Avengers Charter

Be It Known...

That we, the Avengers, have banded together to protect and safeguard the planet Earth, its inhabitants and resources, from any and all threats, terrestrial or otherwise, which are or might prove to be beyond the power of conventional forces to handle.

That we shall brook no interference in the growth of mankind in meeting its rightful destiny.

That we dedicate ourselves to the establishment, growth, and preservation of peace, liberty, equality, and justice under law.

THIS IS OUR SOLEMN OATH.

Article One: Organisation

The Avengers is hereby chartered as a non-profit organization under the laws as set down by the State of New York, United States of America; said organization being recognized and fully sanctioned as a peace-keeping force by the National Security Council of the United States of America, by the United Nations, and by the Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division.

Article Two: Jurisdiction

In accordance with the tenets of national and international law, the Avengers, acting individually, or as a group, are herein authorized to function in all lands, territories, or protectorates of the United States; in all countries allied with the United States by international treaty; and in all countries belonging to or affiliated with the United Nations.

Article Three: Funding

As a non-profit organization, the Avengers shall be funded chiefly by private grants. Major funding for the activities of the Avengers, for its headquarters, transportation, and equipment, shall be provided by a grant from the Maria Stark Foundation (Anthony Stark, Director) with the understanding that the Foundation shall have no say in Avengers operations, or in the deployment of funds within the Avengers organization.

Article Four: Operations

The day-to-day operations of the Avengers shall be governed by a set of by-laws as put forth by the founding members.

IN WITNESS of this charter, we founding members have hereunto subscribed our names...

• Iron Man
• Thor
• Wasp
• Ant-Man
• Hulk

Avengers By-Laws

Section One: Policy & Operations

• All Avengers shall, at all times, endeavor to adhere to the principles of the Avengers Charter and follow the rules and regulations of these by-laws.
• The by-laws may be amended, when deemed necessary, by the active members of the Avengers. Amendments may be proposed by any active Avenger. Amendments shall become a binding part of these by-laws upon approval by two-thirds of the active membership.
• No Avenger shall be required to surrender knowledge of his or her civilian identity or personal affairs to the membership at large or the National Security Council.
• Avengers shall be entitled to special priority government security clearance, as administered and approved by the National Security Council.
• The Avengers shall be led by a duly elected Chairman or Chairwoman. It shall be the duty of this leader to coordinate all Avenger activities, whether business or tactical in nature.
• The position of Chairman/woman shall be open to any active member who has passed his/her probationary period (See Section Two, Memberships).
• The Chairman/woman shall serve for a term of 6 months. There shall be no limit to the number of successive terms a leader may serve.
• It shall be the privilege of the Chairman/woman to determine the format of meetings and to call special meetings as he/she sees fit.
• In the event of the absence, incapacity, or resignation of the Chairman/woman, an interim leader shall be chosen by a two-thirds vote of the active membership.

Section Two: Membership

Recognizing that the membership of the Avengers may be subject to, and, indeed, might profit from change, procedures for the admission of members shall be set forth.

• Candidates for membership must be legal adults, possessing at least one skill, power, ability, or talent which is deemed valuable by majority of the active membership.
• Membership shall not be denied on account of race, color, creed, sex, or condition of birth or origin.
• Candidates for membership must be nominated by one active member in good standing at a regular or special meeting. Election for membership must be held within one week of nomination and be attended by a simple majority of active members. A two-thirds vote is necessary for election to membership.
• Newly elected Avengers shall save a probationary period of not less than 30 days.
• During the period of probation, the National Security Council shall make an investigation of the new Avenger's public record in order to determine approval for full security clearance.
• While on probation, the new Avenger shall have limited access to Avengers facilities and records.
• At the end of probation, the new Avenger shall assume full active status, unless objections are raised by any active member or by the National Security Council.
• The Avengers shall select new members whenever the Chairman/woman or two-thirds of the active membership determines that the ranks are not at optimal strength, or when there is a vacancy in the ranks.
• It shall be the prerogative of the Chairman/woman to limit the number of active members.
• Active Avengers shall be the designation given to those Avengers who are full-time members.
• Active Avengers shall be required to log all individual cases into the main computer file, that the entire membership may benefit from the individual's experience.
• Active Avengers shall be required to attend all regular business meetings. Members who miss more than one meeting per month without submitting an acceptable excuse may face suspension for a period to be determined by a consensus of the other active members.
• Active Avengers shall be issued an Avengers identification card and an emergency signal device.
• Active members shall be required to answer all emergency calls. If unable to respond, an active member must contact the Chairman/woman at the earliest opportunity to explain his/her absence.
• Active members who miss an emergency call without good reason may be subject to disciplinary action.
• Active Avengers shall be expected to cooperate with other law enforcement agencies. Although granted certain legal immunities by the Avengers priority clearance, no Avenger shall be considered above the law.
• Active Avengers shall be paid a stipend of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per week. Members may choose not to accept their stipends, in which case the money shall be placed in their retirement fund.
• Active members shall be entitled to free medical and life insurance benefits.
• Active members shall be provided with private quarters where they, it so choosing, may reside. Unlimited meal privileges shall be provided for live-in members.
• Active Avengers shall be granted unlimited access to the Avengers Mansion headquarters, vehicles, computer records files, and any other facilities of the organization.
• Active Avengers may take a leave of absence for any reason simply by notifying the Chairman/woman of said intent.
• Active Avengers may choose to accept status as either a reservist or an inactive Avenger.
• Active Avengers shall, at all times, act in a manner befitting that of a guardian of the public trust.

