Constitution of Rotary International
ArticleSubjectPage

1Definitions ................................................................ 12The Association and Its Purposes ............................ 1

3Object ........................................................................ 1

4Membership .............................................................. 1

5

Board of Directors .................................................... 2

6Officers ...................................................................... 2

7

Administration.......................................................... 3

8Convention ................................................................ 3

9Council on Legislation .............................................. 3

10Dues .......................................................................... 411

Foundation................................................................ 412

Membership Title and Insignia ................................ 4

13

Bylaws ....................................................................... 4

14Interpretation ........................................................... 4

15

Amendments ............................................................. 5(June 2022)

Constitution of Rotary InternationalArticle 1 Definitions
1. Board:

The RI Board of Directors.

2. Club:

A Rotary club.

3. Governor:

A governor of a Rotary district.

4. Member:

A member, other than an honorary member, of a Rotary club.

5. RI:

Rotary International.

6. Rotaract club:

A club of young adults.

7. Rotaractor:

A member of a Rotaract club.

8. Year:

The twelve-month period beginning 1 July.

Article 2 The Association and Its Purposes
Rotary International is the association of clubs and Rotaract clubs throughout the world.
RI’s purpose is to:(a) Support the clubs, Rotaract clubs, and districts in their pursuit of programs andactivities that promote the Object of Rotary; and(b) Encourage, promote, extend, and supervise Rotary throughout the world.
Article 3 Object
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy
enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:First. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
Second. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of theworthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’soccupation as an opportunity to serve society;
Third. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business,and community life;
Fourth. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace
through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in theideal of service.
Article 4 Membership
Section 1 — How Constituted. The membership of RI is clubs and Rotaract clubs.
Section 2 — Composition of Clubs.
(a) A club is composed of adults who:
1. demonstrate good character, integrity, and leadership;
2. possess good reputation within their business, profession, occupation, and/orcommunity; and3. are willing to serve in their community and/or around the world.
1(b) Clubs shall have a well-balanced membership in which no one business,profession, occupation, type of community service, or other classification
predominates.
(c) The RI bylaws may provide for active and honorary membership in clubs and thequalifications for each.
(d) If approved by the board, a club or Rotaract club is not required to use the word
“club” in its name in countries where the word “club” has an inappropriate
connotation.
Section 3 — Composition of Rotaract Clubs. The board shall determine thecomposition of Rotaract clubs.
Section 4 — Ratification of Constitution and Bylaws. Every club and Rotaract club isbound by the requirements of this constitution and the RI bylaws, and any
amendments to them, not contrary to law.
Section 5 — Exceptions. The board may, as a pilot project, admit into membership orpermit the reorganization of up to 1,000 clubs that have provisions in theirconstitutions that are not in accordance with this constitution, the RI bylaws, and thestandard club constitution. A pilot project may last no longer than six years. At the endof the pilot project, all clubs shall adopt the standard club constitution.
Article 5 Board of Directors
Section 1 — How Constituted. There are 19 members of the board, including thepresident and the president-elect. The president is chair of the board. Seventeen
directors are selected in accordance with the provisions of the RI bylaws.
Section 2 — Powers. The affairs and funds of RI are under the direction and control ofthe board in conformity with this constitution, the RI bylaws, and the Illinois General
Not-for-Profit Corporation Act of 1986, as amended.
Section 3 — Finances. The board may spend, consistent with the budget provided forin the RI bylaws, the current income and amounts from the RI reserve necessary toaccomplish the purposes of RI. The board shall report to the following convention andcouncil on legislation the reasons for any expenditures from the RI reserve. The board
shall at no time incur a debt that exceeds the net assets of RI.
Section 4 — Secretary. The general secretary is secretary of the board and has no votein its proceedings.
Article 6 Officers
Section 1 — Titles. The officers of RI are president, president-elect, vice-president,treasurer, other directors, general secretary, governors, and the chair, chair-elect, andhonorary treasurer of RI in Great Britain and Ireland.
Section 2 — How Elected. The officers of RI are nominated and elected as provided in
the RI bylaws.

