Grand Lodge of Idaho

Grand Lodge of Idaho Changing Our Laws

Rank in Authority of Masonic Law • Landmarks • Constitution of the Grand Lodge • By-Laws of the Grand Lodge • Esoteric Work • Regulations of the Grand Lodge • By-Laws of our Constituent Lodges • Customs and Usages By-Laws Section 3304

Landmarks A landmark is a law or custom of the Fraternity that has existed "from a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary," and of such nature that it CANNOT BE REPEALED OR CHANGED without making the Fraternity a fundamentally different institution. By-Laws Section 3305

Constitution of the Grand Lodge • The basic written law in this jurisdiction. • It can only be changed in the following manner: • Presented in writing at any Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, and read aloud by the Grand Master • Printed in the Annual Proceedings, and referred to all chartered Lodges • Read in each Lodge by the Worshipful Master at three several Stated Communications, after which the vote taken • A two-thirds vote of the Lodges is required for adoption By-Laws Section 3306 Article VI

By-Laws of the Grand Lodge • Subordinate to the Constitution and set forth more definite and detailed directions of Masonic procedure. • It may be revised, amended, added to or repealed in the following manner: • Resolution prepared and signed by: 1) No less than 3 members of the Grand Lodge; or 2) by the Worshipful Master & Secretary of a chartered Lodge • Filed by the fifteenth day of April next preceding the Annual Communication • Late or Urgent resolutions may only be considered if approved by Accounts & Finances and Jurisprudence, and upon a two-thirds vote of the Grand Lodge By-Laws Section 3307 By-Laws Section 3401

By-Laws of the Grand Lodge • Read once and referred to the proper committee • Late or urgent legislation read before the Grand Lodge on three (3) separate occasions and referred to the proper committee • Committee(s) report to the Grand Lodge If not in proper form or in conflict, reason(s) given, legislation is withdrawn • Considered and debated at Grand Lodge Two-thirds vote required for amendments for improvement or correction • Two-thirds vote required for adoption • Effective at the close of the Communication at which it is adopted By unanimous consent, a change can be made effective immediately By-Laws Section 3307 By-Laws Section 3401

Regulations of the Grand Lodge • Administrative rules of less importance than the Constitution or By-Laws or the Grand Lodge. • They may be revised, amended, added to or repealed in the following manner: • Resolution prepared and signed by: 1) No less than 3 members of the Grand Lodge; or 2) by the Worshipful Master & Secretary of a chartered Lodge • Filed by the fifteenth day of April next preceding the Annual Communication • Late or Urgent resolutions may only be considered if approved by Accounts & Finances and Jurisprudence, and upon a two-thirds vote of the Grand Lodge By-Laws Section 3308 By-Laws Section 3401

Regulations of the Grand Lodge • Read once and referred to the proper committee • Late or urgent legislation read before the Grand Lodge on three (3) separate occasions and referred to the proper committee • Committee(s) report to the Grand Lodge If not in proper form or in conflict, reason(s) given, legislation is withdrawn • Considered and debated at Grand Lodge Majority vote required for amendments for improvement or correction • Majority vote required for adoption • Effective at the close of the Communication at which it is adopted By unanimous consent, a change can be made effective immediately By-Laws Section 3308 By-Laws Section 3401

Resolutions • If a portion of our law is identified that might better serve our jurisdiction if it were added to, modified or deleted, a RESOLUTION should, by all means, be sought. • A formal RESOLUTION should be prepared, signed by the appropriate brethren, and submitted in triplicate to the Grand Secretary, by April 15. • Care should be taken to ensure that the RESOLUTION is in proper form, and that it does not conflict with other parts of our code.

Resolution Form • Header “Resolution #___” and “Vote required for adoption” • Recitals The “Whereas’es”to explain the reasons for the proposed change so that those not familiar with the issue will be able to cast an informed vote, followed by “Therefore be it now resolved …” • Proposed change Include the old text of the affected section(s) followed by the new text of the same section(s) taking care to note the Section number(s) affected by each change • Signatures “Respectfully submitted” followed by lines for the signatures of the sponsors, with their names typed below the lines, including their Lodge affiliations by their number

Sample Resolution Resolution #___ (This Resolution Requires 2/3 Vote for Adoption) WHEREAS seven days are not enough to get everything done, and WHEREAS eight days would be most helpful, THEREFORE BE IT NOW RESOLVED to amend the By-Laws as follows: Article XXXX, Section 402, delete the entire section which reads, “All weeks shall contain seven days” And replace it with a new Section 402 which reads, “All weeks shall contain eight days” Respectfully submitted, ________________ ________________ __________________ Tom Jones (95) Dick Smith (19, 78) Harry Wilson (3, 47)

Considerations • In the recitals, try to clearly explain the purpose of the proposed change – that is the place to properly “sell” the resolution to the brethren at Grand Lodge • Research the Code and Digest and try to ensure that the proposed change does not create a conflict with some other part of the law • Strive to word the proposed new language in such a manner that it will be timeless, and not become obsolete or “dated” in a future period (Regulation #9) • Pay particular attention to the differences between “may”, “should”, “must” and “shall” • Resolutions that can stand on their own, as written, rather than being subject to one or more amendments to correct spelling or grammar will make the legislative process go as smoothly as possible • All three “original” copies of the Resolution must be signed by the required number of sponsors • The work of the Grand Secretary may be reduced by providing an “electronic” copy of the Resolution, along with the paper copies

Constitutional Amendments • If a portion of our Constitution is identified that might better serve our jurisdiction if it were added to, modified or deleted, an AMENDMENT should, by all means, be sought. • The proposed amendment must be presented in writing, at the Grand Lodge Communication to be read by the Grand Master

Considerations • The Amendment should have recitals, in similar manner as Resolutions, to convey the intend and reason(s) for the proposed change • The proposed change should include the present language as well as the proposed new language. • The Amendment will be read in the Lodges, three times, after which a vote will be taken. The information on the proposal will be all that the Lodges will have to make their decision, so care should be taken to make the submission complete and clear. • There is no requirement for the sponsor(s) to sign the Amendment, however there is no harm in him or them doing so. Also, there is no minimum number of sponsors for an Amendment.

Grand Lodge of Idaho