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

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

Districts/Counties/Councils:

Departments (states) have the authority to establish intermediate bodies to act as a liaison between units and departments and to promote ALA programs. Intermediate bodies include districts, counties, and councils. Unlike units, intermediate bodies are created by and are accountable to the department. Intermediate bodies are groups of units, generally created geographically, to increase interaction among those units in the respective district, county, or council.

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

Typically, the incoming department president and the appointed committee chairs work together to appoint committee members. This practice and specific chairs 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/National Executive Committee are the national secretary and national treasurer. National Headquarters’ executive director is responsible for implementing the policies and directives of the National Executive Committee.

Committee chairs and committee members are appointed annually by the leading candidate for national president and are approved by the National Executive Committee to serve for a one-year term. The committees include Americanism, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Children & Youth, Community Service, Constitution & Bylaws, Education, Finance, ALA Girls Nation, Junior Activities, Leadership, Legislative, Membership, National Security, Poppy, Public Relations, Risk & Compliance, and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation.