ARTICLE I
Name
Section 1. The name of this division of FBLA-PBL shall be “Future Business Leaders of
America” and may be referred to as “FBLA.”
ARTICLE II
Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of FBLA is to provide, as an integral part of the instructional program,
additional opportunities for secondary students (grades 9–12) in business and/or
business-related fields to develop vocational and career supportive competencies
and to promote civic and personal responsibilities.
Section 2. The specific goals of FBLA are to:
• develop competent, aggressive business leadership;
• strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and their work;
• create more interest in and understanding of American business enterprise;
• encourage members in the development of individual projects which contribute
to the improvement of home, business, and community;
• develop character, prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism;
• encourage and practice efficient money management;
• encourage scholarship and promote school loyalty;
• assist students in the establishment of occupational goals; and
• facilitate the transition from school to work.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1. FBLA membership shall consist of members of chartered local chapters. These
members shall hold membership in their state and national chapters. Individual
members shall be recognized only through a state chapter of FBLA except that, in
the case where there is no state chapter, the member shall be recognized by the
national office.
Section 2. National FBLA, as well as the state and local chapters, shall be open for membership
to these classes of members:
• Active Members shall be secondary students who become members while
enrolled in business and/or business-related fields, who accept the purpose of
FBLA, subscribe to its creed, demonstrate willingness to contribute to good
school-community relations, and possess qualities for employment. Active
members shall pay dues as established by FBLA and may participate in national
events, in accordance with the guidelines of the National Awards Program, serve
as voting delegates to the National Leadership Conference, hold national office in
accordance with Article VI, and otherwise represent their state and local chapters
as approved by their respective state and local advisers.
• Professional Members shall be persons associated with or participating in the
professional development of FBLA as approved by state chapters. Such members
may include local and state chapter advisers, business teachers, business teacher
educators, state supervisors of business and office education, employers or
supervisors of cooperative work-training students, advisory council members,
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• businesspersons, and other persons contributing to the growth and development
of FBLA. Professional members shall pay dues as established by FBLA; but shall
not participate in events, serve as voting delegates, or hold office.
• Honorary Life Members may be elected to a state or local chapter by a majority
vote. They shall be persons who are assisting in the advancement of business
and office education and/or who are rendering outstanding service to FBLA-PBL.
Honorary Life members shall not vote or hold office and shall not be required to
pay dues.
• National Honorary Life Members may be recommended by the membership and
shall be accepted upon approval by the board of directors of FBLA-PBL. They
shall be persons making significant contributions to the field of business and
office education and/or to the growth and development of FBLA-PBL. National
Honorary Life members shall not vote or hold office and shall not be required to
pay dues.
ARTICLE IV
Dues and Finance
Section 1. National dues based on fiscal reports by the national center, and on
recommendation by the national executive council and the board of directors,
shall be determined by a majority vote of the state voting delegates at the
National Leadership Conference. National dues of members shall be forwarded
directly to the FBLA national office or shall be submitted through state chapters at
the discretion of the state chapter.
Section 2. Annual dues from 1990 through 1993 shall be $5.00. Annual dues from 1994 until
reconsidered shall be $6.00.
Section 3. The affairs and property of FBLA shall be managed by the board of directors, which
shall have the powers and duties of a board of directors, according to the current
D.C. Code.
Section 4. The association president and chief executive officer shall administer all FBLA
finances, submit an annual budget to the board of directors for approval, and
provide the board of directors and members with an annual audit.
Section 5. The fiscal year of the Future Business Leaders of America shall be August 1
through July 31.
ARTICLE V
Organization
Section 1. FBLA shall be an association of state and local chapters, each operating in
accordance with a charter granted by FBLA-PBL. Only chapters that have
received charters and numbers issued by FBLA-PBL and that are currently in
good standing, shall be referred to as “Future Business Leaders of America”
or “FBLA.”
Section 2. The board of directors of FBLA-PBL shall serve as the policymaking body of this
organization and derives its authority from the Articles of Incorporation of FBLAPBL and the laws of the District of Columbia. It may be referred to as the board of
directors. Members of the board of directors shall be nominated by state chairmen
and elected by the local FBLA-PBL chapters of their respective regions for threeyear terms in accordance with the nominating and voting procedures determined
by the board of directors.
Section 3. The administration of FBLA shall be vested in the association president and
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chief executive officer of FBLA-PBL.
Section 4. There shall be a national executive council, which shall make recommendations to
the board of directors and perform other duties as prescribed in these bylaws.
Section 5. There shall be five administrative regions.
• The Eastern Region consists of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,
DoDDS-E (Europe), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and
Virgin Islands.
• The Southern Region consists of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
• The North Central Region consists of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• The Mountain Plains Region consists of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New
Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
• The Western Region consists of Alaska, Arizona, California, Canal Zone, Guam,
Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Section 6. State chapter charters shall be issued upon approval of the board of directors. A
state chapter shall have at least five local chapters with all members holding
national membership in FBLA and hold one annual meeting to elect state officers
and conduct business in order to qualify for a charter. Each state chapter shall have
a state committee composed of professional educators in the areas of business and
office occupations.
