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: Organization
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
A.
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.
I . 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.
B.
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.
C.
Avengers shall be entitled to special priority government security clearance, as
administered and approved by the National Security Council.
D.
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.
1 . The position of
Chairman/woman shall be open to any active member who has passed his/her probationary
period (See Section Two, Memberships).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
A.
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.
B.
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.
1. Membership
shall not be denied on account of race, color, creed, sex, or condition of birth or
origin.
2. 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.
3. Newly
elected Avengers shall save a probationary period of not less than 30 days.
a. 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.
b. While on
probation, the new Avenger shall have limited access to Avengers facilities and records.
c.
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.
C.
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.
1. It shall
be the prerogative of the Chairman/woman to limit the number of active members.
D.
Active Avengers shall be the designation given to those Avengers who are full-time
members.
1. 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.
2. 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 (see Paragraph G).
3. Active
Avengers shall be issued an Avengers identification card and an emergency signal device.
a. 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.
b. Active
members who miss an emergency call without good reason may be subject to disciplinary
action.
4. 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.
5. 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.
a. Active
members shall be entitled to free medical and life insurance benefits.
b. 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.
6. Active
Avengers shall be granted unlimited access to the Avengers Mansion headquarters, vehicles,
computer records files, and any other facilities of the organization.
7. Active
Avengers may take a leave of absence for any reason simply by notifying the Chairman/woman
of said intent.
a. Active
Avengers may choose to accept status as either a reservist or an inactive Avenger.
8. Active
Avengers shall, at all times, act in a manner befitting that of a guardian of the public
trust.
E.
Reserve Avengers shall be the designation given to those Avengers who are
parttime members, on call for special missions or emergency assignments only.
1. 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.
2. Reserve
Avengers shall not be required to log their individual cases, though they shall be
encouraged to do so.
3. Reserve
Avengers may attend any regular meeting, but shall be required to attend no more than one
per year.
4. Reserve
Avengers shall retain their Avengers identification card and emergency signal device.
a. Reserve
members may be demoted to inactive status if they fail to answer three consecutive
emergency calls.
5. Reserve
Avengers shall be paid a stipend of one hundred dollars ($100) per month.
6. Reserve
Avengers shall have limited access to Avengers Mansion, files, equipment, etc.
7. 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.
8. Reserve
Avengers shall be given priority over new candidates in the filling of vacancies in the
active membership.
9. Reserve
Avengers may retire to inactive status by notifying the Chairman/woman and surrendering
the Avengers identification card and emergency signal device.
10. Reserve Avengers
shall not have a vote in Avengers proceedings.
11. Reserve Avengers shall
have the authority to call emergency meetings.
F.
Inactive Avengers shall be the designation given to those members who have
retired or resigned from active and reserve duty.
1 . 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.
2. 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.
3. Inactive
Avengers may be granted limited access to Avengers equipment and facilities only at the
discretion of the active members.
4. Inactive
status shall be considered the same as an indefinite leave of absence.
5. 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.
G.
Motions for disciplinary action against any active or reserve Avenger may
be brought by any other active Avenger.
1 . 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).
2. Disciplinary
action shall be limited to suspension, with the option of further trying the accused
before a tribunal of all active members.
a. Tribunal
proceedings shall be conducted in the manner of a military court-martial.
b. Maximum
punishment to be brought on the accused by such a tribunal shall be expulsion from the
Avengers.
c. A
two-thirds vote shall be necessary to expel a member from the Avengers.
3. Active and
reserve Avengers can be expelled, with no possibility of reinstatement, on the following
grounds:
a. Conviction
for any crime above a misdemeanor.
b. Deliberate
betrayal of Avengers classified information.
c. Criminal
acts of negligence not convicted for, but witnessed by at least one active member.
Section Three: Meetings
A.
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.
B.
Emergency meetings may be called at any time, but emergency meetings shall not be
considered a replacement for a regular meeting.
C.
In the event that an Avengers mission is in progress at the time of a
regularly-scheduled meeting, the meeting will be rescheduled.
D.
A simple majority of the active membership shall be required to make a meeting
official.
Section Four: Punishment of Criminals
A.
Avengers shall leave the punishment of perpetrators of criminal activity to the
appropriate agencies of the law.
B.
The Avengers shall not abridge an
accused's right to a fair and speedy trial.
C.
The Avengers shall abide by the decisions of the law, and will not take upon
themselves any aspect of the punishment process.
D.
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.