BY LAWS AND CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

We, the Bel Amis, in order to form a perfect union, establish principles that shall embody
our ideals, promote general welfare, provide for the common aspirations, develop ourselves
efficiency, and secure to ourselves the benefits of true friendship, peace, and equality, do ordain
and establish this Constitution.

ARTICLE I
THE ORGANIZATION

Section 1. The Bel Amis is hereinafter referred to as the Organization and every Bel Ami
is a member who shall always be in conformity with the ideals embodied in its Constitution,
promulgated in its by-laws and symbolized in its name, seal, and other standards. Bel Amis shall
be the official name of the Organization and its Members. It shall exclusively for male Members.

ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF AIMS AND PRINCIPLES

Section 1. The Organization promotes true friendship and spirit of brotherhood among its
members.

Section 2. The general welfare of the Organization is a prime duty of every member and
they must always be in the state of doing well in respect to happiness, well-being, and prosperity
of every Member.

Section 3. The Organization shall engage in gainful work and activities worthy of human
dignity. It shall maintain personal discipline and develop civic efficiency among its Members.

Section 4. The Organization renounces hostility as an instrument of policy, adheres to

school, local and national laws as part of the organizational law. It adopts the policy of peace,
friendship, and cooperation with other groups and organizations.

Section 5. The Organization recognizes the vital role of every Member, insure their dignity,
welfare, and security. It shall regulate the use, enjoyment, and disposition of all rights and
privileges granted to them.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Those who have required Bel Ami membership at the time of adoption of this
constitution are considered Members of the Organization.

Section 2. Other Members maybe admitted by complying the following pre-requisites of

Membership:
1. Willingness and full consent to join the Organization.
2. Approval of membership by the Members.
3. Sufficient knowledge of the provisions of this Constitution.
4. Undergoing the rites of acceptance prescribed by this Constitution.
5. Compliance of such other requirements as members may decide.

Section 3. Sons of Brothors. The sons of Brothors shall automatically become a Member
of the Bel Amis provided they must undergo Orientation, Theoretical Examination and Baptismal
Rites.

Section 4. Members can loss his membership by renunciation with formal declaration or
by the concurrence of the majority of the Members.

Section 5. Unlawful acts and culpable violation of this Constitution are grounds for loss of
membership.
 ARTICLE IV
BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1. No Member shall be denied of equal treatment and protection in the

Organization.

Section 2. The right of every Member to be informed on matters pertaining to official acts,
proceedings, or decision shall be recognized.

Section 3. Every Member can exercise freedom of speech before other Members and
petition any Member for redress of grievances.

ARTICLE V
DUTIES AND OBLIGATION OF MEMBERS

Section 1. It shall be the duty of every Member to be loyal to the Organization, to contribute
to its development, to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws of the Organization, and to
preserve just and orderly relations with the other Members.

Section 2. It shall be the obligation of every Member to attend meetings, work and activities
that benefit the Organization.

ARTICLE VI
THE OFFICERS

Section 1. The Officers shall be the President, Premier, Secretary-General, Chancellor and
Finance Minister.

Section 2. The Officers shall be elected for a term of one (1) year in accordance with Article
IX of this Constitution.

Section 3. Each Officers, excluding the President shall be the Chairman of one Committee.

Section 4. The President shall be the Head of the Organization and shall have the following
duties and function
1. Preside over a meeting or assembly.
2. Attest to the election of Officers and appointment of Committee members.
3. Certify membership, laws and other official nota.
4. Have supervision and authority of the Committees.

Section 5. The Premier shall be the Chief Executive of the Organization and Chairman of
the Executive Committee. In the absence of the President, his duties and functions shall be assumes
by the Premier.

Section 6. The Secretary-General shall be the Chief Secretary of the Organization and the
Chairman of the Secretariat Committee.

Section 7. The Chancellor shall be the Chief Justice of the Organization and the Chairman
of the Justice Committee.

Section 8. The Finance Minister shall be the Chief Treasurer of the Organization and the
Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Section 9. An Officer may be re-elected for the same position for one term only.

Section 10. The Officers shall be elected and shall take Oath of Office during each
anniversary celebration.

ARTICLE VII
 THE COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Committees shall be the Executive Committee, Secretariat Committee,

Justice Committee and Finance Committee.

Section 2. Each Committee shall consist of one Chairman and as many Member as the
President may deem necessary.

Section 3. Each Chairman shall appoint Members from among the members of the
Organization, excluding the Officers. No Members shall be appointed for two or more Committee
membership at the same time.

Section 4. The Committee Members shall perform the duties and functions assigned to
them by their respective Chiarmans.

Section 5. The Committee Members may be removed from their position at the directive
of their Chairman.

Section 6. The Executive Committee shall have the following duties and functions;
1. Promulgate the programs of the affairs and guideline of policies.
2. Evaluate Constitutional amendments.

Section 7. The Secretariat Committee shall have the following duties and functions;
1. In-charge of all document keepings including minutes of meetings and keeping
the records of Members.

Section 8. The Justice Committee shall have the following duties and functrions;
1. Decide cases and conflicts among Members.
2. Impose disciplinary notions on hostile and delinquent Members when
necessary.
3. Supervise and control the Rites of Acceptance.
4. Enforce the laws and defend the Constitution of the Organization.

Section 9. The Finance Committee shall have the following duties and functions;
1. Obtain and keep funds, contributions and dues.
2. Grand credits to members when necessary.
3. Prepare an account of money taken in and paid out.
4. Responsible for the budget of expenses.

