Our Organizational Structure

Units: 

This is a group of at least 10 individuals—and must be connected with an American Legion post. That requirement has to do with the way The American Legion was chartered by Congress.  We also have foreign units in other parts of the world.

Officers are elected annually by unit members and may include president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, chaplain, historian, and sergeant-at-arms (specific officers vary by unit).

Committee chairmen are appointed annually by the incoming unit president and may include the following: Americanism, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Cavalcade of Memories, Children & Youth, Community Service, Constitution & Bylaws, Education, Finance, ALA Girls State, Junior Activities, Leadership, Legislative, Membership, National Security, Past Presidents Parley, Poppy, Public Relations, and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation.

Typically, the incoming unit president and her appointed chairmen work together to appoint committee members. This practice and specific chairmen appointed may vary by unit.

Departments (States): 

This is a group of units in a defined geographical area. Typically these correspond with our states, but we do have a Department of Puerto Rico and District of Columbia. Our foreign units are not associated with a department. Find your Department Headquarters website

Officers elected annually by department members include president, vice president, treasurer, chaplain, and historian. The office of department secretary is a paid position, and the same individual may serve in this role for an indefinite number of years. In some departments, the secretary/treasurer is one position.

Typically, upon completion of their terms as department presidents, these members serve for one year on the Board of Directors (known as the National Executive Committee or "NEC") for the national organization.

Committee chairmen appointed annually by the incoming department president may include the following: Americanism, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Cavalcade of Memories, Children & Youth, Community Service, Constitution & Bylaws, Education, Finance, Girls State, Junior Activities, Leadership, Legislative, Membership, National Security, Past Presidents Parley, Poppy, Public Relations, and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation.

Typically, the incoming department president and her appointed chairmen work together to appoint committee members. This practice and specific chairmen appointed may vary by department.

Divisions: 

This is a group of departments in a defined geographical area. Our five national divisions are Central, Eastern, Southern, Western, Northwestern.  Members elect one national officer per division - a vice president who serves a one-year term.

CENTRAL

EASTERN

NORTHWESTERN

SOUTHERN

WESTERN

National

Officers elected annually by national convention delegates include the president, vice president, chaplain, and historian. Officers nominated by the national president and elected annually by the Board of Directors/NEC are the national secretary and the national treasurer. Serving in paid leadership positions at the National Headquarters office in Indianapolis, Ind., these officers also hold the role and title of executive director and membership director, respectively. Committee chairmen and committee members are appointed annually by the leading candidate for national president and approved by the NEC to serve for a one-year term. The committees include Americanism, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Cavalcade of Memories, Children & Youth, Community Service, Constitution & Bylaws, Education, Finance, ALA Girls Nation, Junior Activities, Leadership, Legislative, Liaison to the Child Welfare Foundation, Membership, National Security, Past Presidents Parley, Poppy, Public Relations, and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation.