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June 11, 2009 Revision

CORPORA

I. GENERAL...................................................................................................................................... 1

RECEDENCE OF

...................................................................................................................... 1

OLE OF

ORPORA

........................................................................................................................... 1

OLE OF THE

OARD

........................................................................................................................ 1

EMBERSHIP

EQUIREMENTS

......................................................................................................... 3

NOFFICIAL

NTITIES

...................................................................................................................... 3

ANCTIONS

....................................................................................................................................... 3

II.

EVENTS ......................................................................................................................................... 4

OCIETY

VENTS

EFINED

.............................................................................................................. 4

EQUIREMENTS FOR

ARTICIPANTS AT

OCIETY EVENTS

............................................................... 4

USINESS

EQUIRING

RIOR

NNOUNCEMENT

............................................................................... 4

NDIVIDUALS IN

HARGE OF

VENTS

.............................................................................................. 4

UTY TO

NFORCE

EQUIREMENTS

................................................................................................ 4

OLICY ON

ELIGION

....................................................................................................................... 5

III.

BRANCHES ................................................................................................................................... 5

ENERAL

.......................................................................................................................................... 5

ORDERS

.......................................................................................................................................... 5

RANCH

ESIGNATIONS

.................................................................................................................. 6

STABLISHMENT AND

DVANCEMENT

............................................................................................ 8

ESERVATIONS TO THE

OARD

........................................................................................................ 9

IV.

ROYALTY...................................................................................................................................... 9

ELECTION

....................................................................................................................................... 9

UALIFICATIONS

............................................................................................................................ 10

UTIES

........................................................................................................................................... 10

RIVILEGES

.................................................................................................................................... 10

IMITATIONS

.................................................................................................................................. 11

INGDOM AND

RINCIPALITY

............................................................................................... 11

ROWN

.................................................................................................................................. 12

ORONET

.............................................................................................................................. 113

TERRITORIAL BARONS AND BARONESSES..................................................................... 13

PPOINTMENT AND

EMOVAL

....................................................................................................... 13

ESPONSIBILITIES

.......................................................................................................................... 14

VI.

SOCIETY OFFICERS ................................................................................................................ 14

ENERAL

........................................................................................................................................ 14

OCIETY

ENESCHAL

..................................................................................................................... 15

AUREL

OVEREIGN OF

RMS AND

OLLEGE OF

RMS

........................................................ 15

ARSHAL OF THE

OCIETY

............................................................................................................ 16

INISTER OF

RTS AND

CIENCES

................................................................................................ 16

HRONICLER OF THE

OCIETY

....................................................................................................... 16

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OCIETY

HANCELLOR OF THE

XCHEQUER

................................................................................. 17

OCIETY

HIRURGEON

................................................................................................................... 17

EBMINISTER

................................................................................................................................ 17

ESERVATIONS TO THE

OARD

..................................................................................................... 17

VII.

KINGDOM, PRINCIPALITY, AND LOCAL OFFICERS ..................................................... 17

ENERAL

........................................................................................................................................ 17

ENESCHAL

............................................................................................................................. 18

RINCIPAL

ERALD

................................................................................................................ 18

ARL

ARSHAL

..................................................................................................................... 18

INISTER OF

RTS AND

CIENCES

......................................................................................... 18

HANCELLOR OF THE

XCHEQUER

........................................................................................ 18

HRONICLER

.......................................................................................................................... 18

HIRURGEON

.......................................................................................................................... 18

UTIES OF

THER

FFICERS

.......................................................................................................... 19

PPOINTMENT TO OFFICE

............................................................................................................... 19

ARRANTING

OSTERS

............................................................................................................... 19

NDING A TERM OF OFFICE

............................................................................................................ 19

USPENSION OF AN OFFICER

........................................................................................................... 19

VIII.

PERSONAL AWARDS AND TITLES ...................................................................................... 20

ATENTS

RMS

......................................................................................................................... 20

THER

WARDS

............................................................................................................................. 22

EMBERSHIP

EQUIREMENTS FOR

ECEIVING

WARDS

.............................................................. 22

ITLES

............................................................................................................................................ 23

ESERVATIONS TO THE

OARD

..................................................................................................... 24

IX.

SOCIETY COMBAT................................................................................................................... 24

OCIETY

OMBAT

-R

ELATED

CTIVITIES

...................................................................................... 24

ULES OF THE

ISTS

............................................................................................................... 25

APIER

IGHTING IN THE

OCIETY

................................................................................................ 26

SANCTIONS ................................................................................................................................ 26

OYAL

ANCTIONS

........................................................................................................................ 26

DMINISTRATIVE

ANCTIONS

....................................................................................................... 27

C. A

DMINISTRATIVE

USPENSION

...................................................................................................... 28

IOLATION OF

ERMS OF

ANCTION

........................................................................................... 299

ESERVATIONS

............................................................................................................................ 299

APPENDIX A: SUGGESTED CHANNELS FOR COMPLAINT AND APPEAL............................. 31

APPENDIX B: STANDARD WARRANT FORMS .............................................................................. 33

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BY-LAWS

NAME ............................................................................................................................................. 1

II.

OFFICES ........................................................................................................................................ 1

III.

OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES................................................................................................. 1

IV.

DEDICATION OF ASSETS ......................................................................................................... 1

MEMBERS..................................................................................................................................... 1

STATUTORY

MEMBERS ............................................................................................................. 1

NONSTATUTORY

MEMBERS..................................................................................................... 1

GENERAL

CONDITIONS

AND

PRIVILEGES

MEMBERSHIP ............................................ 1

VI.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ............................................................................................................ 2

OWERS

............................................................................................................................................ 2

UMBER OF

IRECTORS

.................................................................................................................. 2

UALIFICATIONS OF

IRECTORS

..................................................................................................... 2

ESTRICTION ON

NTERESTED

IRECTORS

...................................................................................... 2

LECTION AND

ERM

....................................................................................................................... 3

ACANCIES AND

EMOVAL

............................................................................................................. 3

LACE OF

EETINGS

;

EETINGS BY

ELEPHONE

........................................................................... 4

EGULAR

UARTERLY

EETINGS

.................................................................................................. 4

PECIAL

EETINGS

.......................................................................................................................... 4

CTION AT A

EETING

;

UORUM AND

EQUIRED

OTE

............................................................... 4

HAIRMAN AND

ICE

-C

HAIRMAN OF THE

OARD

.......................................................................... 5

OMMITTEES

.................................................................................................................................... 5

EIMBURSEMENT OF

XPENSES

....................................................................................................... 5

VII.

ADMINISTRATION ..................................................................................................................... 5

FFICERS

.......................................................................................................................................... 5

ORPORATE

FFICE

......................................................................................................................... 5

OMPENSATION

............................................................................................................................... 5

VIII.

CONTRACTS, CHECKS, AND FUNDS..................................................................................... 5

XECUTION OF

ORPORATE

NSTRUMENTS

..................................................................................... 5

HECKS

RAFTS

..................................................................................................................... 5

IFTS

................................................................................................................................................ 6

IX.

INDEMNIFICATION ................................................................................................................... 6

BOOKS AND RECORDS ............................................................................................................. 6

XI.

FISCAL YEAR............................................................................................................................... 6

XII.

AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS .................................................................................................... 6

XIII.

DEFINITION OF STRUCTURE................................................................................................... 7

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CORPORATE POLICIES OF THE SCA, INC.

MEMBERSHIP TYPES ................................................................................................................ 8

TATUTORY

EMBERS

.................................................................................................................... 8

-S

TATUTORY

EMBERS

........................................................................................................... 8

II.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP..................................... 8

CCESS TO

EMBERSHIP

................................................................................................................. 8

RIVILEGES OF

EMBERS

................................................................................................................ 9

LIGIBILITY FOR

FFICE

.................................................................................................................. 9

EVOCATION

ENIAL OF

EMBERSHIP

.......................................................................................... 9

OTIFICATION

................................................................................................................................ 10

F. RESERVATION

THE

BOARD .............................................................................................. 11

III.

ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................................... 11

RESIDENT

..................................................................................................................................... 11

ICE

RESIDENT FOR

PERATIONS

................................................................................................ 11

ICE

RESIDENT FOR

ORPORATE

PERATIONS

........................................................................... 11

ECRETARY

.................................................................................................................................... 11

REASURER

.................................................................................................................................... 11

THER

FFICES

.............................................................................................................................. 12

IV.

WAIVERS – GENERAL............................................................................................................. 12

WAIVERS - COMBAT ............................................................................................................... 12

VI.

WAIVERS - PROCEDURES...................................................................................................... 13

VII.

POLICY ON FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REDRESS.......................................... 14

VIII.

POLICY ON ALCOHOL............................................................................................................ 14

IX.

POLICY ON FIRST AID AT EVENTS..................................................................................... 14

X. POLICY ON ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS.............................................................. 14

XI. POLICY ON COINAGE AND CURRENCY ............................................................................ 15

XII. POLICY ON SERVICE MARKS............................................................................................... 15

XIII. POLICY ON ACCESSIBILITY TO SOCIETY FUNCTIONS .............................................. 15

XIV. POLICY ON LAND USE / REAL ESTATE ........................................................................... 165

XV. AMENDMENT TO CORPORATE POLICIES.......................................................................... 16

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Glossary

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GLOSSARY

In this volume, the following terms are used only with the meanings given here:

•

Society

: The entirety of the Society for Creative Anachronism (a worldwide group of affiliated

organizations).

•

SCA, Inc. or SCA

: The Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., a California not-for-profit

corporation

•

Board:

The Board of Directors of the SCA, Inc.

•

Governing documents

: The Organizational Handbook, which contains The Introduction, Corpora,

The Articles of Incorporation of the SCA, Inc., the By-Laws of the SCA, Inc., the Corporate Policies
of the SCA, Inc., and any amendments and appendices.

•

By-Laws

: The By-Laws of the SCA, Inc.

•

Corpora

: The policies governing historical re-creation within the Society, and those policies

applicable to the entire Society.

•

Subscribing member

: A Sustaining or International member of the SCA, Inc. or its approved

equivalent in an affiliated organization.

•

Society Member

: Membership in the Society is defined in the By-Laws of the SCA, Inc., or in the

approved organizational documents of any corporation affiliated with the SCA, Inc.

•

SCA, Inc. Waiver Card:

A card which indicates that a properly executed waiver is on file at the

corporate office. This card may also contain membership information.

•

Armigerous award:

An award that can convey Arms by Award, Grant, or Patent.

•

Consort

: The member for whom the combatant fights in a Royal Lists.

•

Coronet:

The Sovereign and Consort of a principality, acting together.

•

Court of Chivalry / Court of Inquiry:

A panel, defined according to kingdom law, convened to

investigate issues and possibly recommend action to the appropriate Society authority.

•

Crown

: The Sovereign and Consort of a kingdom, acting together.

•

Officer:

A Society member serving in an appointed office as defined in Corpora, or as an appointed

deputy in such an office, or in another office as may be defined by Kingdom Law, at any level of the
Society, or in the role of organizer of a Society event (commonly referred to as “Autocrat” or
“Steward”), or as a Territorial Baron or Baroness, or as Crown or Coronet or heir to a Crown or
Coronet.

•

Peerage:

Collectively, the members of the Order of Chivalry, the Order of the Laurel, and the Order

of the Pelican are referred to as the Peerage. A member of any of these Orders is a Peer.

•

Period:

The era used by the Society as the base for its re-creation activities. The Society is based on

the life and culture of the landed nobility of pre-17

Century Western Europe, focusing on the

Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

•

Realm:

A kingdom (including any principalities), or a principality.

•

Royal Lists

: Properly constituted armored combat tournament to determine the successors to

current royalty. They are known as “Crown Lists” for kingdoms, and “Coronet Lists” for
principalities.

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Corpora

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The Corpora of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.

GENERAL

Precedence of Law

Despite the use of the word “law” to describe the operating documents of its regional branches, the Society
recognizes the absolute precedence of law issued by civil authorities over any of its internal rules. The SCA,
Inc. as a corporate person, along with all of its members as citizens, must obey the law of whatever
jurisdictions apply to them in exactly the same fashion as all other corporations or citizens in those
jurisdictions.
Within the Society, if there is any conflict among the provisions of the following types of rules, those higher
on the list will govern over those lower:

•

The By-Laws of the appropriate organization

•

The Corporate Policies of the appropriate organization

•

The Corpora of the Society

•

Society Officers’ Policies approved by the Board

•

Kingdom Law (within the kingdom that enacts it.)

•

Decision of the Crown (within the kingdom and for the duration of the current reign.)

•

Principality Law (within the principality that enacts it.)

•

Decision of the Coronet (within the principality and for the duration of the current reign.)

If they find it useful to codify their customs, branches and organizations such as orders, guilds, et cetera, are
permitted to create charters. Charters are primarily administrative tools that can help the group to define
structure and procedures. Unless written into kingdom or principality law organizational charters do not have
the force of law. Branch charters may not be written into law.

Role of Corpora

Corpora serves as a framework for the structure of the historical re-creation activities of the Society, and
applies equally to all branches worldwide, regardless of corporate affiliation. The various Board-approved
Policies of Society officers provide guidance for the operations of those offices. Kingdoms may follow
custom or make law in areas where these policies are silent, as long as they remain consistent with the general
approach embodied therein. They may also impose additional rules and requirements for branches, offices,
and awards within their jurisdiction, but may not reduce or waive any specified requirement contained at a
higher level in the Precedence of Law.

Role of the Board

The Board of Directors of the SCA Inc. establishes the rules of the Society‘s historical recreation activities
and minimum administrative requirements for officers and branches; these are published in Corpora. It is the
final arbiter of the interpretations of these rules as made by the officers of the Society. It reserves to itself
various powers as described in Corpora, and these reservations apply to all branches, regardless of corporate
affiliation.

Publication of changes

Under normal circumstances, the Board will publicize proposed changes to Corpora in sufficient time to
allow comment from the membership before making a final determination.

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Corpora

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The Board of Directors shall give a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days notice to Kingdom Administration
of the effective date of changes made Corpora. This notice shall be in written form and the sixty days shall
count from the date of mailing. In case of an emergency, less notice may be given, such notice to be no less
than thirty (30) days before the implementation date for such changes. In all cases where less than sixty days
notice was given, the notice shall be accompanied by a letter of explanation of the emergency prompting the
change.

Relationship with branches

The Board will maintain a policy of non-interference with branch activities. The Board reserves the right to
intervene in branch affairs if: a) the events leading to such intervention appear to cause a threat to the integrity
of the Society or the SCA, Inc.; b) the governing documents of the Society appear to have been violated; c)
there is a threat to the SCA’s legal standing; or d) the Board is asked to become involved.
If the Board finds it necessary to intervene in branch affairs to protect the SCA‘s legal standing, its action will
be directed as nearly as possible at the individuals responsible for the lapse. The Board will move against a
branch as a whole only if repeated failures prove it incapable of locating and maintaining reliable officers.
The application of any sanctions will depend upon the severity of the lapse, and the degree to which the
affected parties were involved in either causing the problem or attempting to solve it.
The Board shall ensure that each kingdom shall have a specific Board member, called an ombudsman,
assigned to act as its representative to the Board, and vice versa, for matters concerning that kingdom.

Right of appeal

The Board is the ultimate determiner and arbiter of the rules of the Society, regardless of what authority it
may delegate elsewhere. All members of the Society shall therefore have the right of appeal to the Board,
provided they follow proper channels for complaint and appeal.
When individual actions or decisions are appealed to the Board, any Directors who have been personally
involved with the matters in question within the medieval structure of the Society must declare the potential
conflict of interest and withdraw from the ruling.
4.

Impeachment

A Director’s tenure on the Board can be challenged by means of a petition presented to the Board (via the
Corporate Office) by a majority of either the current Crowns or current Kingdom Seneschals. Such a petition
will invoke the impeachment procedures presented in the By-Laws of the SCA, Inc.

Communications with the Board of Directors of the SCA, Inc.

The Corporate Office serves as the primary channel of communications to and from the Board, and materials
intended for the agenda must be sent to the Corporate Office for distribution, with a copy to the ombudsman
for the affected kingdom and/or office and the administration of the affiliated corporation of which the
correspondent is a member, if applicable. The Corporate Office prepares and distributes Board minutes, and
arranges for publication of any decisions by the Board pertaining to the Governing Documents, any proposals
for such decisions which the Board wishes disseminated for comment, and any other communications from
the Board to the membership.

Decisions of the Board are effective immediately, but shall not be considered

binding until made available to the segment of the membership they affect via direct mailing, printing in the
appropriate corporate publications, or other methods the Board shall establish.

Any communication with the Board is considered public unless the author stipulates

at the time of writing that the document is to be considered confidential. Confidential documents will not be
distributed outside the corporate staff unless the author’s permission has been obtained. Reasonable requests
for copies of other communications must be made in writing to the corporate office, and all such requests are
automatically considered public documents.

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Corpora

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For communications to be considered by the Board, they must be dated and include

the author’s legal name. A Society name may also be included when appropriate. A method of contacting the
author (either postal or email address) must be included.

The Board does not accept anonymous communications, and electronic

communications with no identifier of the sender other than an email address will be considered anonymous.

Operations outside the USA

The Board recognizes that the development of branches outside the United States enhances the Society as a
whole by providing additional sources of ideas and materials, and additional opportunities for travel and
education among the membership. However, while it is desirable for the SCA, Inc. to make an effort to assist
such branches in their early development, it is not appropriate for one group of members to subsidize another
indefinitely. The members in each country must eventually contribute enough to cover the ongoing expenses
of operation in their country.

D. Membership

Requirements

General

Participants should expect to show proof of membership in order to qualify for member privileges. The level
of proof required should be commensurate with the long-term risk to the Society posed by an erroneous
claim to membership.
2.

Officers

Officers at all levels of the Society must be Society members as defined in the Glossary and must have
immediate access to the corporate newsletter for their area received at their residence. (Alternate access
arrangements may be made for members of affiliated organizations or on a case-by-case basis for people with
post office boxes and for International Members.) This standard also applies to deputies designated as
successors to officers subject to this provision, or assigned independent administrative duties. Deputies who
only assist with specific tasks are exempt from the newsletter access requirement.
3.

Awards

Each Kingdom may, if it so desires, require paid membership in the Society for any of the following: receiving
a Patent of Arms; receiving a Grant of Arms; receiving an Award of Arms; admission to an armigerous order.
Such requirements must be written into Kingdom Law, and may not imply or state that a person must remain
a member to retain such awards or titles once given. A Kingdom which establishes such laws must ensure that
its populace is informed of these requirements, and is responsible for their enforcement.

E. Unofficial

Entities

In many kingdoms, there are groups in which many people participate but which are not formally recognized
by the Society. These can range from highly structured guilds to loosely associated camping groups. Entities
that fall into this category can have many names, including but not limited to households, guilds, ships, and
clans. Although these entities are not recognized by the Society in any formal way, some kingdoms have
awards that can be given to these groups. Because they are not official Society groups, unofficial entities
cannot sponsor Society events.

F. Sanctions

Sanctions and administrative actions should be proportionate and appropriate. Major sanctions, such as a ban
on attendance or participation, should not be a substitute for appropriate administrative or legal action.
Administrative sanctions include, but are not limited to, suspension or removal from office, revocation of
authorization, or removal of a disruptive element from an event by the individual responsible for the event, as
defined in the appropriate section of Corpora. The Royalty should work with the appropriate officers to
impose any sanctions.

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Corpora

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Offenses against contemporary civil or criminal law should be dealt with through the appropriate legal system.
This does not preclude the SCA from taking other appropriate actions.

II.

EVENTS

Society Events Defined

The term “Society event” refers to tournaments, feasts, and other activities whereby participants can display
the results of their researches into the culture and technology of the period in an environment which evokes
the atmosphere of the pre-17th century European Middle Ages and Renaissance. It also refers to educational
activities involving either one-time classes or ongoing Society university organizations, and meetings where
participants share skills or discuss the business of the group. All Society events must be sponsored by
branches of the Society, registered with the Seneschal of the sponsoring branch, publicized at least to the
members of that branch, and conducted according to Society rules.

Requirements for Participants at Society events

Anyone may attend Society events provided he or she wears an attempt at pre-17th century clothing,
conforms to the provisions in Corpora, and complies with any other requirements (such as site fees or
waivers) which may be imposed. At business meetings and informal classes, the requirement to wear pre-17th
century dress may be waived. All participants are expected to behave as ladies or gentlemen.

Business Requiring Prior Announcement

Formal actions and announcements with long-term impact on the Society may occur only at Society events
for which a full announcement including date, time, and place has been published in advance in the
appropriate corporate publication. These actions include Crown and Coronet Tournaments, Coronations and
Investitures, appointment of officers, presentation of awards and titles, proclamation of law, and the
establishment or advancement of branches. However, deputy officers and officers below principality level
need not be appointed at published events.

Individuals in Charge of Events

Each Society event must have one Society member appointed by the sponsoring branch in attendance and
responsible for the general conduct of the event. Where an event involves only one type of Society activity,
the responsible member is the appropriate branch officer, or someone designated by that officer (usually
called an Autocrat or Event Steward). Where an event includes a variety of activities, the responsible member
is the branch Seneschal or someone designated by the branch Seneschal (usually called an Autocrat or Event
Steward). Events including Society combat or combat-related activities must have at least one warranted
marshal, designated by the Marshal of the sponsoring branch, in attendance and responsible for those
activities.

Duty to Enforce Requirements

The officer(s) of the sponsoring branch responsible for an event shall ensure that the event operates
according to the rules set forth in this document. If transgressions occur which seriously compromise the
integrity of the event or endanger the health and safety of the attendees, the responsible officers shall correct
the problem immediately as follows:

Disruptive elements at an event may be removed from the event by the individual

responsible for that event or other appropriate officer. Offenses against contemporary civil or criminal law
should be dealt with through the appropriate legal system. This does not preclude the Society from taking
other appropriate actions as described in Corpora X.

The responsible officer for the event may find it necessary to remove Society sanction for

the event, or call the appropriate civil authorities, such as police, fire, or medical personnel. If the responsible
officer cannot or will not do so, the senior Seneschal present, or (in cases involving the Rules of the Lists) the

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Corpora

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senior Marshal present shall do whatever is necessary to end the transgressions, and notify the responsible
officers and the owner of the site or the owner’s agent that the Society will no longer be responsible for the
event. In such a case, all official actions properly performed prior to the point when sanction was removed
will be considered valid. However, no action taken after that point, including transfers of office or bestowal of
awards, will be considered valid. If an event is terminated in this manner, the person(s) doing so must notify
the Society Seneschal, the appropriate kingdom officers, and any other appropriate Society officers as soon as
possible. They must also file a complete written report of the circumstances with the Society Seneschal, the
appropriate kingdom officers, and any other appropriate Society officers within 30 days.

It is not the responsibility of Crowns to deal with violations of modern law. When asked to

resolve situations that fall under the jurisdiction of modern authorities, it is the Crown’s responsibility to
cooperate in referring such violations to the modern authorities. Further, it is the responsibility of the officers,
particularly the local or Kingdom Seneschal, to ensure that the modern authorities are promptly notified.

Policy on Religion

Having no wish to recreate the religious conflicts of the period under study, the Society shall neither establish
nor prohibit any system of belief among its members. No one shall perform any religious or magical
ceremony at a Society event (or in association with the name of the Society) in such a way as to imply that the
ceremony is authorized, sponsored, or promulgated by the Society or to force anyone at a Society event, by
direct or indirect pressure, to observe or join the ceremony. However, this provision is in no way intended to
discourage the study of historical belief systems and their effects on the development of Western culture.
Except as provided herein, neither the Society nor any member acting in its name or that of any of its parts
shall interfere with any person’s lawful ceremonies, nor shall any member discriminate against another upon
grounds related to either’s system of belief.

III.

BRANCHES

A. General

The Society defines standard categories for branches based on several criteria. Groups are encouraged to
develop well beyond the required minimum levels before petitioning for a change in status, to assure the
stability and permanence of the branch if the petition is granted. Since members have free choice of what
areas they will explore, it follows that Society branches cannot decide to specialize. The choice of a single time
and place for a branch would make it hard for members there to pursue other interests of their own.
While International memberships may be used in the calculation of membership totals for branch status, a
branch based on International memberships must have least one subscription to the appropriate corporate
publication for their geographic area. The exact number required is a matter for negotiation among the
Seneschals of the branch, principality, and kingdom, and the Society Seneschal. The required subscription(s)
may be purchased communally by the branch.

B. Borders

Each branch must have established borders, enclosing a single, contiguous area. At the Board’s discretion,
exceptions may be made in the case of overseas areas dependent upon kingdoms or principalities. Branch
borders need not necessarily follow state lines or similar political divisions, if other clearly definable lines are
available. In some cases, the “border” may be defined in terms of an institution rather than a specific map
reference.
Branches below principality level may not cross over state or national borders without the authorization of the
Society Seneschal. The Kingdom Seneschal, with the approval of the Crown, may approve border adjustments
below the principality level, specifically including adjustments to Baronial level borders to allow areas to form
independent branches, as long as such adjustments are consistent with branch organization and designations.

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Corpora

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All kingdom and principality border adjustment petitions should be prepared by the Kingdom Seneschal(s)
involved, and sent to the Society Seneschal, who will present them to the Board.

C. Branch

Designations

The designations given below are considered standard, and their use for branches of the appropriate type
needs no special justification:

•

Kingdom: area ruled by a King and Queen

•

Principality: area within a kingdom ruled by Prince and Princess

•

Barony: area administered by a Baron and/or Baroness, the ceremonial representative(s) of
the Crown

•

Province: equivalent of barony without ceremonial representative

•

Shire: local branch reporting directly to a kingdom or principality

•

Canton: local branch reporting through a barony

•

Riding: local branch reporting through a province

•

College: institutional branch based at a school, research facility, etc.

•

Stronghold: institutional branch based at a military installation

•

Port: institutional branch based at a military installation in situations where groups of
members will be detached for long periods, as with ships at sea

The Society recognizes that the use of these terms has developed over time, and does not

require branches which adopted any of them in a sense other than that described herein prior to release of the
1989 Governing Documents to conform to the policy. Further, the Society recognizes that equivalent terms
exist in many languages, and permits a branch to use any valid equivalent for the standard designation for a
branch of its level, as determined by the College of Arms. Any branch wishing to use a term which has not yet
been included on the College’s list of established alternates should apply through its kingdom’s College of
Heralds for permission to use the new designation.

Lateral changes in branch designation (such as between barony and province or between

shire and college) must be submitted to the Society Seneschal for review and approval, to provide an outside
confirmation that the needs of the membership will be served by the change.

Kingdom: A kingdom is a sovereign entity within the Society which has the right to select a

ruling King and Queen by armored combat. A branch or contiguous group of branches may petition for
kingdom status if the resulting entity would fulfill the requirements listed below:

•

At least 400 members.

•

Candidates for all Great Officer positions, each of whom is acceptable to the Society Officer
responsible for the direction of that aspect of Society activity.

•

A name and device registered with the College of Arms.

•

Consensus favoring advancement in branch status by the members in the proposed
kingdom, demonstrated by procedures acceptable to the Kingdom and Society Seneschals.

•

A record of well-attended events together with regular study or guild meetings,
demonstrations, and other educational activities for the benefit of the members and the
community at large.

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•

Sufficient members of the orders conferring Patents of Arms to advise the Crown regarding
the admission of candidates to those orders, and to foster the development of those orders
and the skills they represent within the kingdom.

•

Sufficient fighters of such caliber as to invest the competition for the Crown with the dignity
and value it merits.

•

A body of kingdom law which provides for the maintenance and succession of the Crown;
for the definition and advancement of local branches; for the appointment and removal of
territorial Barons and Baronesses; for the conduct of such courts as may be required for the
maintenance of the realm; and for such other matters as are found necessary. Draft laws, in
the form to be presented to the victors of the first Crown Lists, must accompany a petition
for kingdom status.

•

A newsletter with quality and stability suitable for conversion to a corporate publication of
the Society.

Principality: A principality is a part of a kingdom which has the right to select a reigning

Prince and Princess by armored combat. A branch or contiguous group of branches within a kingdom may
petition for principality status if the resulting entity would fulfill the requirements listed below:

•

At least 100 members.

•

Candidates for all Great Officer positions, each of whom is acceptable to the kingdom
officer responsible for the direction of that aspect of Society activity, and such other officers
as kingdom law and custom may require.

•

A name and device registered with the College of Arms.

•

Consensus favoring advancement in branch status by the members in the proposed
principality, demonstrated by procedures acceptable to the Kingdom and Society Seneschals.

•

A record of well-attended events together with regular study or guild meetings,
demonstrations, and other educational activities for the benefit of the members and the
community at large.

•

Sufficient members of the orders conferring Patents of Arms to foster the development of
those orders and the skills they represent within the principality.

•

Sufficient fighters of such caliber as to provide appropriate competition for the Coronet.

•

A body of principality law which provides for the maintenance and succession of the
Coronet, and for any other matters delegated or permitted by the parent kingdom. Draft
laws, in the form in which they will be presented to the victors of the first Coronet Lists,
must accompany a petition for principality status.

Baronies and Provinces: Baronies and provinces are large branches within and subject to the

administration of a kingdom (or principality, if any). They are alike in status and in the ability to administer
other branches within their borders, but differ in that baronies possess a Baron and/or Baroness, ceremonial
representatives appointed by the Crown, and therefore have the ability to create and administer awards, while
provinces do not. A branch or contiguous group of branches may petition for baronial or provincial status at
the members’ option, subject to the approval of the Crown and (if applicable) the Coronet, if the resulting
entity meets the requirements listed below:

•

At least 25 members.

•

A set of officers acceptable to the Crown (and Coronet, if applicable).

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•

A name and device registered with the College of Arms.

•

Consensus favoring advancement in branch status, and favoring the type of branch (barony
or province) specified in the petition. This consensus is determined by kingdom law and
custom. If the branch is to be a barony, arrangements shall have been made with the Crown
at the time of application for baronial status to select and appoint a Baron and/or Baroness
in accordance with kingdom law and custom.

•

A strong record of activity in a variety of fields of Society endeavor.

Other local branches: Below baronial/provincial level, branch establishment proceeds

according to kingdom law and custom, subject to the Society Seneschal‘s review and the requirements set
forth below. These branches may adopt designations as provided for by the laws and customs of their
kingdoms and as established in this document. Minimum requirements include:

•

At least 5 members.

•

At least 3 officers, including a Seneschal, an Exchequer, and one of the following: a Herald, a
Marshal, or a Minister of Arts and Sciences. Local branches are encouraged to fill all the
latter positions.

•

A name registered with the College of Arms.

•

Consensus among members in the area favoring establishment of the proposed branch.

•

A special type of local branch is available for use at schools or military bases, or in other
situations where membership is likely to fluctuate for reasons beyond the members’ control.
The “territory” of such branches is defined in terms of affiliation with the institution where
they are based, not in terms of physical boundaries. Institutional branches may report directly
to a kingdom, but if their institution is located within the borders of a branch of any other
class, they report through that branch. They differ from other local branches in that they go
dormant if membership falls below five (5), rather than being disbanded.

Establishment and Advancement

The Society and Kingdom Seneschals will work together as necessary to process petitions for

branch establishment or advancement. Society members who wish to form a branch, advance an existing
branch in status, or advance a group of branches in status must first determine whether the area they have in
mind is eligible for such treatment. This process shall involve consultation with the Kingdom (and
Principality, if any) Seneschal, and with the Seneschals of any nearby branches.

The Society permits very broad participation by people who are not members as defined in

the By-Laws. However no part of the Society can be required to solicit or heed their views regarding branch
status, or any other situation where the opinion of the populace is to be consulted. Law, custom, or actual
practice may allow consultation with nonmembers, but it cannot be required.

If necessary, the members shall reach a consensus as to a proposed name (and device, where

required) and register it with the College of Arms before any petition for recognition can be granted.

The members of the proposed branch shall prepare a petition for the proposed action,

stating the proportion of their numbers favoring the move, and demonstrating that the requirements are met.
The petition shall be submitted as specified by kingdom law and custom. The Kingdom Seneschal shall review
the petition to determine whether the proposed branch elevation conforms to Corpora and kingdom law and
custom, consulting royalty and other kingdom or principality officers as appropriate for the level of branch
under consideration. If the Kingdom Seneschal decides to recommend that the petition should be granted,
the action to be taken depends on the level of branch, as follows:

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Kingdoms: The Kingdom Seneschal of the parent kingdom shall determine whether the

petition package is complete. The Seneschal shall forward the entire petition package (together with the
accumulated recommendations, comments, and reasons for approval) to the Society Seneschal for review. The
Society Seneschal shall bring the petition before the Board for formal action.

Principalities: The Kingdom Seneschal shall forward the entire petition package (together

with the accumulated recommendations, comments, and reasons for approval) to the Society Seneschal for
review. The Society Seneschal shall bring the petition before the Board for formal action.

Baronies and provinces: The Kingdom Seneschal shall forward the entire petition package,

including statements regarding the opinions of the relevant officers and royalty, to the Society Seneschal for
review. The Society Seneschal shall determine the acceptability of the petition and either notify the Seneschal
that the branch advancement may proceed, or that there are deficiencies which need to be corrected before
the petition can be approved. The Society Seneschal will report the change in status to the Board.

Institutional branches and local branches other than baronies and provinces: The Kingdom

Seneschal shall advise the Crown if the petition is acceptable. After the Crown acknowledges the creation of
the branch, the Kingdom Seneschal shall inform the Society Seneschal of the name, location and date of
elevation, and the Society Seneschal shall then notify the Board.

Appeals: If a petition to change branch status is denied at any stage, the petition will be

returned to the originator(s) together with the accumulated recommendations, comments, and reasons for
denial. Any denial may be appealed to the next level.

Reservations to the Board

The Board specifically reserves to itself the following functions with respect to branches of the Society:

•

To set and revise the borders of principalities and kingdoms.

•

To deny recognition to any group, regardless of other criteria met, for just cause, stated in
writing to the affected people.

•

To change the status of any branch to reflect its current qualifications.

•

To dissolve a branch should it fail to continue to meet the qualifications for a branch of any
level, or for other just cause, stated in writing to the affected people.

•

To authorize a branch or group of branches to experiment with a non-standard class of
organization. Any such authorization is specific to the branch obtaining it.

IV.

ROYALTY

A. Selection

Royal Lists must be conducted at a tournament announced in the kingdom newsletter as

being for that purpose. Crowns or Coronets who wish to conduct a royal list in a manner other than
individual combat must obtain the prior approval of the Board of Directors.

Each competitor and prospective consort must hold a valid membership on the day of the

Royal Lists. Within ten business days after being declared victor in a Crown or Coronet Tourney, the Victor
and Consort must present to the Kingdom Seneschal proof that their memberships are current through at
least the end of the prospective reign. Positive confirmation consists of; a valid membership card, appearance
of the name with a valid membership on a printout from the Corporate Office, a membership label issued by
the Corporate Office showing the name and expiration date, receipt of online membership (as downloaded
from the renewal website), or a postcard or letter from the Corporate office confirming that the membership
has been received.

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Kingdoms and principalities will ensure that all competitors in Crown and Coronet Lists are

aware of and meet the membership requirements for themselves and their prospective consorts at the time
they register for the Lists. Any officer of the Society or representative of a Kingdom found responsible for
allowing a non-member to participate, as an entrant or prospective consort, in a Royal List will be subject to
sanctions.

B. Qualifications

Each competitor in a Royal Lists must be fighting for a prospective consort of the opposite

gender.

No one may take part in a Royal Lists, either as a competitor or as a prospective consort,

who has any reason to believe that either member of that competing couple will be unable to fulfill the duties
of royalty.

Each competitor and prospective consort must have access to the appropriate corporate

newsletter at their place of residence.

C. Duties

Royalty must know and uphold the laws of their realm and Corpora.

The royal pair must attend their Coronation or Investiture, preside over the Royal Lists to

select their successors, and attend the Coronation or Investiture of their successors. They must also attend
such other events as may be dictated by the laws of their realm. Should extreme and extraordinary
circumstances prevent a Crown, heir to the Crown, Coronet, or heir to the Coronet, from completing the
these requirements, the Board of Directors may, upon substantial petition, and on a case by case basis, waive
these requirements to allow the bestowing of a royal peerage or royal title.

Royalty shall be the chief examples of chivalry, courtesy, and the other virtues appropriate to

the ideals of the Society, and shall inspire these virtues in their subjects. They shall be true and faithful rulers
for their subjects, uphold their subjects’ rights and work for their benefit, and maintain an impartial justice for
all in the realm.

Royalty shall give appropriate recognition to those worthy of such honor.

Royalty shall foster an atmosphere that encourages new and prospective members to feel

welcome to participate in Society activities.

Royalty shall foster an atmosphere that encourages their subjects to participate in arts and

sciences activities.

Royalty shall defend the realm from all foes, domestic and foreign.

Royalty, acting with and through the officers of the realm, administer the lands and branches

which comprise the realm. Royalty consult the officers of the realm in matters concerning the officers’ areas
of responsibility, and monitor the performance of their officers to the extent necessary to confirm that they
are performing essential duties. They sign such internal documents as are necessary for the conduct of the
realm.

The Sovereign supervises combat on the field of honor.

10.

The Royal Heirs and Royalty must maintain their memberships until their term as Royalty is

over. Should anyone serving as a Royal Heir, or as Royalty, be found in violation of the membership
requirements, that individual’s term ends as of the date of the membership lapse. Provisions of Kingdom Law
dealing with the situation are in force. The individual shall not receive any recognition for having temporarily
held the status of Royal Heirs or Royalty.

D. Privileges

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Royalty receive such gifts as may be made to the realm, use them appropriately in accordance

with law and custom, and preserve them for their successors. If a gift is designated as personal by the donor,
the royalty may retain it after the conclusion of the reign. During their reign, Royalty may use such items as
the royal office shall already hold, in accordance with the law and custom of the realm.

Royalty may delegate to any subject the execution of any legitimate royal power for a specific

instance, such as the transmission of an award to an individual named and selected by them, subject to the
laws and customs of the realm.

E. Limitations

Royalty are subject to all current Society rules and kingdom and/or principality law.

No Sovereign or Consort may fight or be fought for in any Royal Lists, nor may anyone hold

more than one royal office, except for those held by virtue of holding another. (For example, a King may be
temporarily Prince of a principality, if the Coronet is vacated and the Kingdom laws regarding succession
make this provision.) Neither the Sovereign nor the Consort may become either Sovereign or Consort of that
realm in the reign immediately following their own.

Royalty may delegate: (1) the decision-making powers on legislation, distribution of

armigerous awards and orders, or banishment, or (2) signature authority for warrants and rosters to territorial
princes and princesses within their Kingdom. Royalty may not delegate these powers or authorities to anyone
else.

Royalty may grant armigerous awards to subjects of other realms only if all the following

conditions apply: the service or achievements being recognized must have taken place in the realm of the
conferring royalty, the conferring royalty must comply with all consultation provisions and other restrictions
in the law of its realm, and the conferring royalty must obtain prior written consent from the Crown of the
realm of the recipient. For patent orders, the Crown of the realm of the recipient must likewise comply with
any consultation provisions and other restrictions in its own law.

Kingdom and Principality Law

The Crown or the Coronet may make and amend such laws of their realm as they deem

necessary, with the restriction that principality laws are subject to the approval of the Crown. (Note that law
applies to all persons participating in Society activities within the borders of the realm, without regard to
subject status or individual fealty.)

Law must be kept current, and all changes thereto must be proclaimed at a Society event and

published in the kingdom newsletter. No provision of law shall be in effect, nor shall the subjects of a realm
be responsible for such provision, until such proclamation and publication have taken place.

If a new law of the realm conflicts with an existing provision, the latter must be explicitly

repealed. Any law declared null and void because of a conflict must be explicitly repealed. Laws that are
repealed must be proclaimed and published in the same manner as it the original law.

No law may require members or branches to make donations to the treasury of the realm.

Laws which discuss voluntary donations are acceptable, as are those which mandate reasonable fees for events
and services or discuss financial arrangements for the realm’s main events sponsored by local branches.

Failure of the Reign or Succession: Procedures shall be established in the law of the realm to

ensure the succession and to provide for the maintenance of the realm and its royal offices in the event of
disaster, failure, or absence of any of the reigning royalty or their heirs. At kingdom option, the procedures for
principality succession may be placed in kingdom law.

G. The

Crown

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The Crown may present Awards of Arms, the titles of Court Baron and Court Baroness, and

Grants of Arms in accordance with the laws and customs of the kingdom. The Crown may establish and
present such other awards as the Crown shall deem proper, in accordance with the laws and customs of the
kingdom.

The Crown may elevate subjects to the Peerage by granting membership in one of the

Orders conferring a Patent of Arms, after consultation with the members of the Order within the Kingdom,
and in accordance with the laws and customs of the kingdom. Restriction: to advance a candidate to the
Order of Knighthood, a Knight of the Society must bestow the accolade.

The Crown shall acknowledge attainment of Ducal, County or Viscounty rank by those who

have met the requirements. The privilege of acknowledging Viscounty rank is designed for use when the
Coronet is unavailable, as at the conclusion of a principality.

The Crown may appoint, remove, and replace Great Officers of State, in conjunction with

the appropriate Society Officers, if any. The Crown may appoint, remove, and replace lesser officers of the
kingdom in conjunction with the appropriate Great Officers, if any.

The Crown may either control the appointment, removal, and replacement of principality

officers in conjunction with the Great Officers of State, or it may delegate this authority to the Coronet.

The Crown may appoint, remove and replace territorial Barons and Baronesses in

accordance with this document, kingdom law and custom.

The Crown may suspend any officer of the kingdom for just cause, stated in writing to the

affected person, for the duration of the reign.

No Sovereign or Consort may hold any office in the kingdom other than territorial Baron or

Baroness for the duration of the reign.

The Crown may establish and call such courts as may be necessary for the governance of the

realm, in accordance with kingdom law and custom.

Any courts within the Society are presumed to be within the historical context of the

Society and pertain only to conduct within the structure and definitions of the Society.

The primary purpose for these courts within the Society is for the investigation of

questions and issues, for opening communications on issues; and for the clarification of issues. Only
secondarily are courts considered to be for the purpose of trying members of the Society for alleged behavior
or incidents. No courts of the latter type are to be established by any branch below kingdom level.

No court shall be held within any kingdom on individual behavior that falls within

the jurisdiction of a civil or criminal court maintained by the nation or other political division where it takes
place, nor shall any recommendation about individuals be made on such issues. However, a given action may
have implications both in law and in the Society‘s rules of courteous behavior. A court which restricts itself to
the latter may be held as long as the act in question occurred in a Society context.

If a court concludes that the appropriate action is one beyond the powers of the

Crown or Kingdom to enact, the judgment should be issued in the form of a request to the Society Seneschal.

10.

Reservations to the Board

The Board explicitly reserves to itself the discipline of members for actions taken while serving as Sovereign
or Consort of a kingdom. However, the Board will not consider appeals against the Crown before the
aggrieved parties have attempted to resolve their problem directly with the Crown, and then with the
appropriate kingdom and corporate officers, including the Society Seneschal.

11.

The Crown may sanction subjects of their realm and visitors thereto in accordance with

Corpora X.A. (Royal Sanctions)

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H. The

Coronet

The Coronet shall administer the principality, its branches and subjects on behalf of the

Crown, uphold their people’s rights, work for their benefit, maintain the Crown’s justice, and be true and
faithful servants of their Crown.

The Coronet shall recommend to the Crown those subjects whose achievements and service

within the principality are worthy of recognition that cannot be granted by the Coronet.

The Coronet may make armigerous awards only where the right has been formally delegated

to them by the Crown. Any such general delegation extends only to subjects of their principality; the Coronet
must obtain specific authorization from the Crown for armigerous awards to other persons. They shall
acknowledge the attainment of Viscounty rank by those who have met the requirements. The Coronet may
establish and present non-armigerous awards specific to their principality.

If authority has been delegated by the Crown, the Coronet may appoint, remove, or replace

Great Officers of the principality, in conjunction with the appropriate kingdom Great Officers. The Coronet
may likewise appoint, remove, and replace Lesser Officers of the principality, in conjunction with the
appropriate kingdom or principality Great Officers, if any. The Crown may require consultation and prior
approval for any or all of these steps. The Coronet may suspend any officer of the principality for just cause,
stated in writing to the affected person for the duration of the reign.

No Sovereign or Consort may hold any office in the principality other than territorial Baron

or Baroness, or any kingdom-level office, for the duration of the reign.

The Coronet may call courts of inquiry only if the Crown approves.

Reservations to the Crown

•

When the Crown believes the Coronet has overstepped the bounds of law and custom, the
normal recourse should be to in-kingdom mediation and then to a Court of Chivalry.

•

If the Board upholds the judgment of such a Court, the affected parties may be subject to
loss of any honors and privileges deriving from their reign, and nullification of any official
acts dating back to the incident which led to the invocation of the Court.

•

If the Crown feels that rapid action is essential to protect the Society, it has the option of
banishing the Coronet from the realm, effectively putting the principality reign into abeyance
until either conditions change within the kingdom or the Board countermands the order.
However, if the Board does not agree with the Crown’s judgment regarding the urgency of
the situation, the Board may choose to take action against the Crown as well as or instead of
against the Coronet.

Reservations to the Board

The Coronet may sanction subjects of their realm and visitors thereto in accordance with

Corpora X.A. (Royal Sanctions).

TERRITORIAL BARONS AND BARONESSES

Appointment and Removal

The Crown shall appoint a territorial Baron and/or Baroness according to the laws and

customs of the kingdom when a branch is granted baronial status, or whenever a new Baron and/or Baroness

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is required. The barony‘s opinion on the matter must be requested and received in writing, and the
appointments must not be substantively opposed by the populace of the barony. Territorial Barons and
Baronesses are officers and must maintain appropriate membership status.

The Crown may suspend a territorial Baron and/or Baroness for the duration of a reign, for

just cause stated in writing and presented only to the Baron and/or Baroness. Suspension would prohibit the
use of the baronial titles and arms, the conduct of baronial courts, and the presentation of baronial awards.

The Crown may remove a territorial Baron and/or Baroness for just cause stated in writing

and presented only to the Baron and/or Baroness; however, the Crown must request a written opinion from
the populace of the barony before taking such action.

B. Responsibilities

The basic duties of the Baron and/or Baroness are ceremonial in nature in reflecting the

royal presence in the barony. The Crown may assign additional duties and responsibilities, according to the
laws and customs of the kingdom.

Territorial Barons and/or Baronesses are responsible to the Crown and (if the barony is

within a principality) to the Coronet. The Baron and/or Baroness shall work with the baronial officers as
circumstances dictate, and shall keep these officers informed as necessary for the efficient performance of
their duties and effective liaison within the barony.

The privileges, duties, and rights, ceremonial and otherwise, of the office of territorial Baron

and/or Baroness are established by the laws and customs of the kingdom, and shall include the right to make
such awards as the Crown (or the Coronet, if applicable) shall specifically delegate, and to establish and
present non-armigerous awards specific to the barony.

A territorial Baron or Baroness may hold any other Society office for which he or she is

fitted and qualified, save only those of Baronial Seneschal and Baronial Exchequer, but must not allow the
duties and responsibilities of such office and the office of Baron or Baroness to conflict.

VI.

SOCIETY OFFICERS

A. General

The term “Society Officer” refers to the officers listed below in their administrative roles within the historical
structure of the Society.
1.

Responsibilities

Each Society Officer shall carry out the duties assigned to that office, and may with the approval of the Board
appoint such deputies as may prove necessary. The following duties are common to all Society Offices:

•

Coordinating appointment of Great Officers of State for their areas of responsibility, in
cooperation with the Crown of each kingdom.

•

Maintaining communications with their subordinates, and assuring the flow of information
on policies and developments in their areas of responsibility.

•

Reporting to the Board quarterly, with copies to the Society Seneschal, regarding the status
and activities of the kingdoms in the areas of their concern, and also submitting annual
summaries of this information. Failure to submit these reports is tantamount to resignation,
which may be accepted at the pleasure of the Board.

•

Maintaining communications with other Society Officers as appropriate.

Requirements and Benefits

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Society officers and their warranted deputies must be members.

Society Officers and some deputies may receive certain corporate periodicals (except

their home-kingdom newsletters) at Society expense, for the duration of their tenure. The Corporate Office
maintains the distribution list for these publications, at the direction of the Board. The Kingdom Seneschal
and Kingdom Chronicler may receive certain corporate periodicals other than their own kingdom newsletter
at the Society’s expense for the duration of their terms. The Board may from time to time designate additional
officers to receive these publications.

No Society Officer may hold more than one Society Office, or any kingdom or

principality Great or Lesser Office of State.

No Society Officer may serve as Crown or Coronet during their tenure in office. In

order to fight or be fought for in a Crown or Coronet Lists, the officer must have served a minimum of one
year in that office and must have an appointed deputy, approved by the Board, who is ready and willing to
accept all responsibilities for that office. Committing to become a Crown or Coronet will be considered a
resignation from office.

The Board shall ensure that each Society Officer shall have a specific Board

member, called an ombudsman, assigned to act as its representative to the Board, and vice versa, for matters
concerning that office.

Society Officers may impose Administrative Sanctions within their area of authority, in

accordance with Corpora X.B. (Administrative Sanctions).

Appointment and Removal

Appointment: Society Officers shall be appointed by the Board. All appointments

will be for specific terms of service, renewable at the option of the Society Officer and the Board. The initial
appointment will be for a trial period of six months. At the end of that period, the Board will either confirm
the remainder of the term of office, or appoint another person to the office for the trial period.

Warranting: Three Board members must sign the warrant for a Society Officer. For

a deputy, two Board members and the appropriate Society Officer must sign the warrant.

Resignation: Society Officers may resign by submitting written notification to the

Board via the Secretary and Corporate Office.

Removal: Any Society Officer or deputy may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the

Board.

B. Society

Seneschal

The Society Seneschal is responsible for coordinating the administration of the Society’s historical re-creation.
This involves directing the activities of the Kingdom Seneschals and of Society-level deputies. Where
questions arise concerning the intent of Corpora, the Board specifically authorizes the Society Seneschal to
make interpretations and clarifications. Such rulings must be discussed with the Chairman at the earliest
opportunity, and reported to the Board at the following meeting. The Society Seneschal’s rulings will stand
until and unless overruled by the Chairman or the Board.

Laurel Sovereign of Arms and The College of Arms

Laurel Sovereign of Arms

The Laurel Sovereign of Arms (Laurel) is the principal heraldic officer of the Society and the head of the
College of Arms. Laurel is responsible for fostering the study and practice of heraldry, and for establishing

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rules and making determinations regarding names and armory, royal and noble titles, and geographical
designations to be approved for use in the Society.

College of Arms

The College of Arms of the Society consists of the Principal Heralds of the kingdoms and such other persons
as Laurel may deem to be of assistance. It aids Laurel in studying historical heraldic usage, developing heraldic
rules for the Society’s use, and reviewing individual items prior to their registration for use in the Society.
3.

Heraldic

Administration

Standards of difference and other rules: Laurel shall define standards suitable to the

type of item to be registered, and apply them uniformly to all such submissions. These standards shall be
designed to support the historical re-creations of the Society and to provide sufficient difference from names
and armory registered within the Society to avoid undue confusion, to avoid the appearance of unearned
honors or false claims, and to provide sufficient difference from historical or fictional personages to prevent
offense due to obvious usurpation of identity or armory. Members are encouraged to develop unique,
historically valid names and armory.

Any item once registered shall remain registered unless the owner requests its

release, and shall be accepted in the Society for the person for whom it was registered without regard to
changes in the rules and standards applied to future submissions, or to the membership status of the owner.

The standards and rules employed by Laurel and the College of Arms shall be

published so that participants in Society activities can obtain copies for their own reference. The Ordinary and
Armorial listing registered names and armory shall also be made available to the membership.

Laurel shall ensure that fees for the Society‘s heraldic publications and for its

services in registering names or armory are sufficient to cover the cost of such services, both at the corporate
level and within the kingdoms.

Marshal of the Society

The Marshal of the Society is responsible for activities related to combat, archery and equestrian activities.
This includes directing the Earls Marshal of the Kingdoms in matters concerning the supervision of combat
and related activities at Society events and the manner and conduct of duties of all marshals throughout the
Society; working with the Society Chirurgeon to promote safety in the Society’s martial arts; and working with
the Minister of Arts and Sciences to encourage research in armor and weapons. The Board specifically
authorizes the Marshal to make interpretations and clarifications regarding the Rules of the Lists, with the
proviso that such rulings must be reported to the Board at the following meeting. The Marshal’s rulings will
stand until and unless overruled by the Board.

Minister of Arts and Sciences

The Minister of Arts and Sciences is responsible for fostering the study of period culture and technology, and
of methods for producing historically accurate artifacts and performances. Duties include coordinating the
efforts of kingdom officers in the field (regardless of whether or not the functions related to “Arts” and
“Sciences” are combined in one job or kept separate); promoting the dissemination of accurate information
about the fields under study; and assisting the Chronicler of the Society and the editors of the corporate
publications in confirming the validity of research presented to the membership.

Chronicler of the Society

The Chronicler is responsible for overseeing the production of kingdom newsletters, local branch newsletters,
kingdom and local branch websites, and any other publications the Board may designate. In addition, the
Chronicler establishes overall policies for Society-sponsored event and branch-related paper publishing at all
levels, and serves as a source of publishing expertise and advice for the benefit of the Society.

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Society Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Society Chancellor of the Exchequer reports directly to the Treasurer as identified in the

By-Laws.

The Society Chancellor of the Exchequer shall cause to be kept and maintained adequate and

correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of all branches and divisions of the Society
except those controlled by the Treasurer and the Corporate Office. Such accounts shall include records of
assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings, and other matters
customarily included in financial reports.

This officer accomplishes this directly, through the Kingdom Chancellors of the Exchequer,

Kingdom Chroniclers (for regional corporate publications) or through other special deputies. The Society
Chancellor of the Exchequer additionally collects and compiles reports on all such accounts for the Society’s
tax returns and other financial reports.

H. Society

Chirurgeon

The Society Chirurgeon is responsible for organizing a program of volunteer first aid services and health-and-
safety hazard warnings to be made available whenever feasible at Society events, and for establishing policies
for and coordinating the activities of the Kingdom Chirurgeons.

I. Webminister

The Web Minister is responsible for overseeing the websites of kingdoms, local branches, and any other
website the Board may designate. In addition the Web Minister serves as a source of web publishing expertise
and advice for the benefit of the Society.
The Web Minister of the Society is responsible for collecting reports from Kingdoms, be they Greater or
Lesser Officers.

Reservations to the Board

The board reserves the right to appoint and remove Society officers.

VII.

KINGDOM, PRINCIPALITY, AND LOCAL OFFICERS

A. General

Officers assist Royalty in the administration of the lands and branches of the realm. Each officer has a specific
area of specialization, and a defined geographic scope. Within those bounds, an officer coordinates branch
activities, and may supervise deputies or lesser officers.
Kingdom Great Officers are responsible directly to the Crown, but also report to a corresponding Society
officer if such a Society officer exists. Each Kingdom’s Great Officer corps must include the Seneschal, the
Principal Herald, the Earl Marshal, the Minister of Arts and Sciences, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Chronicler, and the Chirurgeon. No person may hold more than one of these Great offices at a time. The
Crown may create additional Great Offices. Kingdom Lesser Officers and deputies are created by the Crown
according to the needs of the kingdom. These officers may be supervised directly by the Crown, or be placed
under the jurisdiction of a Greater Officer, and report accordingly. However, Great Officers retain ultimate
responsibility for delegated functions.
Principality Great and Lesser Officer structure and duties generally parallel that of the Kingdom, with the
Great Officers responsible to the Coronet and corresponding superior kingdom officer. Lesser officers may
be supervised directly by the Coronet, or be placed under the jurisdiction of a Principality Great Officer.
Specific reporting requirements are established by Kingdom and Principality law or custom.

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Local officers are responsible to a superior officer, and possibly Royalty, or a Territorial Baron and/or
Baroness, depending on the particular administrative structure of that area.
Kingdom and Principality Officers may impose Administrative Sanctions within their area of authority, in
accordance with Corpora X.B. (Administrative Sanctions).
The duties of the Kingdom Great Officers are defined below:

B. The

Seneschal

The Seneschal is the chief administrative officer of the Society for the kingdom, which includes coordinating
the other kingdom officers as required for the smooth operation of the kingdom and for its relations with
outside agencies. The Seneschal is responsible for assisting new branches and branch elevations.
The Seneschal shall review all proposed changes to kingdom law to determine compliance with the governing
documents of the Society, and advise the Crown accordingly. The Seneschal shall with due promptness either
acknowledge the propriety of the changes by signing them, prior to the Crown’s enacting them, or shall state
any conflicts in writing to the Crown and to the Great Officers of the kingdom. Once the law has been
enacted, the Seneschal shall ensure that the Society Seneschal and the Board ombudsman for the kingdom
receive current copies, which must include the Seneschal’s opinion regarding apparent conflicts, if any.

The Principal Herald

The Principal Herald is the head of the kingdom’s College of Heralds and is responsible for supervising field
heraldry and court heraldry at events within the kingdom, and for College of Arms activities within the
kingdom, including the timely processing of submissions for names and armory.

The Earl Marshal

The Earl Marshal is responsible for overseeing the conduct of all martial arts activities, including but not
limited to tournament lists, wars, combat archery, and fencing, as well as such related activities as scouting and
target archery. The Earl Marshal bears primary responsibility for promoting both the safety and the
authenticity of the martial arts in the kingdom, but works with other officers in their areas of mutual interest.

The Minister of Arts and Sciences

The Minister of Arts and Sciences is responsible for supporting study into art forms, technologies, and those
aspects of culture relating to their use, both in period and in Society activities.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for maintaining the financial records of the kingdom,
supervising the finances of the kingdom, and assembling financial reports and submitting them to the Society
Chancellor of the Exchequer in a timely fashion.

G. The

Chronicler

The Chronicler supervises all publishing activities of the kingdom, and is the editor or supervises the editor of
the kingdom newsletter, which is responsible for all required announcements and notices of Society events,
kingdom law, and other kingdom business. The Chronicler works with the Society Registrar on matters of
mailing and circulation. The Chronicler is also responsible for accounting for the corporate stipend and other
kingdom newsletter income, and reporting all such income and expenditures to the Society Chancellor of the
Exchequer as required by that officer.

H. The

Chirurgeon

The Chirurgeon administers the organization that is responsible for voluntary first aid at Society events,
including assisting participants in tournament combat, notifying attendees of health and safety concerns, and
such other related activities as kingdom law and custom may entail.

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Duties of Other Officers

Specific duties of Kingdom Lesser Officers, deputies, Principality Officers, and Local Officers are defined by
Royalty and the appropriate superior officer.

Appointment to office

Kingdom Great Officers of State are appointed by the Crown after due consultation with the

outgoing officer, the Seneschal, and any other appropriate Great Officer. The appointments take effect when
and if ratified by the corresponding Corporate Officer by countersignature of the warrant. If there is no
Corporate Officer, the Crown shall act unilaterally.

Kingdom Lesser Officers are appointed by the Crown in a parallel manner, where the Great

Officer takes the place of the Society Officer.

Principality Great and Lesser Officers are appointed in a similar fashion, although the

specific details are governed by kingdom law or custom.

Local officer appointments are usually done by the next superior officer, and confirmed by

Royalty, according to kingdom law and custom. Local officers must not be substantively opposed by the
people of the branch, but the final decision remains with the superior officer and Royalty.

Warranting / Rosters

Kingdom Great Officers’ appointments are confirmed by a signature from the Corporate

Level and the Crown, on the standard warrant form. All other Officer appointments may be listed on a roster
that includes the legal and Society names, address, phone number, and the appointment and expiration dates
for each officer. It must be signed by the appropriate Royalty and the responsible superior officer, and be
updated regularly. The roster must contain a statement that it is the current roster of (office) for the
(kingdom, principality) of the Society as of (date).

Local Branch officers may be officers in their own right, or be deputies of officers of an

administering branch. Until a branch is proclaimed by the Crown, its officers must be deputies of their
counterparts in the administering branch.

Before a proposed officer can be placed on a roster or warrant, they must have a

membership that provides immediate access to the corporate newsletter for their area. This also applies to
deputies designated as an officer’s successor.

Ending a term of office

All office terms end upon the expiration date listed on the warrant or roster. Officers are

normally responsible for presenting a potential successor to the appropriate Royalty before their term expires.
Where a good-faith effort to fill the office is in progress, the Crown may authorize a Kingdom Great Officer
to continue in office for up to 45 days after the expiration of the warrant. Officers may serve successive terms
only as kingdom law and custom permit. Officers must turn over all office related materials to their successor
in a timely and organized fashion when their term ends.

All officers may resign by sending written notice to the people who signed their warrant or

roster. Kingdom law may include provisions regarding levels of inactivity or non-reporting as equivalent to
resignation.

Officers may be removed for just cause, stated in writing to the officer, by joint action of the

Crown and the corresponding superior officer. If there is no superior officer, the Crown may act unilaterally,
in accordance with law and custom. An officer so removed may appeal to the Board.

Suspension of an officer

Officers may be suspended by either the appropriate Royalty or the superior officer for just

cause, stated in writing to the officer. Suspensions by the Royalty are for not more than the duration of the

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current reign. Suspensions by the superior officer are for not more than 90 days. A suspension takes effect
upon declaration to the officer, but the Royalty or the superior officer must be informed as soon as possible.
The suspension of a kingdom or principality great officer must be announced in the next available issue of the
kingdom or principality newsletter.

If a deputy has been designated as successor for the post, the deputy shall automatically

assume the duties of the office at the moment of such suspension and shall continue fulfilling said duties until
the suspension is terminated. In order to be assured of the succession in the event of the suspension of an
officer, the deputy designated to succeed that officer must be on a roster or warrant signed by that officer,
and the Royalty that signed that officer’s roster or warrant. In addition, the officer must send a copy of that
warrant to their superior officer. The deputy is considered an officer. If no designated successor exists for the
post, the Royalty and superior officer (if any) shall reach an agreement as to how to carry out the duties of the
post. The suspension stands until and unless overruled by the Board.

VIII.

PERSONAL AWARDS AND TITLES

Patents of Arms

General

Requirements:

Candidates for any order conferring a Patent of Arms must meet the following minimum criteria. Additional
requirements may be set by law and custom of the kingdoms as deemed appropriate and necessary by the
Crown.

•

They shall have been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the laws of the
kingdom.

•

They shall have consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom.

•

They shall have set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the
realm.

•

They shall have demonstrated support for the aims and ideals of the Society by being as
authentic in dress, equipment and behavior as is within their power.

•

They shall have shared their knowledge and skills with others.

•

They shall have practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to the
circumstances.

•

They shall have made every effort to learn and practice those skills desirable at and worthy of
a civilized court. To this end they should have some knowledge of a wide range of period
forms, including but not limited to literature, dancing, music, heraldry, and chess, and they
should have some familiarity with combat as practiced in the Society.

•

They should participate in Society recreations of several aspects of the culture of the Middle
Ages and Renaissance.

Order of Precedence Within the Peerage:

The Crown may establish the order of precedence within the peerage according to the laws and customs of
the kingdom. However, the Chivalry, the Laurel, and the Pelican are of equal precedence and must be
considered as one group.

Departure from the Peerage:

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Any member of an order conferring a Patent of Arms may resign from that order. To leave a Patent Order,
the member must send a written resignation to the Crown, the Principal of the Order (if any), the Principal
Herald, and the Board. The Crown bestows membership in Patent Orders. No ‘interchangeability’ exists from
one order to another (as Knight to Master or Laurel to Pelican), and the acceptance of a person who has so
resigned an order into any other order is solely at the discretion of the Crown according to the laws and
customs of the kingdom.
4.

Patent

Orders:

The following institutions are established for all kingdoms in the Society. A Patent of Arms may be conferred
only upon a person being admitted into one of these orders. Each candidate for a patent order must satisfy
the general requirements listed above in A.1., as well as the specific requirements listed here.

The Chivalry: The Chivalry consists of two equal parts: Knighthood and Mastery of

Arms. No one may belong to both parts of the order at one time. When a member is admitted to the Chivalry
by the Sovereign, the choice of which part of the order to join is made by the new member. The candidate
must be considered the equal of his or her prospective peers with the basic weapons of tournament combat.
To become a Knight, the candidate must swear fealty to the Crown of his or her kingdom during the
knighting ceremony. Masters of Arms may choose to swear fealty, but are not required to do so.

The duties of the Chivalry are as follows:

•

To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct on and off the field of honor.

•

To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and
Corpora.

•

To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.

•

To support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.

•

To enhance the renown and defend the honor of the peer’s Lady or Lord.

•

To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Chivalry.

•

To bestow the Accolade of Knighthood upon a candidate for the Order of Knighthood, as
the sole right as Sovereign or acting directly for the Sovereign, for only a Knight can create a
Knight.

The Order of the Laurel: Members of the Order of the Laurel may choose to swear

fealty, but are not required to do so. The candidate must have attained the standard of excellence in skill
and/or knowledge equal to that of his or her prospective peers in some area of the Arts or Sciences. The
candidate must have applied this skill and/or knowledge for the instruction of members and service to the
kingdom to an extent above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society.

The duties of the members of the order are as follows:

•

To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct.

•

To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and
Corpora.

•

If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.

•

To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.

•

To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Laurel.

The Order of the Pelican: Members of the Order of the Pelican may choose to

swear fealty, but are not required to do so. The candidate must have attained the standard of service to the

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Society or any of its branches equal to that of his or her prospective peers, which is above and beyond that
normally expected of members of the Society.

The duties of the members of the order are as follows:

•

To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct.

•

To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the Laws of the kingdom and
Corpora.

•

If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.

•

To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.

•

To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Pelican.

Royal Peerages: The titles assumed by former Crowns and Coronets may convey

Patents of Arms if the laws and customs of the kingdom so provide. However, in order to receive a patent
with the title, the recipient must meet the general requirements listed for peerage.

The Order of the Rose: The Order of the Rose consists of former Royal Consorts

of a kingdom. It is specifically charged with encouraging chivalrous and courteous behavior among all
members of the Society. It may be non-armigerous, or it may be defined as a Patent Order according to the
laws and customs of the kingdom. In the latter case, the general requirements for peerage must be met.

B. Other

Awards

The title of Baron or Baroness, whether territorial or of the court, shall carry at least an

Award of Arms if the recipient is not already armigerous.