2Article 7 Administration
Section 1 — Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) is an RI
administrative territorial unit comprising all clubs in Great Britain, Ireland, theChannel Islands, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man. The powers, purposes, and functionsof RIBI are those in the RIBI constitution, as approved by the council on legislationand in this constitution and the RI bylaws.
Section 2 — Clubs are administered under the general supervision of the board, inconformity with this constitution and the RI bylaws, with direct supervision:(a) By the board.
(b) By a governor in a district.
(c) As otherwise determined by the board and approved by the council on legislation.
(d) By RIBI, of clubs in Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar, and theIsle of Man.
Section 3 — Rotaract clubs are administered under the general supervision of theboard or other supervision as determined by the board.
Article 8 Convention
Section 1 — Time and Place. An RI convention is held during the last three months ofeach year, at a time and place determined by the board.
Section 2 — Special Conventions. In case of emergency, special conventions may becalled by the president with approval of the board.
Section 3 — Delegates and Voting. The duly accredited delegates, proxy holders, anddelegates-at-large shall constitute the voting body of the convention.
(a) A club is entitled to at least one vote either by one of its members as a delegate, orby proxy. Any club with a membership of more than 50 is entitled to one
additional vote for each additional 50 members or major fraction thereof.
Membership is determined as of 31 December immediately before the convention.
A club entitled to more than one vote may choose to send more than one delegate
to the convention or may authorize a delegate or proxy to cast more than one of its
votes.
(b) Each officer and past president of RI who is a member of a club is a delegate-atlarge.
Section 4 — Voting. Voting is as provided in the RI bylaws.
Article 9 Council on Legislation
Section 1 — Purpose. The council on legislation shall constitute the legislative body of RI.
Section 2 — Time and Place. The council on legislation shall convene once every three
years in April, May, or June, but preferably in April. The board sets the date and placeof the meeting. It is held in the vicinity of the RI world headquarters unless there arecompelling financial or other reasons for it to be held elsewhere, as determined by a
two-thirds vote of the entire board.
3Section 3 — Procedures. The council on legislation shall consider proposals duly
submitted to it. Its action is subject only to action by clubs as provided in the RI bylaws.
The membership of the council on legislation is as provided in the bylaws.
Section 4 — Extraordinary Meetings. An extraordinary meeting of the council on
legislation may be called by a vote of at least 90 percent of the entire board. The board
sets the time and place for the meeting. Only legislation submitted by the board isconsidered. The submission deadlines and procedures provided elsewhere in theconstitutional documents of RI do not apply unless time permits. Any action of themeeting is subject to action by clubs, as provided in section 3 of this article.
Article 10 Dues
Every club and Rotaract club shall pay per capita dues to RI twice per year, or at othertimes set by the board.
Article 11 Foundation
Section 1 — There shall be a Foundation of RI to be established and operated inaccordance with the provisions of the RI bylaws.
Section 2 — All gifts, devises, or bequests of money or property, and income therefrom,received by RI and any surplus funds of RI, as authorized by the convention, shallbecome the property of the Foundation.
Article 12 Membership Title and Insignia
Section 1 — Active Members. Active members are known as Rotarians and are entitled
to wear the emblem, badge, or other insignia of RI.
Section 2 — Honorary Members. Honorary members are known as honorary
Rotarians, and are entitled to wear the emblem, badge, or other insignia of RI.
Section 3 — Rotaract Members. Members of Rotaract clubs are known as Rotaractors,
and are entitled to wear the emblem, badge, or other insignia of Rotaract.
Article 13 Bylaws
Bylaws consistent with this constitution specifying additional provisions for thegovernance of RI are adopted and may be amended by the council on legislation.
Article 14 Interpretation
Throughout this constitution, the RI bylaws, and the standard club constitution, thewords “shall,” “is,” and “are” are mandatory, and the words “may” and “should” arepermissive. The terminology “mail,” “mailing,” “ballot-by-mail,” and “club ballot” will
include utilization of electronic mail (e-mail) and internet technology to reduce costs andincrease responsiveness.

4Article 15 Amendments
This constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds vote of the council on
legislation.

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