Montana Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

There is hereby formed and Constituted an Association of Adult residents and Citizens of the State of Montana. Only residents and citizens of the State of Montana may become active members of the Association. Citizens of other states may become associate members of the Association without voting privileges.
(Amended 06/20/92)

ARTICLE II

The name of the Association shall be THE MONTANA SHERIFF'S AND PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

ARTICLE III

SHERIFFS, UNDERSHERIFFS AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND SHERIFF'S DETENTION OFFICERS will have VOTING privileges upon payment of dues. The Montana Highway Patrol, County Attorneys, Reserve Deputies, Police Officers, Judges, Justice of the Peace and all Montana Law Enforcement, both State and Federal, and all other past and present members of the Criminal Justice System, shall have NON-VOTING membership privileges. (Amended 6/20/92)

ARTICLE IV

The object of the Association is to bring together all persons for membership under article III hereof, for a more mutual acquaintance, for interchange of thoughts, the apprehension of criminals and such other purposes as the majority may from time to time designate. To include Montana Sheriff's and Peace Officer's Mission and Goals Statement.

ARTICLE V

The Association shall have the power to enact and adopt by-laws for the administration of it's affairs, consistent with this Constitution.

ARTICLE VI

To carry out it's purposes to the fullest extent in conducting it's business, the Association shall have the power to create offices and elect officers. The number of officers, their titles and duties, to be more fully described in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE VII

The Association shall have the power to levy and collect annual dues, the amount and method of providing and collecting the same to be more fully described in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE VIII

The Association shall have the power to discipline it's members by temporary suspension or expulsion, for the failure to comply with all the rules and regulations laid down in this Constitution and By-Laws or for unprofessional conduct as a Law Enforcement Officer that would bring discredit to his/her Department and/or this Association.

The Board of Directors shall have the power to initiate charges against any member of the Association, but a vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the members of the Association present at a regular meeting on the charges, shall be necessary to expel or discipline any member. (Amended 6/20/92)

ARTICLE IX

The Association shall have the power to designate in it's By-Laws the agency for the conducting it's business affairs, by the Board of Directors, by annual meeting and conference, or by either or all of them.

ARTICLE X

The Board of Directors shall have the power to amend the Constitution and By-Laws, or any part thereof, at any regular meeting, by 30-day prior notice to all the voting members of the Association in writing, and a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority vote of the 16 members of the Board of Directors. (Effective Jan 1, 1980)

ARTICLE XI

The Association cannot be disbanded as long as there are ten (10) members in good standing who are desirous of continuing the same.

ARTICLE XII

A special meeting may be called by the President after receiving the consent of the Board of Directors, by giving not less than twenty-four (24) hours notice to all members and designating in such notice the purpose and place of the meeting.

ARTICLE XIII

In any obligations created by the Association or any of it's officers, agents, or employees, it shall be provided that no liability shall attach in favor of the party contracted with as against any officer, contracting member, agent or employee of the Association but that such party contracted with shall look solely to the assets of the Association for satisfaction of such contract.

ARTICLE XIV

Only Sheriffs, Undersheriff's, and regular Deputy Sheriffs are eligible to hold an elective or appointive office in this Association, or to sit on the Board of Directors. The officers of the Association shall be selected in the following manner:

President will move to Past President (immediate).
1st Vice President will move to President.
2nd Vice President will move to 1st Vice President.
3rd Vice President will move to 2nd Vice President.

There will be an election by ballot for the position or office of 3rd Vice President.

The Secretary-Treasurer will be elected by the Convention and will be a Sheriff, Undersheriff or Deputy Sheriff.

The Board of Directors shall be comprised of 5 Undersheriffs and/or Deputy Sheriffs, 5 Sheriffs, and the officers, plus the Past President. No more than two (2) persons from one given county shall be elected to the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XV

This Association shall have the power to pay a death benefit donation to the beneficiary of the deceased member providing he/she was a member in good standing at the time of his/her death. The Secretary-Treasurer shall, with the consent of the Board of Directors, upon authoritative information of the death of such member, pay the beneficiary, who shall be named by the member, a sum of money not to exceed Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00)
(Effective June 15, 1990)