Kingdoms may establish awards and orders conferring Awards or Grants of Arms, and the

Crown may award membership in such orders according to the laws and customs of the kingdom. The names
and insignia of these awards and orders must be ratified by the Laurel Sovereign of Arms. The order of
precedence among orders conferring Awards or Grants of Arms shall be established according to the laws
and customs of the kingdoms. Principalities may establish their own awards and orders, but the approval of
the Crown is required before these awards and orders may convey Arms.

An armiger may resign any award or order. To do so requires a written statement, sent to the

current royalty of the level which bestowed the award, the Principal of the Order, if any, the Principal Herald
and the Board.

Non-armigerous awards and orders may be established by a kingdom, principality or barony,

according to the laws and customs of the kingdom. The names and insignia of these awards and orders must
be ratified by the Laurel Sovereign of Arms. Below kingdom level, orders may not convey Arms, unless
specifically delegated by the Crown. The Crown must approve any non-armigerous award or order before it
may be recognized by the College of Heralds of a kingdom and given a place in its Order of Precedence.

Only royalty and territorial Barons and Baronesses may bestow awards. If an award is

established for a specific branch, only the royalty or Baronage of that branch may bestow the award, unless
the power is specifically delegated in a manner consistent with Corpora and kingdom law and custom.

Membership Requirements for Receiving Awards

The Board authorizes each Kingdom to require paid membership in the Society for any of the following:
receiving a Patent of Arms; receiving a Grant of Arms; receiving an Award of Arms; admission to an
armigerous order. Such requirements must be written into Kingdom Law, and may not imply or state that a
person must remain a member to retain such awards or titles once given. A Kingdom which establishes such

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laws must ensure that its populace is informed of these requirements, and is responsible for their
enforcement.

D. Titles

“Landedness” in the Society is an attribute of the Crown, the Coronet, and the territorial

Barons and Baronesses. Other titles within the Society do not confer land, and no form of any title shall be
taken or used which states or implies ownership or control of any geographic, demographic or sociographic
area within or external to the Society in any sense, medieval or otherwise.

The Society’s standard titles are defined in (4) below. The Society recognizes that equivalent

titles from other cultures may be more appropriate for individual members. Such alternate titles may be used
by those entitled to the rank or award associated with them, provided the College of Arms has ruled that the
title in question is an equivalent for the rank or award in question. All standard and alternate titles are specific
to the Society, and convey no rank or precedence outside it. They may be used in a Society context only by
those who have achieved the appropriate rank or award within the Society.

Names and terms that imply relationships between Society members (such as apprentice,

page, squire, etc.) or that carry vocational connotations (religious, military, scholarly, etc.) may be used in the
Society on an informal basis, subject to the following restrictions: They must not assert or imply noble rank or
territorial jurisdiction. They must not be offensive in themselves or in the context in which they are used.
They may carry no precedence and must not be used in any manner which would suggest that they do so.

The titles listed here are considered standard, and may be used by those who have earned or

been granted the appropriate rank or award within the Society. The College of Arms publishes a more
extensive list of titles and alternative forms, which may also be used freely by qualified persons. In addition,
the College of Arms has full approval authority over new alternative titles, which must be added to their list
before being released for use in the Society.

TITLE (masculine/feminine/collective):

RANK OR AWARD

King/Queen/Crown

Rulers of a kingdom.

Crown Prince/Crown Princess/(Royal) Coronet:

Heirs to the Crown.

Prince/Princess/Coronet:

Rulers of a principality.

Duke/Duchess

Persons who have reigned over a kingdom two or
more times. The title is assumed at the end of the
second complete reign.

Count/Countess

Persons who have once reigned over a kingdom. The title is assumed at the end of the

first complete reign.

Viscount/Viscountess

Persons who have reigned over a principality. The
title is assumed at the end of the first complete
reign.

Master/Mistress

Members of the Orders of the Laurel, the Pelican,
and Mastery of Arms.

Sir/Sir

Members of the Order of Knighthood. Note that
most women who are members of the order have
chosen to use ‘Sir’.

Baron (of placename)/ Baroness (of placename)

Ceremonial heads of a barony.

(Court) Baron/ (Court) Baroness

Armigerous titles awarded at the discretion of the
Crown. The word “Court” is often left out when
referring to this title.

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Lord/Lady

Basic titles for persons who hold Arms by Award
or Grant.

“my lord”/ “my lady”/ “good gentles”

These are general forms of address rather than

titles

. They are properly used informally, or any

time the speaker does not know another form that
would be more appropriate for the listener.

Master of (job name)/ Mistress of (job name)

Alternates for ‘Minister of (job name)’. As with the
standard designation for the office,

these are not

personal titles, and should in no case be

abbreviated or prefixed to the officer’s

personal name.

Reservations to the Board

Degradation from the Peerage

The Board reserves the right to degrade a person from the Peerage. However, kingdom law may define
conditions and procedures under which a recommendation for such action may be made to the Board. Unless
stipulated otherwise by the Board, the Board’s decision in such a case applies only to the matter at hand.
Nothing prohibits a person who has been degraded from any order of the peerage from being elevated to the
peerage at a later date, should the Crown determine that the person in question now meets the requirements
of the order to which he is being elevated.

Revocation of Awards and Grants of Arms

As with Peerages, the Board specifically reserves the right to revoke any Award or Grant of Arms. Kingdom
law may make provision for offering such a recommendation to the Board.

Granting and creation of new titles

The Board reserves the right to define the circumstances for which new titles of rank may be granted and to
coin any such titles either for general use or for specific individuals. A specific title granted by the Board upon
just petition is unique to each case and does not make that title valid for any other use or person within the
Society.

IX.

SOCIETY COMBAT

Society Combat-Related Activities

Society combat-related activities are defined as armored combat, fencing, combat archery,

marshalling, scouting, and banner bearing in combat. Other activities clearly falling within the scope of the
above are also to be considered combat-related activities.

A participant in any of the Society combat-related activities as defined above must be

authorized by a marshal warranted and designated by the Earl Marshal of a kingdom or his representative as
able to authorize individuals in the appropriate activity.

Requirements for authorization for all combat-related activities are delineated in the

Marshal’s Handbook. Kingdoms may define such additional types of authorization (such as weapons forms)
as they deem necessary.

Authorizations shall be registered with and kept on file by the Earl Marshal or other

designated official of each kingdom.

Waivers, indemnities, or other required documents must be signed as appropriate before

training for authorization, being authorized, or participating in SCA combat or related activities. Proof that
the required document, if applicable, has been signed must be presented before an individual may participate

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in the above mentioned activities. (For more detailed information on waivers, see Corporate Policies of the
SCA, Inc., section IV – VI.)

A Combat Authorization Card shall be issued to each authorized participant in a Society

Combat-Related Activity. This card shall be presented to the Lists Official at a Society event to register for
such activities and shall establish that the person is authorized. This card must be shown to any marshal or
lists official upon request. The Society Marshal shall establish procedures for the notification and registration
of authorizations and the issuance of the Combat Authorization Cards.

No person who has not attained his or her sixteenth (16th) birthday may be authorized in

armored combat or the marshaling of armored combat. No person who has not attained his or her fourteenth
(14th) birthday may be authorized for any form of Society combat-related activity.

Prior to the authorization of a minor in any Society combat-related activity, the parent or

guardian of the minor must witness the activity, discuss it with a witnessing marshal, and execute a Waiver,
indemnity, or other required document for the minor. The witnessing marshal must be explicitly authorized to
perform this function by the Earl Marshal of the kingdom. The marshal who authorizes a minor person for
any form of Society combat-related activity must be the Kingdom Earl Marshal or the Principality Marshal
OR A DESIGNATED DEPUTY. This need not be the same person as the witnessing marshal..

Any minor involved in Society combat-related activities at an event must have a parent or a

properly-executed document designating some adult person present at the event as able to authorize medical
treatment for that minor in the case of any emergency.

The Rules of the Lists

Each fighter, recognizing the possibilities of physical injury to himself or herself in such

combat, shall assume unto himself or herself all risk and liability for harm suffered by means of such combat.
Other participants shall likewise recognize the risks involved in their presence on or near the field of combat,
and shall assume unto themselves the liabilities thereof.

No person shall participate in Combat-Related Activities (including armored combat,

fencing, combat archery, marshalling, scouting, and banner-bearing in combat) outside of formal training
sessions unless and until he or she shall have been properly authorized under Society and kingdom
procedures.

All combatants must be presented to, and be acceptable to, the Sovereign or his or her

representative.

All combatants shall adhere to the appropriate Armor and Weapons Standards of the

Society, and to any additional standards of the kingdom in which the event takes place. The Sovereign may
waive the additional kingdom standards.

The Sovereign or the Marshallate may bar any weapon or armor from use upon the field of

combat. Should a warranted Marshal bar any weapon or armor, an appeal may be made to the Sovereign to
allow the weapon or armor.

Combatants shall behave in a knightly and chivalrous manner, and shall fight according to

the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.

No one may be required to participate in Combat-Related Activities. Any combatant may,

without dishonor or penalty, reject any challenge without specifying a reason. A fight in a tournament lists is
not to be considered a challenge, and therefore may not be declined or rejected without forfeiting the bout.

Fighting with real weapons, whether fast or slow, is strictly forbidden at any Society event.

This rule does not consider approved weaponry that meets the Society and kingdom standards for traditional
Society combat and/or Society rapier combat, used in the context of mutual sport, to be real weaponry.

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No projectile weapons shall be allowed and no weapons shall be thrown within the Lists of a

tournament. The use of approved projectile weapons for melee, war, or Combat Archery shall conform to the
appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.

Rapier Fighting in the Society

The Board acknowledges rapier combat as an ancillary activity of the Society when properly supervised by the
Marshals and when approved by individual kingdoms. Rapier combat may take place within a kingdom only
by rules established by the Marshallate of that kingdom and after the approval of those rules by the Marshal
of the Society. The Marshal of the Society will maintain guidelines for rapier combat within the Society.
Rapier combat, not having been part of formal tournament combat in the Middle Ages, shall not be a part of
formal tournament lists for royal ranks and armigerous titles.

SANCTIONS

Sanctions should be proportionate and appropriate. Sanctions should not be a substitute for appropriate
administrative or legal action. Offenses against contemporary civil or criminal law should be dealt with
through the appropriate legal system. This, however, does not preclude the SCA from taking additional
appropriate actions.

A. Royal

Sanctions

Royalty may sanction subjects of the realm and visitors thereto, for just and stated cause. Royal Sanctions are
in effect from the moment of proclamation, but a notice must be published in the next available issue of the
kingdom newsletter if the sanction is to remain in effect. The specific cause and occasion of the sanction
must be explained in writing to the sanctioned individual, but must not be published in the kingdom
newsletter or otherwise made public.

Lesser Royal Sanctions

A Lesser Sanction may be applied for any reason the Royalty deems just and appropriate, as long as the
maintenance of the realm is not impaired, and the general requirements for Royal Sanctions are met. These
Sanctions continue for the stated duration of the Sanction or until the end of the reign, whichever comes first.
Lesser Sanctions are:

•

Banishment from the royal presence requires the banished person to make every effort to
stay away from the issuing royalty, and precludes attendance at court or the exercise of any
privileges of rank or duties of office which would require interaction with the royalty.

•

Prohibition from the Wearing or Display of the Insignia of the Realm precludes the
sanctioned individual from wearing or displaying any badges or other armory specific to the
realm or any of its branches, awards, or orders. This specifically does not preclude the
wearing of peerage badges, as they are registered to the Society and not to specific kingdoms.

Notification

The sanctioned individual, Kingdom Seneschal, Society Seneschal, and appropriate Board Ombudsman must
be informed in writing within ten business days of the specific cause and occasion of the sanction.
If the Royalty of a Principality imposes a Lesser Sanction they shall also notify the Crown and the Principality
Seneschal.

Review

Royalty are granted broad discretion in the imposition of Lesser Sanctions. The Board will not automatically
review Lesser Sanctions; however, members may appeal a Lesser Sanction to the Board as provided in
Corpora I.C.3.

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Greater Royal Sanctions

A Greater Sanction may be imposed only in response to serious transgressions against Society rules, serious
violations of standards of behavior at a Society event, or other actions that negatively affect or endanger the
Society. These Sanctions continue for the stated duration of the Sanction or until the end of the reign,
whichever comes first.
Greater Sanctions imposed by the Royalty of a Principality require prior written approval by the Crown, and
may be lifted by the Crown. Greater Sanctions are:

•

Withdrawal of the Privileges of Rank

precludes the sanctioned individual from exercising

any privileges of rank in the realm of the issuing Royalty. This includes, but is not limited to,
peerage polling privileges, as well as the use of associated titles and regalia.

•

Banishment from the Realm

bars the sanctioned individual from active participation in

Society events in that realm. Banishment from the realm specifically does not preclude
attendance at events, as long as the banished person makes no effort to engage in activities
subject to the jurisdiction of any officer except as required for event attendance, or otherwise
disrupt the peace of the event. Additionally, such a banishment carries with it the
restrictions of a Banishment from the Royal Presence.

•

Exile from the Realm

precludes the sanctioned individual from attending any SCA

function in that realm.

•

Absolute Banishment

precludes the sanctioned individual from attending any SCA

function in any realm. In addition to the general requirements for Greater Sanctions, an
Absolute Banishment may only be imposed when grounds for a Revocation and Denial of
Membership exist. An Absolute Banishment automatically carries with it a request to the
Board for Revocation and Denial of Membership for the sanctioned individual.

Notification:

The sanctioned individual, Kingdom Seneschal, Society Seneschal, and appropriate Board Ombudsman must
be informed in writing within ten business days of the specific cause and occasion of the sanction.
All reasonable attempts to contact the sanctioned individual must be made before imposing the sanction.
Written communication must be sent via postal service to the individual's last known address, with proof of
delivery required. If a valid address is unavailable, then an attempt to deliver the notification to the
sanctioned individual in person, either at an event or otherwise, must be made. Failing that, if a current, valid
email address is available, the notification shall be sent electronically, with some sort of delivery confirmation
if possible. Every attempt to deliver notification to the sanctioned individual shall be thoroughly
documented. After all available methods of contact have been exhausted, the sanction shall be announced as
required.
If the Royalty of a Principality imposes a Greater Sanction, they shall also notify the Crown and the
Principality Seneschal.

Review:

The Board will automatically review any Greater Sanction. If the Board determines that a sanction is without
merit or has been unfairly imposed, the Sanction will be lifted and the Royalty that imposed it may be subject
to sanctions.

B. Administrative

Sanctions

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Officers may impose Administrative Sanctions within their area of authority, for just and stated causes, only in
accordance with the rules defined in their appropriate office handbook or specifically granted to their office in
the Governing Documents of the SCA. Administrative Sanctions might include, but are not limited to,
suspension or removal from office, revocation of authorization, or the removal of a disruptive element from
an event by the individual responsible for the event as defined in the appropriate section of Corpora. Officers
below the Principality level may not impose Administrative Sanctions lasting longer than a single event.
Officers at the Kingdom or Principality level may not impose Administrative Sanctions lasting longer than the
end of their term of office. Officers at all levels may request that their superior officer impose sanctions of
longer duration. Nothing in this section is to be construed as interfering with the right of officers at all levels
to appoint and remove deputy officers as they see fit.
Administrative Sanctions should not be a substitute for appropriate Royal action. This, however, does not
preclude an officer from imposing additional appropriate sanctions.
1.

Notification:

A Society Officer issuing an Administrative Sanction must inform the sanctioned

individual, appropriate Kingdom Officer and Crown of the realm of the sanctioned individual, and the Board
of Directors, as to the specific cause and occasion of the sanction. This notification must be made in writing
within ten business days.

A Kingdom or Principality Officer issuing an Administrative Sanction must inform

the sanctioned individual, the officer’s superior at the Society or Kingdom level, and the Crown or Coronet as
applicable, as to the specific cause and occasion of the sanction. This notification must be made in writing
within ten business days.

A Local Officer issuing an Administrative Sanction must inform the sanctioned

individual as to the specific cause and occasion of the sanction. This notification must be made in writing
within ten business days. The local officer’s immediate superior must also be informed of any Administrative
Sanctions, and in the case of Baronial or Canton Officers, the Baronage must be informed as well.
Notification of superior officers and the Baronage must be made in writing within ten business days.
2.

Review:

Administrative Sanctions at the local, principality, or Kingdom level will be reviewed by the superior officer
upon receipt of notification. If a sanction is determined to be without merit or has been unfairly imposed, the
sanction will be lifted and the officer that imposed it may be subject to sanctions.
A decision may be appealed to the next person up the chain of command, following the appropriate
procedures of that office.
The Board will not automatically review Administrative Sanctions below the Society level; however, members
may appeal an Administrative Sanction to the Board as provided in Corpora I.C.3. If upon appeal the Board
determines that a sanction is without merit or has been unfairly imposed, the sanction will be lifted and the
officer that imposed it may be subject to sanctions.

C. Administrative

Suspension

The Society Seneschal may, when necessary, or when Royal Sanctions are inappropriate or logistically
impractical, impose an Administrative Suspension of Participation on an individual. This precludes the
suspended individual from attending any SCA function in any realm. Reasons for this form of sanction might
include, but are not limited to, when an individual is under criminal investigation by a modern-era law-
enforcement agency, when an individual is under investigation for a Revocation and Denial of Membership,
or when an individual's behavior or actions profoundly and negatively affect the Society.
The Administrative Suspension of Participation is effective immediately upon proclamation by the Society
Seneschal, after consultation with the Crown and Kingdom Seneschal of the applicable Kingdom. The
proclamation must include a reasonable duration of some type; for example, six months, the duration of a

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Corpora

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specific event, until the conclusion of legal proceedings, etc. The duration may not be indefinite. This does
not, however, preclude the Society Seneschal from immediately renewing an Administrative Suspension of
Participation, subject to the requirements below.

Notification and Publication:

The Society Seneschal must inform the suspended individual, the Crown and Kingdom Seneschal of the
realm of the suspended individual, and the Board of Directors, as to the specific cause and occasion of the
suspension. This notification must be made to the individual in writing within ten business days. The
suspension should be published in the appropriate Kingdom newsletter in a timely fashion, though
publication is not mandatory for the sanction to be effective.

Review:

An Administrative Suspension of Participation will be automatically reviewed by the Board at the next
regularly scheduled meeting after proclamation.  Active suspensions shall be included with the Society
Seneschal's quarterly report to the Board for regular review.
If the Board determines a suspension is without merit or has been unfairly   imposed,  the  sanction  will  be
lifted and the Society Seneschal will be subject to   sanctions, up to and including immediate dismissal.

Violation of Terms of Sanction

Violation of the terms of a sanction imposed in accordance with the requirements of the governing
documents may in itself be considered grounds for further sanction.

E. Reservations

Sanctions upon Individuals for Actions taken as Crown

The Board explicitly reserves to itself the discipline of individuals for actions taken while serving as Sovereign
or Consort of a kingdom. However, the Board will not consider appeals against the Crown before the
aggrieved parties have attempted to resolve their problem directly with the Crown, and then with the
appropriate kingdom and corporate officers.

Sanctions upon Individuals for Actions taken as Coronet

The Board reserves to itself the final determination regarding discipline of members for actions taken while
serving as Sovereign or Consort of a principality. However, the Coronet remains subject to the Crown, and
provisions regarding Courts of Chivalry and banishment still apply.
When the Crown believes the Coronet has overstepped the bounds of law and custom, the normal recourse
should be to in-kingdom mediation and then to a Court of Chivalry. If the Board upholds the judgment of
such a Court, the affected parties may be subject to loss of any honors and privileges deriving from their
reign, and nullification of any official acts dating back to the incident which led to the invocation of the Court.
If the Crown feels that rapid action is essential to protect the Society, it has the option of banishing the
Coronet from the realm, effectively putting the principality reign into abeyance until either conditions change
within the kingdom or the Board countermands the order. However, if the Board does not agree with the
Crown’s judgment regarding the urgency of the situation, the Board may choose to take action against the
Crown as well as or instead of against the Coronet.

Degradation from the Peerage

The Board reserves the right to degrade a person from the Peerage. However, kingdom law may define
conditions and procedures under which a recommendation for such action may be made to the Board.
Unless stipulated otherwise by the Board, the Board’s decision in such a case applies only to the matter at
hand. Nothing prohibits a person who has been degraded from any order of the peerage from being elevated
to the peerage at a later date, should the Crown determine that the person in question now meets the
requirements of the order to which he is being elevated.

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Corpora – Appendix A

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APPENDIX A: SUGGESTED CHANNELS FOR COMPLAINT AND APPEAL

The Society is devoted to courtesy, trustworthiness and personal responsibility, and it sometimes seems that
these ideals should be enough to permit members to work smoothly together. After all, virtually everyone
agrees it is desirable to foster the Society’s goals of encouraging research and recreation in its chosen period
and to promote the welfare and prosperity of the organization and the education and enjoyment of everyone
in it. Unfortunately, tensions and disputes develop anyway.
The Board is the final court of appeal for disputes that have escalated beyond the ability of the participants or
the officers to handle. However, it is reluctant to play that role because its rulings affect the entire Society –
often by restricting everyone’s freedom and reducing their enjoyment of the organization. Corpora provides
an unlimited right of appeal to the Board, but members should make every effort to work out their disputes at
as low a level in the organization as possible.
While it is not possible to prescribe a specific list of things to do or people to consult that will serve in all
disputes, the general procedure outlined here should be adaptable to most of them. If you are directly
involved in a dispute, please go through a process at least as comprehensive as this one before asking the
Board for help. If you are asked to intervene in someone else’s dispute because of the office or title you hold,
please don’t rush in. First urge the principals to try all measures recommended for attempting to reach a
settlement without involving your level of the organization. Then, if you do intervene, make every effort to
find a resolution the participants can accept, instead of escalating the dispute to higher levels of the
organization.

Principles

Avoid trouble. There are many valid approaches to Society activity. Members should make

room for each other to explore anything that supports the Society’s goals, abides by its rules, and does not
actively interfere with the environment it attempts to create. In many cases, the best way to deal with a minor
problem or disagreement is to act as though it doesn’t exist. HOWEVER, the advice about ignoring problems
in the hope that they’ll fade away does not apply to breaches of the law. If you encounter illegal activities, your
obligations as a citizen are the same as in any other aspect of your life. Please keep the officers of your branch
and kingdom informed if you decide to invoke the assistance of outside authorities in ways that may require
them to answer questions about the matter at hand or about the Society itself, but do not hesitate to exercise
your civic duty as you see it.

Look for ways around hard choices. It may be possible to break a dilemma by taking up both

alternatives, either together or at different times, instead of wasting energy arguing over which to choose. It
may also be possible to find a third approach that both sides prefer to their original ideas.

Try to keep a sense of perspective. Just because you’re unhappy, it doesn’t mean you’re right!

Make an effort to listen to the arguments of the other side with good will and honesty, and look for a solution
everyone can live with.

Go through channels. If you can’t solve the problem yourself, your requests for assistance

should follow a line of authority without skipping anyone, and without spreading laterally through the
organization any more than absolutely necessary. For example, when you reach a level that has royalty or royal
representatives, include them on your copy list, but don’t start out by copying all the royalty in your corner of
the Known World on your initial complaint. Try to involve as few people as possible–the less you embarrass
your opponent, the likelier you are to get a solution you can live with and not simply bury the dispute until it
can resurface on different grounds.

Be patient. Allow each level time to try to deal with the situation, and avoid the temptation to

attack the people you’ve asked for help if they don’t seem to be moving fast enough to suit you.

Procedures

Try to work things out face to face. When someone does something that interferes with your

appreciation of the Society in a way you can’t ignore, or that seems to be contrary to the rules, talk it over.

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Explain the problem as you see it, and listen to the reply. (Likewise, if someone comes to you, listen carefully
before you frame your answer.) With luck and good will, the problem will go away. You’ll find ways to reduce
the level of irritation, you’ll stop real rules violations, or you’ll come to understand why things you thought
were violations were actually legitimate activities. If you can’t communicate, ask someone you and the other
party both respect to help, either by relaying messages or by moderating a meeting between you. Try not to go
to an officer in charge of the area in question, as such an officer may be tempted or compelled to make a
ruling instead of letting you reach an informal agreement.

Write to the person you’re having difficulty with. Describe the way you feel you’re being

damaged, without indulging in insults or threats. Ask for the action you feel would set things right, and
indicate how long you feel you can wait for a reply before making further distribution of the complaint. Keep
a copy of the letter, but do not send it to anyone but the addressee at this time. The written word is often
more effective than the spoken word, so there’s a good chance that this letter, or a series of direct letters and
replies, will eventually lead you to a solution. As long as you feel you’re making progress either in
understanding or in getting you way, do not go on to step 3.

Write a more formal letter to the other party. Outline any new points you may have thought

of and refer to your previous correspondence. Send a copy to the officer in charge of the area in question, or
to the royalty or royal representative nearest the level where you have a dispute. Depending on the situation, it
may be a good idea to send copies of the letters you’ve already written or received on the matter with the copy
of the current letter you send to the superior; if you are doing so, be sure to mention it in your letter. (It is
very important to proceed openly as you pursue your complaint; things are tense enough already without
adding a new–and justified–charge of sneakiness to the general dispute!) Again, set a reasonable time for a
reply, and consider it carefully when it arrives. As with step 2, continue at this level as long as it looks like
there’s any progress.

Write directly to the officer in charge of the area in question, with copies to the subject of

the dispute, the next higher officer, and the appropriate royalty or royal representative, if any. Explain how
you feel you’re being mistreated, and ask for specific help. Include the entire previous correspondence; if you
have not already shared it with the officer–and mention the enclosures in the text. Evaluate the reply or
replies before you decide to go forward.

Repeat step 4, moving up the organization and including everyone you’ve involved on your

copy list. Follow you correspondents’ advice as to whether or not anyone else at or below their level needs to
be consulted. Eventually, you run out of levels.

If no one else has managed to find a solution, the Board will do so. However, there is no

guarantee that you will like what they come up with, and there is nowhere else to turn. Even if you get
something resembling what you originally asked for, the effect on the Society may well be regrettable, as the
Board finds it almost impossible to deal with a specific situation without touching anything else.

While it appears cumbersome, this technique should reach some sort of resolution in a

matter of months. The greatest number of levels between you and the Board is five, assuming a dispute
between members of a canton whose barony is part of a principality. The important thing is getting a solution,
NOT getting to the Board, and the approach outlined in this article will probably let you settle the matter
without involving the corporate administration at all.

WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT TO EXECUTIVE OFFICE

EGAL

AME

DDRESS

ELEPHONE

: (

HOME

) (

OTHER

)

EMBER

MAIL

DDRESS

UMBER

SCA

REFERENCE NAME

Let it be known that the above-referenced person is hereby appointed to the office of
[ ] President [ ] Vice-President for ___________ [ ] Local President (Seneschal) [ ] Other____________

FOR BRANCH

EFFECTIVE AS OF

AND EXPIRING AS OF

with all rights, privileges, insignia, precedence, and responsibilities appertaining to the office while the
Warrant is effective. This executive is specifically empowered to do business as a legal representative for the
above-referenced branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., including but not limited to making
contracts involving the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. This Warrant supersedes any existing or
previous Warrant for this office.

P

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

Required signatures:
President

: 3 members of the SCA Board of Directors.

Vice President for Operations (Society Seneschal):

three Board members.

Regional Vice President (Kingdom Seneschal):

Society

Seneschal and the current Crown.

Regional Vice President (Principality Seneschal):

Crown or Coronet and the Kingdom Seneschal.

Local President (Seneschal)

: Kingdom Seneschal or

Principality Seneschal and the current Crown.

This form may be photocopied or reproduced in any mechanical medium that preserves the complete text and letterhead image.

WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT TO FINANCIAL OFFICE

EGAL

AME

DDRESS

ELEPHONE

: (

HOME

) (

OTHER

)

EMBER

MAIL

DDRESS

UMBER

SCA

REFERENCE NAME

Let it be known that the above-referenced person is hereby appointed to the office of
[ ] Treasurer [ ] Vice Treasurer for

[ ] Local Treasurer (Exchequer/Reeve) [ ] Other______

FOR BRANCH

EFFECTIVE AS OF

AND EXPIRING AS OF

with all rights, privileges, insignia, precedence, and responsibilities appertaining to the office while the
Warrant is effective. This treasurer is specifically empowered to do business as a financial representative for
the above-referenced branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., including but not limited to
managing financial transactions with financial institutions. This Warrant supersedes any existing or
previous Warrant for this office.

P

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

Required signatures:
Treasurer:

three members of the SCA Board of Directors.

Vice Treasurer (Society Exchequer):

three Board

members.

Vice Treasurer (Kingdom Exchequer):

Society

Exchequer and current Crown.

Vice Treasurer (Principality Exchequer):

Kingdom

Exchequer and the current Crown or Coronet.

Local Treasurer (Exchequer/Reeve):

Kingdom

Exchequer or Principality Exchequer and the current
Crown.

This form may be photocopied or reproduced in any mechanical medium that preserves the complete text and letterhead image.

WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT TO OFFICE

EGAL

AME

DDRESS

ELEPHONE

: (

HOME

) (

OTHER

)

EMBER

MAIL

DDRESS

UMBER

SCA

REFERENCE NAME

Let it be known that the above-referenced person is hereby appointed to the office of

[ ] A&S Officer [ ] Herald [ ] Chirurgeon [ ] Chronicler [ ] Marshal [ ]

FOR BRANCH

EFFECTIVE AS OF

AND EXPIRING AS OF

with all rights, privileges, insignia, precedence, and responsibilities thereto appertaining the office while the
Warrant is effective. This Warrant supersedes any existing or previous Warrant for this office.

P

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

RINT

IGN

FFICE

ATE

Required signatures:
Corporate and Society Officers:

three members of the

SCA Board of Directors.

Deputy Corporate/Society officers:

two Board members

and the appropriate Corporate/Society officer.

Kingdom Officers with Corporate Superiors:

Crown and

the appropriate Corporate Officer.

Other Great Officers and Lesser Officers:

Crown or

Coronet and the appropriate kingdom or principality
officer, if any.

Other officers:

as established by Kingdom Law and

custom, but must include more than one signature, and
must include royalty.

This form may be photocopied or reproduced in any mechanical medium that preserves the complete text and letterhead image.

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By-Laws and Corporate Policy

June 11, 2009 revision

THE BY-LAWS OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC.

NAME

The name of this corporation shall be the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., herein referred to as the
‘SCA’.

II.

OFFICES

The principal office of the SCA shall be located in the State of California. The SCA may have other offices as
the Board of Directors may determine or as the affairs of the SCA may require from time to time.

III.

OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES

The SCA shall be dedicated primarily to the promotion of research and re-creation in the field of pre-17th-
century Western culture, as stated in greater detail in Article II of the SCA’s Articles of Incorporation.

IV.

DEDICATION OF ASSETS

The properties and assets of the SCA are irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes. No part of the net
earnings, properties, or assets of this corporation, on dissolution or otherwise, shall inure to the benefit of any
private person or individual, or any member, Director or officer of the SCA. On liquidation or dissolution, all
properties and assets and obligations shall be distributed and paid over to an organization dedicated to
charitable purposes which has established its tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Service Code Section
501(c)(3).

MEMBERS

A. STATUTORY

MEMBERS

The SCA is a public benefit corporation and shall not have any members within the meaning of Section 5056
of the California Corporations Code. It is not a mutual benefit nonprofit corporation permitting distributions
to members.

B. NONSTATUTORY

MEMBERS

The Board of Directors may designate categories of advisory membership. These will be detailed elsewhere in
the Governing Documents of the SCA, Inc. Such advisory members are not members within the meaning of
Section 5056 of the California Corporations Code.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

Access to Membership

Membership in the SCA is open to any interested individual, without restriction of age or citizenship.
Memberships are not transferable or assignable. Membership can be terminated only by: (1) lapse following
nonpayment of dues, or (2) action of the Board of Directors in accordance with the rules for Revocation and
Denial of Membership as defined in the Corporate Policies of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.,
II.D. (Revocation/Denial of Membership).

Privileges of Members

General. Privileges of Members and Non-members. Every member of the SCA is eligible for office and
advancement within the SCA, subject to the requirements for such office or such advancement, and to the
provisions established above. However, while a group or institution may obtain a membership in order to
obtain the newsletters and/or increase its support of the SCA, such membership does not convey the
privileges of membership to persons associated with that group or institution. Employment by the SCA as

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By-Laws and Corporate Policy

June 11, 2009 revision

staff, as a contractual agent of the SCA, or as a paid consultant to the SCA does not require membership in
the SCA.

Eligibility for Office. Officers at all levels of the SCA must be members and must

have immediate access to the corporate newsletter for their area provided by a subscribing membership at
their residence. (Alternate access arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis for people with post
office boxes and for International Members.) This standard also applies to deputies designated as successors
to officers subject to this provision, or assigned independent administrative duties. Deputies who only assist
with specific tasks are exempt from the newsletter access requirement.

Revocation/Denial of Membership

Membership in the SCA may be revoked and/or denied as provided in Paragraph C.1 of this Article for the
following reasons: (1) conviction of violation of civil or criminal law (2) actions that endanger the SCA; (3)
violation of the By-Laws or Corpora of the SCA; (4) formal recommendation arising out of procedures for
the purpose defined in Corpora for the medieval structure of the SCA.

Reservations to the Board

The Board shall have the sole authority to define the classes of membership and to establish and revise a
schedule of dues. No dues may be set by any branch of the SCA. However, fees for admission to events other
than regular business meetings of branches of the SCA shall not be considered dues.

VI.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A. Powers

Subject to the provisions of the California Nonprofit Corporation Law, the activities and affairs of the SCA
shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of
Directors, herein referred to as the Board. The Board may delegate management of the day-to-day operation
of the business of the SCA provided that the activities and affairs of the SCA shall be managed and all
corporate powers shall be exercised under the ultimate direction of the Board subject to the limitations in the
Articles of Incorporation.

Number of Directors

The authorized number of Directors of the SCA shall not be less than five (5) or more than seven (7) until
changed by amendment of this Article of the By-Laws.

Qualifications of Directors

Each Director shall be a natural person at least 21 years of age, and shall be qualified for independent office
under V.C.2.a. of these By-Laws.
It is the intent of the SCA that the composition of the Board shall represent a diversity of skills and
experience, to enable the Board to make informed, well-balanced decisions on the SCA’s activities.

Restriction on Interested Directors

No Director may hold any office defined by the Governing Documents to be incompatible with active service
on the Board. Any Director planning to take such an office must resign from the Board immediately upon
committing to taking the office.
In addition, not more than forty-nine percent (49%) of the Directors may be ‘interested persons’, defined as
1) any person compensated by the corporation for services rendered to it within the previous twelve (12)
months, whether as a full-time or part-time employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, excluding any
reasonable compensation paid to a Director as a Director; and 2) any relative by blood or marriage of any
such person. However, any violation of the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any transaction entered into by the corporation.

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By-Laws and Corporate Policy

June 11, 2009 revision

Election and Term

Directors are elected by the unanimous vote of the Board.
1.

Probationary

Period

Each Director shall be appointed for an initial trial period, commencing as of the date said Director assumes
his position, and concluding with determination of confirmation by the remaining Directors. This
confirmation shall occur within four (4) months of the end of the second regularly scheduled quarterly
meeting of the Board of Directors following the date said Director assumes his position. If the Director is not
confirmed, the remaining Directors shall appoint someone else to the Board to finish the assigned term, in
which case the new Director is subject to the same initial trial period and confirmation vote as provided for in
this section.

Term of Service

Directors’ terms shall be staggered so that one term ends each six months. Under ordinary circumstances,
Directors shall serve fourteen quarters, dating from the meetings at which they are elected. A Director’s term
begins immediately upon election and acceptance. A Director whose term is expiring may, under
extraordinary circumstances, be retained for up to two additional quarters. Such extensions may only be made
by unanimous vote of the other Directors. The Director affected must abstain from voting, but may decline
to serve. The Board Minutes must describe the circumstances requiring the extension. The extension shall be
considered part of the next full term, and a new Director shall be chosen fill the remainder of that term.
During the period between acceptance and his or her first meeting, a Director shall receive information
routinely distributed to the Board, and shall be bound by its policies regarding the behavior of Directors.
Former Directors of the SCA may not be reelected to the Board until a period of at least one (1) year has
elapsed after their departure from the Board.
3.

Resignation

Should a Director be unable to serve his or her full term, the remaining Directors shall either leave the
position vacant until the end of the term, or elect someone to fill the remainder of the term. Failure to attend
the last meeting of a term or extension for any reason shall be considered equivalent to resignation at the
beginning of that meeting, unless (in the case of a normal term) prior arrangements for an extension were
made by the Board and voted in at the current meeting. As specified in VI.B., the number of active Directors
may not be allowed to go below 5, except during a meeting affected by an automatic resignation resulting
from this paragraph.

Vacancies and Removal

Directors remain on the Board until expiration of their term of service, resignation, or removal. By a majority
vote, the Board may remove any Director without cause at any regular or special meeting, provided that the
Director to be removed has been notified in writing that such action would be considered at that meeting.

Dismissal of a Director

Impeachment. A Director can be impeached by a letter signed by three (3)

Directors, or by a petition signed by a majority of the Corporate Officers or 1,000 of the current advisory
members. Additional procedures for petitions of impeachment arising out of the medieval structure of the
SCA are defined in Corpora.

Removal. The removal of a Director shall be considered by the Board at its next

regular meeting after an impeachment is filed, or at a special election meeting called as provided in VI.I,
except that there must be at least ten (10) days notice in writing to all Directors. If the next regular meeting is
more than forty-five (45) days from the time of receipt of a petition of impeachment, a special election
meeting shall be called.

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By-Laws and Corporate Policy

June 11, 2009 revision

Filling

Vacancies

All vacancies may be filled by unanimous vote of the Directors then in office, whether or not their numbers
constitute a quorum.

Leave of Absence

A Director may take leave of absence from the Board with the concurrence of the remaining Directors. Such
leave of absence shall not extend the absentee’s term of service on the Board. An interim replacement may be
appointed by the Board with the concurrence of the Director taking the leave for the duration of a leave of
absence. An interim Director must meet the requirements for a regular term on the Board, and shall have the
same voting rights as a regular Director.

Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone

Regular or special meetings of the Board may be held at any place within or outside the State of California
that has been designated from time to time by the Board. In the absence of such designation, meetings shall
be held at the principal executive office of the SCA.
Notwithstanding the above provisions of this Section, a regular or special meeting of the Board may be held
at any place consented to in writing by all the Board members, either before or after the meeting. If consents
are given, they shall be filed with the Minutes of the meeting. Any meeting may be held by conference
telephone or similar communications equipment, as long as all Directors participating in the meeting can hear
one another, and all such Directors shall be deemed to be present in person at such meeting.

Regular Quarterly Meetings

The Board shall hold a regular meeting in each calendar quarter, for the purpose of appointing Directors and
officers of the SCA, and for the transaction of other business. These meetings are open to any advisory
member of the SCA. Notice of these quarterly meetings shall be given via publication in the Minutes of the
previous meeting.

I. Special

Meetings

Special meetings of the Board may be called for any purpose at any time by the Chairman of the Board, or by
any two other Directors.
Written notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally to each Director or
communicated to each Director by telephone, telegraph, electronic mail, or first-class mail, addressed to the
Director at the Director’s address as it is shown upon the records of the SCA. In case such notice is mailed, it
shall be deposited in the United States mail at least ten (10) days prior to the time of the holding of the
meeting. In case such notice is delivered personally or by telephone, telegraph, or electronic mail, it shall be so
delivered at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. Such mailing or
delivery shall be due, legal and personal notice to each Director.
Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Director who signs a waiver of notice or a consent to holding
the meeting or an approval of the minutes of the meeting, whether before or after the meeting, or who
attends the meeting without protesting, prior to the meeting or at its commencement, the lack of notice to
such Director. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made
part of the Minutes of the meeting.

Action at a Meeting; Quorum and Required Vote

An act of the Board consists of an affirmative decision by a majority of the maximum authorized number of
Directors, except as otherwise provided for in the By-Laws. A quorum shall be a majority of the maximum
authorized number of Directors.

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Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board

The post of Chairman shall be held for such period as the Board shall from time to time determine. No
member shall be required to serve as Chairman. If the Chairman is not present or may not serve as Chairman
for any reason, the Vice-Chairman shall act as Chairman. Both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman shall be
selected by unanimous consent of the Board.

L. Committees

The Board may designate one or more committees to serve at the pleasure of the Board. These committees
shall serve as advisory bodies, and shall not exercise the authority or power of the Board.

Reimbursement of Expenses

Directors and members of committees may receive such reasonable reimbursement for expenses as may be
determined by the Board.

VII.

ADMINISTRATION

A. Officers

The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President, a Vice-President for Operations, a Vice President
for Corporate Operations, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such others as the Board may from time to time
designate. The office of President may be held by the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Officers of the corporation are elected by a unanimous save one vote of the Board, and shall hold office until
their term of service is over, they resign, or they are removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board. The term of
service shall be as agreed upon between the officer and the Board. It may be limited or open.

B. Corporate

Office

The SCA shall maintain a business office to carry out regular administrative work of the SCA. Where overall
benefit to the SCA will result, portions of the duties assigned to any officer described or referenced in
Paragraphs VII.A.2-4 may be transferred to this office, and such duties as are not explicitly assigned to other
officers may be assigned to and performed by this office.

C. Compensation

The President, Secretary, and Treasurer will serve without compensation. The salary and other compensation
of other officers shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of or in the manner determined by the Board.

VIII.

CONTRACTS, CHECKS, AND FUNDS

Execution of Corporate Instruments

The Board may, at its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers or other
person or persons, to execute any corporate instrument or document, or to sign the corporate name without
limitation, except when otherwise provided by law, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the
SCA. Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board or otherwise required by law, formal contracts
and other corporate instruments and documents shall be executed, signed or endorsed by the Chairman of the
Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board or the President and by the Secretary or Treasurer.

Checks, Drafts, Etc.

All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositories of funds to the credit of the corporation, or on
special accounts of the SCA, shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board shall authorize to do so.

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C. Gifts

The Board may accept on behalf of the SCA any contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the general
purposes of or for any special purpose of the SCA not inconsistent with the charitable limitations in the
Articles of Incorporation.

IX.

INDEMNIFICATION

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the SCA may indemnify its Directors, officers, employees, and other
persons described in Section 5238(a) of the California Corporations Code including persons formerly
occupying any such position, against all expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually
and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any “proceeding,” as that term is used in said section
5238(a), and including an action by or in the right of the SCA, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a
person described in that Section. “Expenses” shall have the same meaning as in said Section.
To the fullest extent permitted by law and except as otherwise determined by the Board in a specific instance,
expenses incurred by a person seeking indemnification in defending any “proceeding” may be advanced by
the SCA before final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the SCA of a contract from that person to
repay such amount unless it is ultimately determined that the person is entitled to be indemnified by the SCA
for those expenses.
The SCA shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance to the full extent permitted by law on behalf of
its officers, directors, employees, and other agents, against any liability asserted against or incurred by such
persons in such capacity or arising out of the person’s status as such.

BOOKS AND RECORDS

The SCA shall keep correct and complete books of account and records and shall also keep Minutes of the
proceedings of the meetings of its Board, and shall keep in the Corporate Office a record giving the names
and addresses of the persons described in Article V, which record shall not be copied or viewed by any
person, except with the prior written permission of the Board. The books of account may be inspected by any
member or member’s agent, for any reasonable purpose at any reasonable time.

XI.

FISCAL YEAR

The Fiscal Year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of
December in each year.

XII.

AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS

These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed and new By-Laws may be adopted by the unanimous
consent of the Board. Such amendments and alterations must be made in writing, and must immediately be
placed in the records of the SCA, and appended to copies of the By-Laws available to the membership.
Under normal circumstances, the Board will publicize proposed changes to the By-Laws in sufficient time to
allow comment from the membership before making a final determination.
The Board of Directors shall give a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days notice to Kingdom Administration
of the effective date of changes made to the By-Laws. This notice shall be in written form and the sixty days
shall count from the date of mailing. In case of an emergency, less notice may be given, such notice to be no
less than thirty (30) days before the implementation date for such changes. In all cases where less than sixty
days notice was given, the notice shall be accompanied by a letter of explanation of the emergency prompting
the change.

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THE CORPORATE POLICIES

OF THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INC.

MEMBERSHIP TYPES

Membership in the SCA is open to any interested individual. Membership takes effect when the Corporate
Office receives a prospective member’s application. Positive confirmation of membership consists of: a valid
membership card; appearance of the name with a valid membership on a printout from the Corporate Office;
a membership label issued by the Corporate Office showing the name and expiration date; or a postcard or
letter from the Corporate Office confirming that the membership has been received.

A. Statutory

Members

B. Non-Statutory

Members

The Board of Directors has designated the following categories of advisory membership. Such advisory
members are not members within the meaning of Section 5056 of the California Corporations Code.
California law supports the SCA’s use of the terms “member” and “membership” in the common English
meaning, referring to persons who have paid to be associated with the organization.

Sustaining Membership conveys eligibility to hold office in the SCA, a subscription to a

Kingdom newsletter, the option to subscribe to other Corporate publications, and any other privileges
designated by the SCA or its subdivisions as accruing to members of the SCA. This type of membership is
considered a subscribing membership.

International Membership conveys the privileges of Section I.B.1. This membership type is

available only in locations outside the United States which are part of the SCA, Inc., and not subject to an
affiliate corporation. This type of membership is considered a subscribing membership.

Associate Membership conveys eligibility to hold office in the SCA, except where other

membership categories are required Governing Documents. Associate membership also entitles the holder to
any privileges designated by the SCA or its subdivisions as accruing to members of the SCA, except where
another membership type is specifically required by the organization defining the privilege. This type of
membership is not considered a subscribing membership.

Family Membership extends the privileges of Section I.B.1 to the immediate family of a

member defined in paragraphs B.1-B.2 of this Article, who live at the same physical address as the member.
This type of membership is not considered a subscribing membership.

Institutional Membership allows a library or school to subscribe to Tournaments Illuminated

and Compleat Anachronist without acquiring the regional newsletter, and without any of the other privileges
of membership. The Board reserves the right to determine whether or not a given organization qualifies for
this membership type.

II.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

Access to Membership

Membership in the SCA is open to any interested individual, without restriction of age or citizenship.
Membership can be terminated only by: (1) lapse following nonpayment of dues, or (2) action of the Board of
Directors. Memberships are not transferable or assignable.

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Privileges of Members

Every natural person holding membership in the SCA is eligible for office and advancement within the SCA,
subject to the requirements for such office or advancement, and to the provisions established above. A group
or institution may obtain a membership of the types listed in V.B.1-3 in order to obtain the newsletters
and/or increase its support of the SCA, such membership does not convey the privileges of membership to
any individual associated with that group or institution.

Eligibility for Office

Officers at all levels of the SCA must be members as defined in I.B.1-4 above, and must have immediate
access to the corporate newsletter for their area provided by a subscribing membership at their residence.
(Alternate access arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis for people with post office boxes and for
International Members.) This standard also applies to deputies designated as successors to officers subject to
this provision, or assigned independent administrative duties. Deputies who only assist with specific tasks are
exempt from the newsletter access requirement.

No Director may hold any Crown, Principality Coronet, or Great Office of State of a

kingdom or principality while serving on the Board.

Minors as officers

Minors fifteen (15) years of age or over may serve as officers, save the office of

group marshal, only with the express written approval of their parent or legal guardian and their kingdom
superior, who must first be notified of the age of the minor.

Minors under fifteen (15) years of age may not serve as officers.

Minors may not serve as group marshals, or as marshal in charge.

Revocation/Denial of Membership

Membership in the SCA may be revoked for the following reasons:

•

Conviction of violation of civil or criminal law

•

Actions that endanger the SCA

•

Violation of the Governing Documents or other rules of the SCA

•

Formal recommendation arising from procedures defined in Corpora.

Membership in the SCA may be denied for the same reasons as for revocation. Membership may also be
denied if the reasons for a previous revocation of membership are still considered valid by the Board.
The Board will consider a request for revocation or denial of membership in the SCA under any of the
following circumstances:

•

Petition to the Board by 30% or more of the membership of the kingdom of residence of the
person being considered for such revocation or denial who are currently members of the
SCA.

•

Petition by a majority of the kingdom great officers and peers of the kingdom of residence
who are currently members of the SCA.

•

The recommendation of a duly-constituted kingdom court of chivalry

•

Documentation of cause for absolute banishment

A revocation or denial of membership by the Board enforces exclusion from all SCA functions in all SCA
kingdoms.

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Grounds

Membership in the SCA may be revoked and/or denied for the following reasons:

•

Actions that endanger public health and safety, or disturb the peace of an SCA activity in a
manner which would make it reasonable for the modern authorities to be called in for
assistance.

•

Actions in the course of performing official duties on behalf of the SCA which would make
it reasonable for the modern authorities to be called in for assistance.

•

Actions that endanger the SCA.

•

Violation of the Governing Documents or other rules of the SCA.

•

Conviction of violation of civil or criminal law.

Membership may also be denied if the reasons for a previous revocation of membership are still considered
valid by the Board.
2.

Board

Consideration

The Board will consider a request for revocation or denial of membership in the SCA under any of the
following circumstances:

•

Petition to the Board by 30% or more of the membership of the kingdom of residence of the
person being considered for such revocation or denial who are currently members of the
SCA.

•

Petition by a majority of the kingdom great officers and peers of the kingdom of residence
who are currently members of the SCA.

•

The recommendation of a duly-constituted kingdom court of chivalry

•

Documentation of cause for absolute banishment

Notification

Upon receipt of a request for Board action affecting membership, the Board shall notify the person(s) in
question of when the matter will be considered and invite all relevant documentation and appeals.
Due to the serious nature of these proceedings the Board may elect to temporarily prohibit a person’s
participation in Society functions until a decision on revocation and denial of membership has been reached.
In such a case, the Board shall make all reasonable efforts to expedite these proceedings and prevent
unnecessary delay.
4.