Section Two, Subsection A: Reserve Avengers

• Reserve Avengers shall be the designation given to those Avengers who are parttime members, on call for special missions or emergency assignments only.
• Reserve membership shall be limited to those members who have fulfilled an active term of duty of not less than one year, and who wish to reduce their connections with the group.
• Reserve Avengers shall not be required to log their individual cases, though they shall be encouraged to do so.
• Reserve Avengers may attend any regular meeting, but shall be required to attend no more than one per year.
• Reserve Avengers shall retain their Avengers identification card and emergency signal device.
• Reserve members may be demoted to inactive status if they fail to answer three consecutive emergency calls.
• Reserve Avengers shall be paid a stipend of one hundred dollars ($100) per month.
• Reserve Avengers shall have limited access to Avengers Mansion, files, equipment, etc.
• Reserve Avengers may return to active status at the discretion of the Chairman/woman, if they so petition and are accepted by majority vote of the active members.
• Reserve Avengers shall be given priority over new candidates in the filling of vacancies in the active membership.
• Reserve Avengers may retire to inactive status by notifying the Chairman/woman and surrendering the Avengers identification card and emergency signal device.
• Reserve Avengers shall not have a vote in Avengers proceedings.
• Reserve Avengers shall have the authority to call emergency meetings.

Section Two, Subsection B: Inactive Avengers

• Inactive Avengers shall be the designation given to those members who have retired or resigned from active and reserve duty.
• Any Avenger may resign by simply notifying the Chairman/woman of his/her intent and surrendering his/her Avengers identification card, emergency signal device, and any other Avengers-owned equipment.
• Any active or reserve Avenger who is incapacitated or who moves from the organization's normal jurisdiction shall be granted an honorable discharge and placed on the inactive roster.
• Inactive Avengers may be granted limited access to Avengers equipment and facilities only at the discretion of the active members.
• Inactive status shall be considered the same as an indefinite leave of absence.
• Inactive Avengers may be reinstated only if there is a vacancy in the active ranks, and then only if elected by a two-thirds vote of the active membership.

Section Two, Subsection C: Motions for disciplinary action

• Motions for disciplinary action against any active or reserve Avenger may be brought by any other active Avenger.
• In the event of such an accusation, Chairman/woman shall convene a board of inquiry, comprising a simple majority of the active membership (minus the accused, if he/she is an active member).
• Disciplinary action shall be limited to suspension, with the option of further trying the accused before a tribunal of all active members.
• Tribunal proceedings shall be conducted in the manner of a military court-martial.
• Maximum punishment to be brought on the accused by such a tribunal shall be expulsion from the Avengers.
• A two-thirds vote shall be necessary to expel a member from the Avengers.
• Active and reserve Avengers can be expelled, with no possibility of reinstatement, on the following grounds: 
  • Conviction for any crime above a misdemeanor.
  • Deliberate betrayal of Avengers classified information.
  • Criminal acts of negligence not convicted for, but witnessed by at least one active member.

Section Three: Meetings

• The Avengers shall meet regularly, at least once a week, at a time and place to be agreed upon by a simple majority of the active membership.
• Emergency meetings may be called at any time, but emergency meetings shall not be considered a replacement for a regular meeting.
• In the event that an Avengers mission is in progress at the time of a regularly-scheduled meeting, the meeting will be rescheduled.
• A simple majority of the active membership shall be required to make a meeting official.

Section Four: Punishment of Criminals

• Avengers shall leave the punishment of perpetrators of criminal activity to the appropriate agencies of the law.
• The Avengers shall not abridge an accused's right to a fair and speedy trial.
• The Avengers shall abide by the decisions of the law, and will not take upon themselves any aspect of the punishment process.
• In the event that conventional imprisonment proves inadequate for a given criminal, the Avengers shall be allowed to hold said criminal in a manner they see fit, provided that a full report of said methods of imprisonment is given to the proper law enforcement authorities.

Section Five: Affiliations

The Avengers shall maintain open and reciprocal relations, including joint limited access to computer data, with the Fantastic Four, Inc., and with the Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.).

Section Six: Security

The National Security Council shall serve as liaison between the Avengers and the government of the United States. The NSC shall have the power to revoke the Avengers security clearance, individually or collectively. The NSC shall supervise the installation of all security devices and data centers and shall hold periodic inspections of said facilities.

Section Seven: Discorporation

The Avengers organization may be disbanded only by order of the National Security Council for a breach of national security, or by unanimous vote of the entire active membership of the Avengers. In the event of disbanding, all Avengers properties and facilities shall revert to the Maria Stark Foundation and/or Stark International, with the exception of any security devices, analysis systems, or data which has any bearing on national security. Said materials and data shall be immediately turned over to the government of the United States.