Section 7. A state committee chairman shall be recommended by the association president and
chief executive officer and approved by the board of directors.
Section 8. Each local chapter shall have an adviser who shall be a faculty member who believes
in the mission and goals of the association. A local chapter may have as many
special-emphasis groups under the chapter charter as it deems necessary to meet
the interests of all students. The local chapter of FBLA shall assume full
responsibility for coordinating the program for these interest groups.
ARTICLE VI
Officers and Elections
Section 1. National Officers. The national elected officers of FBLA shall be a president, five vice
presidents representing the respective regions, a secretary, and a treasurer. The
parliamentarian shall be an appointed national officer.
Section 2. Qualifications for National Office.
A. Only active members are eligible to hold national office.
B. Only those applicants who are present at the National Leadership Conference
and officially certified by the officer screening committee shall be eligible for
nomination.
C. To be considered for an office in FBLA, a candidate shall:
- Have at least one full year remaining in his/her business program.
- Hold or have held an elective office in his/her local or state chapter.
- Be recommended by the chapter advisers and endorsed by his/her local
and state chapters. - File an official application with the association president and chief executive
officer at FBLA-PBL by May 15.
a. If no state chapter submits an applicant for a particular office by the
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May 15 deadline, then the deadline for the particular office shall be
extended to June 15.
b. b. Applicants for national office who become candidates for office as of
the second deadline shall have to prepare a campaign for office like all
other candidates, including a requirement to pass the officer screening
committee and caucus in state chapter meetings.
c. c. If no candidates are submitted for a particular office by the first or
second deadline, then candidates may apply for office at the National
Leadership Conference and shall comply with all guidelines that other
candidates comply with during the conference.
Section 3. Nominations.
A. The president, secretary, and treasurer shall be nominated by a state chapter at
a general session of the National Leadership Conference. The national vice
presidents representing the regions shall be nominated by a state chapter at
their respective regional meetings at the National Leadership Conference.
B. Only candidates approved by the officer screening committee shall be
nominated.
Section 4. Elections.
A. The president, secretary, and treasurer shall be elected annually at a general
session of the National Leadership Conference by the state voting delegates. The
national vice presidents representing the regions shall be elected annually at
their respective regional meetings at the National Leadership Conference by the
local voting delegates of the respective regions.
B. The president, secretary, and treasurer shall be elected by a ranked ballot vote
of the state voting delegates. The national vice presidents shall be elected by a
ranked ballot vote by the local voting delegates of respective regions. A
majority vote shall be required for elections.
C. No two national officers shall be elected from the same state chapter.
Section 5. Nominations. Term of Office. National officers shall be elected for one year or until
their successors are elected or appointed, and their term of office shall begin at the
close of the National Leadership Conference at which they were selected.
Section 6. Vacancy in Office. A vacancy in any office, other than that of president, shall be
filled by appointment by the president with the approval of the president‘s region
shall automatically become president.
Section 7. Appointment of Parliamentarian. The person scoring highest on the Parliamentary
Procedure written test shall be appointed by the incoming national president to
serve as parliamentarian. This individual shall have at least one year remaining
before being graduated from a secondary school.
ARTICLE VII
Duties of FBLA National Officers
Section 1. The president shall:
A. serve as chairman of the national executive council;
B. preside over the council meetings and business meetings of FBLA;
C. serve as a member of the board of directors;
D. appoint appropriate committees and committee chairmen;
E. serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of all committees;
F. appoint the parliamentarian; and
G. perform other duties for the promotion and development of local, state, and
national FBLA.
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Section 2. The vice presidents shall:
A. assist the president in the promotion and development of FBLA in the regions
that elected them;
B. assist in planning Regional Leadership Conferences; and
C. preside at regional meetings at the National Leadership Conference.
Section 3. The secretary shall:
A. keep an accurate record of all business meetings of the National Leadership
Conference and the national executive council;
B. supply promptly at least one copy of the minutes and substantiating reports to
the FBLA president and the association president and chief executive officer;
and
C. initiate communication with state officers to promote quality articles for
national publications.
Section 4. The treasurer shall:
A. assist the national office in keeping an accurate record of national officer travel
expenses and disbursements, and in planning national officer travel; and
B. present an annual financial report to members at the National Leadership
Conference.
Section 5. The parliamentarian shall:
A. advise the president of the orderly conduct of business in accordance with
FBLA bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised;
B. shall initiate communication with his/her state counterparts to promote
expansion of parliamentary knowledge and awareness; and
C. serves as an ex-officio member of the national executive council.
Section 6. These officers shall serve on the national executive council, perform the duties
prescribed in these bylaws, and perform such other duties as are directed by the
FBLA president and the association president and chief executive officer and the
board of directors and not inconsistent with these bylaws or other rules adopted by
FBLA.
