convention, Commander-in-Chief and National Council of
Administration of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and
subject to its charter, Bylaws and Manual of Procedure and the Bylaws and
Ritual of the VFW Riders Group.
(3) In the event of a dissolution of this corporation, or the simultaneous dissolution
of this corporation and the forfeiture of the charter issued to it by the Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States, title to all of the assets shall pass to the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to be disposed of according to
its Bylaws. At no time shall the assets of the corporation be distributed among
the individual members thereof.
(4) The Articles shall, in addition, contain a provision specifically excluding from
the powers of the corporation the power to own or hold real property.
(b) The Articles of Incorporation of any Department Chapter should it incorporate, and
any amendments thereto, must include the following provisions:
(1) The active and voting membership of this corporation shall, at all times, consist
of and be confined to the active membership in good standing of the
(Department Chapter, VFW Riders Group, Department of Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States) or (Chapter, VFW Riders Group, Post _______,
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States).
(2) This incorporated organization shall be and at all times remain under the
jurisdiction of the National Convention, National Commander and National
Council of Administration of the VFW Riders Group, the Commander-in-Chief
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the (Department of
_______, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) or (Post No. ______,
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) and subject to the Bylaws and
Ritual of the VFW Riders Group and the Charter, Bylaws and Manual of
Procedure of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
(3) In the event of a dissolution of this corporation or the simultaneous dissolution
this corporation and loss or forfeiture of its charter, title to all assets shall pass
to the Department Chapter of the VFW Riders Group to be disposed of
according to the Bylaws. At no time shall the assets of this corporation be
distributed among the individual members thereof.
(4) The Articles shall, in addition, contain a provision specifically excluding from
the powers of the corporation the power to own or hold real property.
(End of Article XIII)
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ARTICLE
