ADMINISTRATIVE CONCEPTS
The Right of Appeal:
The right all members of EA have to complain about what they consider an unfair decision orsituation decided by our leaders. This right aims to protect minority views and assure that they areread.
The Right of Petition:
The right all members of EA have to request that EA leaders do a particular thing. This right aims
to protect minority views and assure that they are read.
The Right of Decision:
The right or the authority the leaders of EA have to make decisions on their own, without overdue
criticism, since they are trusted servants. It is also the right all members of EA have to makedecisions through their group conscience and the voice of their leaders.
The Right of Participation:
The right all members of EA have to take part in EA meetings in accordance with the guidelinesof the fellowship. It is also their right to take part in the management of EA affairs through theirgroup conscience and the voice of their leaders.

CONCEPT I — RESPONSIBILITY
The ultimate responsibility and authority for Emotions Anonymous International (EAI) services
belong to the EA groups.
Authority comes from group conscience and responsible group leaders. As long as there is balanceof responsibility and authority in our groups and the groups’ representatives in service, EA willcontinue to give hope and help to those who need it.
CONCEPT II — REPRESENTATION ACCOUNTABILITY
The EA groups have delegated complete administrative and operational authority to its elected
representatives.
The fellowship of EA is guided and directed by the Board of Trustees and delegates to the annualconvention. These representatives are chosen by the members, and they are accountable to themembership. The Board of Trustees is entrusted with the authority to make decisions for
fellowship world services and to oversee operations at the International Service Center.
CONCEPT III — TRUSTThe right of decision makes effective leadership possible.
Being allowed to make appropriate decisions, to act freely without being hassled or
second-guessed, gives dignity to the person who is doing a job. This freedom to exercise
judgment, and the trust which permits it, is the core of Concept III.
We trust our group leaders to decide when to handle group affairs and when to ask for guidance.
We trust the Board of Trustees to decide when to act on its own responsibility and when to ask themembership for direction. We trust members of the EA staff in positions of responsibility to decide
when to act wholly on their own and when to refer a problem to the next higher authority. It is ourduty to carefully choose for every position those who will serve us and then trust them to do thejob without interference or undue criticism.
CONCEPT IV — RESPECT
Participation is the key to harmony.
In the structure of EA service, each member and group of members contribute to the whole.
Recognizing a spiritual need to belong, the principle of participation has been built into our wholeservice structure. Respectful, self-disciplined consideration of every other member and group ofmembers will give everyone the right to participate in the service of EA, and so assure harmony.
CONCEPT V — EQUALITY
The rights of appeal and petition protect minority views and assure that they are heard.
Consideration of others and courteous regard for the views of all is the basis of strength, unity, andcooperation. This Concept assures protection of the views of minorities and of the entire
fellowship.
Through the Right of Appeal, minority views can be heard. Members with minority views have aduty to present a minority report to the membership when they believe that a wrong decision could
seriously affect EA. When minorities speak out, they help preserve the fellowship. By compellinga thorough debate, they are a chief defense against uninformed, misinformed, hasty, or angry
action.
The Right of Petition gives members the right to petition those in authority to consider analternative that may differ from their point of view. The right of petition also allows a member orstaff member to carry a complaint direct to the Board of Trustees without fear of reprisal.
CONCEPT VI — TRUSTEESHIP/AUTHORITY/RESPONSIBILITY
We acknowledge the primary administrative responsibility of the trustees.
The Board of Trustees is expected to spearhead the formulation of EA policy in accordance withEA principles and is accountable for its proper dissemination. To provide efficient and balanced
leadership, the trustees must be chosen for their special talents, 12-Step experience, and soundjudgment. Their great responsibility requires a large grant of authority. The trustees are the active
guardians of our Twelve Traditions and are charged with upholding and applying these principles.
As they administer the business prudently, there is no need to choose between good business andgood EA practice, since there is no conflict between the two.
CONCEPT VII — BALANCE
The trustees have legal rights, while the rights of the membership are traditional.
Concept VII defines the balance of powers between the membership and the trustees. The trustees
bear legal responsibility for EA’s funds, services, and actions. The membership is the conscienceof EA with traditional rights. There need never be a clash or testing of these rights, the legal andthe traditional, as long as the trustees and the membership work together in good faith.

CONCEPT VIII — DELEGATIONThe Board of Trustees delegates full authority for routine management of the EA International
Service Center to its Executive Committee.
In our service structure we need vision to address policy questions, supply leadership, meetfinancial obligations, strengthen the interrelationship of groups, and carry the message of EA
around the world. With this responsibility in mind, the EA Board of Trustees delegates authority to
its Executive Committee.
CONCEPT IX — LEADERSHIP QUALITIESIn a field of world service the Board of Trustees assumes primary leadership.
Leadership qualities are defined as being responsible, tolerant, stable, flexible, having good
judgment, vision and the ability to be tactful. Being responsible includes being motivated byprinciples and setting an example that inspires others to follow. When these qualities areapplied in our service structure, they generate a caring and selfless spirit.
CONCEPT X — BALANCE
Service responsibility is balanced by service authority. Thus, we avoid "double-headed"management.
Responsibility and authority must be equal. If an imbalance should occur, there are the safeguards ofRight of Decision, Right of Appeal, and Right of Petition to correct this. There must be a final
authority, and in our fellowship, that is the EA groups. When there is mutual trust and respect,
authority can be delegated from the groups to the delegates, then to the trustees, and then to thecommittees and EA staff.
CONCEPT XI — ADMINISTRATION
The administrative arm of EA is composed of standing committees, executive committee, and staffmembers. The committees and staff members share with trustees the responsibility forpreserving the unity of EA and spreading its message to all those in need of its help.
All are vital to EA to deal with policies, the budget, institutional work, international coordination,literature, nominations, public information, publication of The EA Connection andadministration of the International Service Center.
In order to coordinate these functions and assure cooperation, we need three principles. 1) Quality: A
good executive acting without favor or partiality, dealing with fairness and equality, consultingwith those affected by new plans, being open to hear and respect constructive criticism. 2)
Fairness: This principle declares that fair recompense in salary and appreciation is essential forefficient service. 3) Full participation of paid workers: They should in all ways be considered
respected members of the team. The dependence of workers on their salaries should not be
used to limit their freedom to voice their views.

CONCEPT XII — PRINCIPLES
The spiritual principles for EA world services are contained in the spirit of our organization as awhole.
Our personal spiritual awakening is the result of the Twelve Steps. Applying spiritual principles is also
the goal of EA service. Through spiritual practice we find the freedom to live courageously
and joyously. Four main principles or points are of use in our continuing world service: Point
one gives specific direction on prudent financial management. Point two protects each member
from absolute authority and reinforces the Right of Participation. Point three expresses deep
respect for the spirit of freedom in our fellowship. There is regard for the views of all and thedirective that all decisions are reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, unanimity.
Point four reaffirms the high value we set on our liberties and restates the democratic nature ofour fellowship.
In EA the individual members and groups hold extraordinary democratic power. It is through theirprudent, responsible, and loving exercise of their liberties that the fellowship of EA cancontinue to grow, bringing comfort and hope to millions more in need of its help.

P.O. Box 4245
St. Paul, MN 55104-0245© 2005, revised 2012 Emotions Anonymous International — Item #67
EA-approved literature. This packet may be reproduced for free distribution.