Section 10. The Committees shall perform the duties and functions as may be assigned to
them by the President.

ARTICLE VIII
RITES OF ACCEPTANCE

Section 1. The Rites of Acceptance shall consist of an Orientation, Theoretical

Examination, Service, Physical Exercises and Baptismal Rites.

Section 2. The Theoretical examinations shall have the coverage on the Constitution and
the General Information of the Organization.

Section 3. The Service rendered by the Pledges shall benefit the School, Community, or
the Organization as a whole.
The Pledgee must accomplished the following requirements;
1. Must complete or finish the number of hours required for service.
2. The Pledgee must complete ninety (90) hours of service not less than 1
month or not more than 3 months.
- One (1) hour per day for students or the Pledgee can request more
hours for service on weekends or holidays.

Section 4. There shall be no rites in the form of abusive physical initiation

ARTICLE IX
 ELECTIONS

Section 1.Election shall be in the form of Secret Balloting.

Section 2. The Members shall elect the officers one for each position from among
themselves. The ones having the highest number of votes shall be proclaimed elected.

Section 3. In case of two or more shall have an equal number of votes, one of them shall
immediately chosen by the majority of the Members. If still in trio occurs in the same case, the
winner shall be decided by a system of drawing a lot or by tossing a coin.

Section 4. Regular elections shall be held annually during each anniversary celebration.
However, it may be held on other dates as the Organization may decide.

Section 5. Special elections shall be held in case of vacancy arises . No special elections
shall be held two months before a regular election.

Section 6. Election for vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term of
predecessor.

ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. The name and other symbols of the Organization shall be kept sacred and shall
not be used in unlawful and immoral acts.

Section 2. Meetings may be called by the President as often as possible with the time and
place of assembly to be determined.

Section 3. As the President may deem necessary, important matters shall be decided in
the Organization by a secret ballot.

Section 4. There shall be an open forum as the Organization may desire during which any
Member may be required to appear and answer question of the other Members.

Section 5. The Organization shall have records of the proceedings.

ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Any amendments to or revision of this Constitution may be proposed by the

Organization and shall be evaluated by the Executive Committee. If the said Committee approves
the proposal it shall be submitted to the Members for ratification and deliberations.

Section 2. Any amendment to or revision of this Constitution shall be valid when ratified
by the majority of the Members.

ARTICLE XII
EFFECTIVITY

Section 1. The Constitution shall take effect immediately upon its ratification by the
members of the Organization.

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAME
BEL AMIS is the official name of the Organization. It is taken from the “FRENCH
WORD” which means FAIR FRIENDS.

FOUNDING FATHERS
 The BEL AMIS Fraternal Organization have a twelve (12) Founders namely
1. Wendell Jay O. Espina
2. Rio Cahambing
3. Maloney L. Samaco
4. Jovito G. Escoro
5. Roberto Veloso
6. Jonas O. Paler
7. Venerando Ramos
8. Leonii C. Llido
9. Fidel Alejandria
10. Santiago M. Santiago
11. Marcel oPedalino
12. Mario Ariel Acasio

FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION
BEL AMIS is a Fraternal Organization. It promotes brotherhood and camaraderie as a
Fraternity and it develops civic efficiency through projects and services as a civic Organization.

FOUNDED
BEL AMIS was founded on August 15, 1980 by a group of students at Saint Joseph College
in Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Philippines.

ESPRIT DE CORPS
The motto of the BEL AMIS is “ ESPRIT DE CORPS” a French word which means Spirit
of the Group. It refers to the common group of spirit of Enthusiasm, Devotion and Comradeship.
Enthusiasm refers to the interest of joining the Organization. Devotion means loyalty to its ideals;
and Comradeship denotes brotherhood among its members.

BROTHOR
The official call of the Members is BROTHOR, the French word for Brother.

HANDSHAKE
The official handshake is done with the thumb and small fingers clasped (means Bel Amis)
and the index, middle and ring fingers extended together (means Esprit De Corps). The left hand
is used because its near to the Heart.

OFFICIAL SEAL
The BEL AMIS official seal contains the Name, Motto, Logo, and the year founded. The
olive branches joined together symbolizes peace and prosperity and the circle circumventing the
logo means Solidarity.
 BEL AMIS HYMN
I
Forward we go to the East, West, North and South
We spread the principles of brotherhood and camaraderie
You are my BROTHOR, and I am your BROTHOR
We all live to be good citizens in this Country
A model for everyone to see.
II
Bel Amis, Bel Amis, I am proud of you
Your ideals and aspirations I come to call my own
I’ll do my best to keep the bond stronger
For it’s in you where I belong.
(Repeat I&II)
To you I share this life forever until I die (2x)

BEL AMI PLEDGE

I do solemnly swear, as a Bel Ami, to form a perfect union and preserve
A just and orderly relation with my fellow Bel Amis; to be loyal to the Organization, to
Contribute to its development, to protect its welfare and dignity, and to uphold
The Bel Amis Constitution. To all these I pledge my life, my time and my sacred honor.

PASSWORD
REPLY: VIVE LES BEL AMIS(Long Live Bel Amis)
CHALLENGE: J’Y SUE J’Y RESTE (Here I am, Here I remain)
REPLY: RAISON D’ ETER (Reason for Existence)
CHALLENGE: ESPRIT DE CORPS (Esprit de Comradeship)
REPLY: ON POUR TOUS (All for one)
CHALLENGE: TOUS POUR ON (One for All)