ARTICLE VIII
National Leadership Conference
Section 1. A National Leadership Conference shall be held each year. A date and location will
be recommended by national staff and approved by the board of directors.
Section 2. Each state chapter in good standing shall be entitled to send two voting delegates and
one alternate from its active membership to the National Leadership Conference.
Section 3. Each local chapter in good standing shall be entitled to send from its active
membership, two to four local voting delegates and one alternate for each voting
delegate to the National Leadership Conference in accordance with the following:
• Under 50 members—two voting delegates.
• 50–100 members—three voting delegates.
• Over 100 members—four voting delegates.
Section 4. All voting delegates of local and state chapters shall be officially certified
by their respective advisers and their names submitted to the national
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office postmarked no later than 20 days prior to the National Leadership
Conference.
Section 5. Voting. State voting delegates shall be entitled to vote on all matters
that come before the general session. Local voting delegates shall be
entitled to vote on all matters that come before the regional meetings.
There shall be no proxy voting.
Section 6. Quorum. The quorum for all business meetings of the National
Leadership Conference shall be a majority of the registered voting
delegates.
ARTICLE IX
National Executive Council
Section 1. The national officers of FBLA shall, with the ex-officio, nonvoting members,
constitute the national executive council. The chairman of the board of directors,
the association president and chief executive officer, and a state committee
person for each national officer shall be ex-officio, nonvoting members.
Section 2. Duties. The National Executive Council shall:
A. adopt policies of operation of FBLA as deemed necessary, by a three-fourths
vote subject to the approval of the board of directors;
B. approve committee appointments and the creation of new committees by the
president;
C. approve appointments by the president to fill vacancies in office;
D. review all proposed amendments to the bylaws;
E. present to the voting delegates at the National Leadership Conference, with
recommendations, those proposed amendments approved by the board of
directors; and
F. perform such other duties as are prescribed by these bylaws.
Section 3. Meetings. Meetings shall be called by the president, or upon the written request of
three voting members of the national executive council, upon approval by the
association president and chief executive officer.
Section 4. Voting by Mail. Business of the national executive council may be conducted by mail
at the discretion of the FBLA president upon the approval by the association
president and chief executive officer. For adoption, action by mail shall require a
three-fourths vote of the members eligible to vote, and shall be recorded in the
minutes of the next regular meeting.
ARTICLE X
Committees
Section 1. Advisory committees to assist in the growth and development of FBLA may be
appointed as deemed necessary by the board of directors. Recommendations of
persons for such appointments shall be requested of state chapters.
Section 2. Local and state chapters may select advisory committees to assist in the growth and
development of their respective chapters.
Section 3. The president of FBLA shall, with the approval of the national executive council,
establish committees, appoint their members for a period not to exceed his/her
term in office, and assist these committees in their activities.
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Section 4. An officer screening committee, composed of national officers and board members,
shall be appointed by the FBLA president in consultation with the association
president and chief executive officer. The officer screening committee shall, after
careful consideration of applicants for officers of FBLA, approve candidates for
nomination.
Section 5. Committee business may be conducted by mail at the discretion of the chairman.
For adoption, action by mail shall require a majority vote of the members eligible to
vote and shall be reported to the committee members not later than the next
regular meeting.
ARTICLE XI
Emblem and Colors
Section 1. The official emblem and insignia item designs are described and protected from
infringement by registration in the U.S. Patent Office under the Trademark Act of - The manufacture, reproduction, wearing, or display of the emblem shall be
governed by the board of directors.
Section 2. Emblems and insignia shall be uniform in all local and state chapters and within
special-emphasis groups: they shall be those of FBLA. Only members in good
standing may use official emblems and insignia.
Section 3. The official colors of FBLA shall be blue and gold.
ARTICLE XII
Parliamentary Procedure
Section 1. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern FBLA in all
cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the
rules of FBLA-PBL, these bylaws, or any special rules of order the FBLA may adopt.
ARTICLE XIII
Amendment
Section 1. Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be submitted in writing by local or
state chapters or by a national officer to the association president and chief
executive officer no later than April 1. The proposed amendments shall be
submitted for review to the division president and the bylaws committee of the
board of directors by April 15. Proposed amendments approved by the bylaws
committee shall be returned to the association president and chief executive
officer by May 1. Each state chapter will be sent copies of the approved
amendments by May 15. The national executive council shall present approved
proposed amendments with recommendations to the state voting delegates at
the National Leadership Conference. A two-thirds vote of the state-voting
delegates present and voting at the National Leadership Conference is required
for adoption.
Section 2. The president and chief executive officer of FBLA-PBL shall be authorized to revise
these bylaws to correct punctuation, grammar, cross- references, article and section
designations, and to make such other technical changes as may be necessary, where
these changes shall be minor in detail and shall not alter the meaning or intent of the
bylaws. Notice of changes made under this authority shall be communicated in writing
to the PBL national executive council, the board of directors, and to the state
committees within 30 days.