Appeal

A revocation or denial of membership may be appealed, but such appeal must be accompanied by new
evidence that warrants re-examination by the Board. At the conclusion of the imposed term of revocation or
denial, or if an appeal as provided above is accepted by the Board, exclusion from SCA events shall be lifted,
and the individual shall be allowed to (re)apply for membership in the SCA, unless membership is again
denied.

E. Notification

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Regardless of how the process is initiated, a revocation or denial of membership by the Board enforces
exclusion from all SCA events in all SCA kingdoms. Such a revocation or denial of membership may be
appealed, but such appeal must be accompanied by new evidence that warrants re-examination by the Board.
At the conclusion of the imposed term of revocation or denial, or if an appeal as provided above is accepted
by the Board, exclusion from SCA events shall be lifted, and the individual allowed to (re)apply for
membership in the SCA, unless membership is again denied.

Reservation by the Board

The Board shall have the sole authority to define the classes of membership and establish and revise a
schedule of dues. No dues may be set by any branch of the SCA. However, fees for admission to events other
than regular business meetings of branches of the SCA shall not be considered dues.

III.

ADMINISTRATION

A. President

The President is the principal spokesperson for the SCA. The President may sign and authorize such
instruments as he or she deems appropriate to the conduct of the SCA’s proper business, and may delegate
similar responsibilities. In the event of absence or incapacity of the President, the duties shall be apportioned
at the discretion of the Board.

Vice President for Operations

The Vice-President for Operations shall manage the administration of the SCA‘s historical re-creations
through a network of Regional Vice Presidents, known as Kingdom Seneschals

The Vice President for

Operations is authorized by the Board to sign instruments required for the conduct of the SCA’s historical re-
creations, and may delegate similar responsibilities. This officer also serves as Society Seneschal. The duties of
this position are further defined in Corpora.

Vice President for Corporate Operations

The Vice President for Corporate Operations shall be responsible for maintaining the membership files of the
SCA; for processing membership applications and depositing membership monies as instructed by the
Treasurer; and for preparing mailing lists for publications of the corporation. The Vice President for
Corporate Operations is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Corporate Office, and will supervise
any office staff. The Vice President of Corporate Operations shall be financially responsible for all
membership monies to the Treasurer.

D. Secretary

The Secretary shall be responsible for the regular administrative duties of the Board and the corporation,
including correspondence, Minutes of all meetings of the Board, and such other administrative duties as shall
be assigned by the Board or the President. The Secretary shall maintain all necessary records of the
corporation not maintained by other officers or offices. The Secretary shall be responsible to the President
and the Board for the regular performance of the administrative duties of the corporation.

E. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of
the properties and business transactions of the SCA, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts,

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disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings, and other matters customarily included in financial
statements.
The Treasurer shall deposit (or cause to be deposited) all moneys and other valuables in the name of and to
the credit of the SCA with all such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall
disburse (or cause to be disbursed) the funds of the SCA as may be ordered by the Board, shall render to the
Board, whenever they request it, an account of all the Treasurer’s transactions as Treasurer and of the
financial condition of the SCA, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the Board or these By-Laws.
The Treasurer shall supervise a person known as the Exchequer holding a separate position within the
structure of the Society‘s historical re-creation. The title and duties of this position are defined in Corpora.

F. Other

Offices

The Board may designate other offices as necessary.

IV.

WAIVERS – GENERAL

The General Membership waiver shall be incorporated into the Membership Application form, to be

filled out by the prospective or renewing member at the time the membership application form is filled out.
This Waiver covers attendance and participation at Society events.
B.

A membership card (“blue card”) with a condensed form of the waiver text printed on the back shall

be provided to members who have executed the general waiver as part of becoming members or renewing
their memberships.
C.

Members who have not executed the general waiver as a part of becoming members or renewing

their memberships shall be issued a different colored membership card and shall be subject to the provisions
contained in the General Waiver Policy as if they were not members of the SCA, Inc.
D.

Non-members, and members who have not brought their blue membership cards, are required to

comply with the waiver signing provisions contained in the General Waiver Policy or they shall be denied
admittance to SCA sponsored activities coming within the purview of said Waiver Policy.

WAIVERS - COMBAT

Waivers for SCA Combat-Related Activities:

Waivers are required for participation in SCA combat and related activities. The SCA General Membership
waiver adopted July 1995 is the text required for use in the United States. Alternative texts may be approved
by the Board for use in other countries. Proof of waiver will be established as follows:

To be authorized, or to engage as an authorized participant in SCA combat or related

activities, a person must present a current valid membership card indicating that the appropriate waiver is on
file with the SCA, Inc. or they must sign a waiver with the same text and comply with all the provisions of
that policy.

To train for authorization at SCA-sponsored practice sessions, a person must either present a

current valid membership card indicating that the appropriate waiver is on file with the SCA, Inc. or they
must sign a waiver with the same text and comply with all the provisions of that policy.

Prior to the training of a minor in any SCA combat-related activity, the parent or guardian of

the minor must witness the activity, discuss it with a witnessing marshal, and execute a Waiver for the minor.
The witnessing marshal must be explicitly authorized to perform this function by the Earl Marshal of the
kingdom. The marshal who authorizes a minor person for any form of SCA combat-related activity must be

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the Kingdom Earl Marshal or the Principality Marshal. This need not be the same person as the witnessing
marshal.

Medical Authorization for Minors:

Any minor involved in SCA combat-related activities at an event MUST have a parent or properly-executed
Medical Authorization Form for Minors designating some adult person present at the event as able to
authorize medical treatment for that minor in the case of any emergency.

VI.

WAIVERS - PROCEDURES

Anyone attending any event sponsored by a branch of the SCA Inc. who is not able to present a valid

SCA Inc. waiver card must execute a waiver as follows:

All US Branches: must execute a waiver with the text adopted by the Board of Directors at

each such event, practice or function

All non-US Branches

must execute a waiver with the text adopted by the Board of Directors at each such

event, practice or function, OR

must use a country-specific waiver that has been approved by the US Board of

Directors, OR

must submit to the US Board of Directors a letter of legal opinion stating that the

waiver requirement is not necessary in that particular country.
B.

The text of all waivers must be the language approved by the Board of Directors for waiver usage,

subject to individual modern jurisdictional requirements. Such alternative texts must be approved by the
Board of Directors prior to usage. Roster style waivers are acceptable providing that the full text of the waiver
language is included.
C.

An event, for the purposes of this section only, is defined as any recreation function announced in

either the branch, Kingdom, or Principality newsletter. Business meetings, demos, guild meetings, dance
practices, or planning sessions are specifically excluded from these provisions. Combat or Fighter practices
are not excluded and waivers must be collected from those actively participating in the combat related
activities at such practices.
Any function at which combat related activities will occur fall under the auspices of this waiver policy,
regardless of what other activities may be occurring at the function. If there is a doubt about whether a
specific function falls under this policy, the Kingdom Seneschal is directly empowered by the Board to make
that determination and report same in their next regularly scheduled report.
D.

The local Seneschal, or other officer in charge of any function at which waivers will be required, is

responsible for ensuring that a copy of that Kingdom‘s Law and the current Organizational Handbook are
available at that function.
E.

Each Kingdom shall have a single responsible officer ("Waiver Secretary") as a deputy to the

Kingdom Seneschal to ensure that all required waivers, rosters, and sign-in sheets are collected and safely
stored within a reasonable time after each event. The Waiver Secretary shall ensure that waivers for each event
can be located and provided to the appropriate officials in the event a specific waiver is required.
Each Kingdom shall store all original executed waivers, rosters, and sign-in sheets, or legally accepted
facsimiles, in such a manner that a responsible party can easily retrieve any needed waiver.
F.

Local groups need not maintain copies of these records. Kingdoms shall maintain the adult waivers

for seven years and the minor waivers for 20 years.

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VII.

POLICY ON FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REDRESS

It is the policy of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. to vigorously pursue legal action and redress on
the part of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and its members in any case of financial malfeasance or
misfeasance involving SCA funds.

VIII.

POLICY ON ALCOHOL

Manufacturing, distributing, selling, serving, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages by the SCA or its branches
or subdivisions is prohibited within the United States and its territories.
The use of any SCA funds for the purchase of potable alcohol, except for such quantities as may be necessary
for cooking, is prohibited in the United States and its territories.
Officers are not prohibited from serving alcohol; however, it must be done as individuals, and not as part of
their official duties as officers.
Officers are not prohibited from giving gifts of alcohol; however, it must be done as individuals, and not as
part of their official duties as officers. Giving or receiving gifts of alcohol in court is not considered to be part
of an officer’s official duties.

IX.

POLICY ON FIRST AID AT EVENTS

While organized first aid services are desirable at events, the Society and its branches may not be placed in the
position of promising to provide these services. Therefore, while branches are encouraged to have qualified
volunteer first aid personnel available, they are specifically prohibited from requiring the presence of a medical
officer at events, and from in any way implying that the Society’s sponsorship of an event depends upon the
presence of organized first aid services.

X. POLICY ON ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Electronic Publication of SCA Documents

When official corporate documents are published electronically on a site not sponsored by the SCA, Inc., the
original copyright notice for the document must be provided along with the text. The following addition
should be made to the copyright notice:
"In cases of conflict, the governing version of this document is (title of document), copyright (date) by the
Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., and obtainable in printed form from the SCA Stock Clerk, P.O. Box
360789, Milpitas CA 95036. Disputes over the contents of this document will be decided in favor of the
printed version available from the SCA, Inc."

Participation of SCA Officials in Electronic Communications Media

Unless otherwise stated as a prerequisite of office, electronic communication is not required

of any officer. Traditional paper correspondence is always acceptable, and is the default means for official
correspondence.

The SCA, Inc. neither prohibits nor requires members' or officers' participation in electronic

communications media such as newsgroups or mailing lists.

Electronic Communications to and from SCA Officers

Electronic communications to SCA officers may be regarded as formal communications only

if approved in advance by the officer, or if a non-automated confirmation of receipt is obtained.

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Messages posted for general attention on any public electronic communications forum are

not regarded as formal communications to an officer, whether or not that officer is known to participate on
the forum in question. Communications posted by corporate or kingdom officers to their officer-specific
forums may be considered official communications to those officers subscribed to the forum only upon
return of a non-automated confirmation of receipt..

Any policies or procedures governing the handling of correspondence, such as maintenance

of file copies for correspondence with lasting effect, apply equally to electronic mail. Officers must ensure
that any electronic files are passed on in a format readable by their successor.

SCA officers must distinguish between their personal opinions and official statements or

policies of their office in electronic communications.

XI. POLICY ON COINAGE AND CURRENCY

While the SCA, Inc. supports and encourages the study of period numismatics, it is not the policy of the SCA,
Inc. to endorse or require the acceptance of privately minted coinage or other tokens at SCA-sanctioned
events. The SCA, Inc. or its branches shall not require the acceptance of privately minted coinage or other
tokens as payment for any goods or services at any SCA-sanctioned events. Any such transactions may be
conducted at the discretion of the individuals involved, as with any other barter transaction. In such cases,
compliance with applicable tax laws is the responsibility of the individuals.

XII. POLICY ON SERVICE MARKS

The names (group and award/order) and armory (devices and badges) registered by Laurel to the SCA or to
branches are to be considered service marks of the SCA. This recognition is to formally recognize these
marks and our use of them to the purpose the US Patent and Trademark Office terms “collective marks.”

XIII. POLICY ON ACCESSIBILITY TO SOCIETY FUNCTIONS

The SCA, Inc. will not discriminate against any member or participant on the basis of race, sex, religion,
national origin, age or disability. The SCA, Inc. will comply with all laws of the nation in which the meeting or
event is held. For any meeting or event held in the United States, the SCA, Inc. will comply with the
Americans with Disabilities Act. The SCA, Inc. will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified
individuals with disabilities to enable all participants to fully enjoy the events whenever it is possible to do so.
The SCA, Inc. will at all times attempt to provide reasonable accommodations, while preserving the
fundamental nature of the SCA event.

XIV. POLICY ON LAND USE / REAL ESTATE

Funds may be designated to the purchase or improvement of real estate by branches, provided that the
source, maintenance, and purpose of any such fund are clearly designated within the branch's financial policy.

No representative of the SCA may financially obligate the SCA to the purchase or substantial improvement of
real estate without prior approval of the Board of Directors. An improvement will be considered substantial
if:

It requires a building permit or other clearance from the local government;

b. It increases the fair market value of the property; or

It is constructed in a manner that makes its portability to another site questionable or

unfeasible.

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The Articles of Incorporation of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF

THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INCORPORATED

HILDA POWERS and CLIVEDEN CHEW HAAS certify that:
They are the president and the secretary, respectively, of the SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE
ANACHRONISM, INCORPORATED, a California Non-Profit Corporation.
The Articles of Incorporation shall be amended to read as herein set forth in full:

The name of this corporation shall be Society for Creative Anachronism, Incorporated.

II.

This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the

private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable
purposes. The purposes for which this corporation is formed include:

(a)

Research and education in the field of pre-17th-Century Western Culture.

(b)

Generally, to engage in research; publish material of relevance and interest to the

field of pre-17th-Century Western Culture; to present activities and events which re-create the environment of
said era, such as, but not limited to, tournaments, jousts, fairs, dances, classes, et cetera; to acquire authentic
or reproduced replicas of chattels representative of said era; and to collect a library.

(c)

This corporation shall have and exercise all rights and powers conferred upon

nonprofit corporations under the laws of the State of California, provided that all activities shall be incidental
to and in the furtherance of the purposes set forth in II.a. and b. Above.

III.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 9913 of the California Corporations Code, this

corporation elects to be governed by all of the provisions of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit
Corporation Law not otherwise applicable to this corporation under Sections 9910-9927 of the Corporations
Code.

IV.

This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the

meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of these
articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (1) by a
corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), or (2) by a corporation,
contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the
corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of the carrying on of propaganda or
otherwise attempting to influence legislation, nor shall this corporation participate in or intervene in (including
the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any
candidate for public office.

The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and no part

of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or
member thereof or to the benefit of any private person. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the
corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this
corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and
operated exclusively for charitable purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

June 11, 2009 revision

By-Laws and Corporate Policy

June 11, 2009 revision

ADDENDUM

This addendum notes changes made to Corpora as of the last Board of Directors meeting.

EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ QUARTERLY MEETING
HELD ON APRIL 18, 2009.

IV. OLD

BUSINESS

A. Corpora IV.A.2. Revision - Memberships for Royal Lists

To protect the membership from the ramifications that can occur when a reign is invalidated due to an
accidental lapse in membership by ruling nobility following change off Corpora Section IV(a)(2) is proposed:

Current:
Section IVA 2
2.

Each competitor and projective consort must hold a valid membership on the day to the Royal list,

and must maintain that membership until their term of Royalty is over. Positive conformation that the
Registry has processed the membership applications is required before anyone may fight or be fought for in a
Royal List. Positive confirmation consists of a valid membership card, appearance of the name with a valid
membership on a printout from the Corporate Office, a membership label issued by the Corporate Office
showing the name and expiration date, or a postcard or letter from the Corporate office confirming that the
membership has been received.
Proposed:
2.

Each competitor and prospective consort must hold a valid membership on the day of the Royal

Lists, and must maintain that membership until their term of Royalty is over. Positive confirmation that
Registry has processed the membership application and that it is valid through the end of their prospective
reign is required before anyone may fight or be fought for in a Royal List. Positive confirmation consists of; a
valid membership card, appearance of the name with a valid membership on a printout from the Corporate
Office, a membership label issued by the Corporate Office showing the name and expiration date, receipt of
online membership (as downloaded from the renewal website), or a postcard or letter from the Corporate
office confirming that the membership has been received.
Amended:
2.

Each competitor and prospective consort must hold a valid membership on the day of the Royal

Lists. Within ten business days after being declared victor in a Crown or Coronet Tourney, the Victor and
Consort must present to the Kingdom Seneschal proof that their memberships are current through at least
the end of the prospective reign. Positive confirmation consists of; a valid membership card, appearance of
the name with a valid membership on a printout from the Corporate Office, a membership label issued by the
Corporate Office showing the name and expiration date, receipt of online membership (as downloaded from
the renewal website), or a postcard or letter from the Corporate office confirming that the membership has
been received.

Motion by Heather English to approve Corpora IV.A.2. Revision as amended, effective in sixty (60) days
from April 18, 2009. Seconded by Kim McAuley. In favor: Heather English, Erik Langhans, Aaron Lloyd,
Marilee Lloyd, Kim McAuley, Mitchell Steck. Opposed: None. Motion carried.