At an adjourned meeting of the Citizens of Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria, and many others, held in the Hall of the House of Representatives of the United States, on Saturday the 28th day of December, 1816, for the purpose of receiving and considering, from the committees appointed to that duty at a previous meeting, a constitution of the Society, for ameliorating the condition of the free people of color in the United States, by providing a colonial retreat on this or the continent of Africa; and a memorial to Congress, requesting the sanction and co-operation of the general government in the object of the Institution aforesaid—a Constitution was reported by the committee appointed for that purpose; and having been discussed and amended, was then unanimously accepted by the Meeting, in the following words:—

Article I . —This Society shall be called "THE American Society for colonizing the free people of color of the United States ."

Article II .—The object to which attention is to be exclusively directed, is to promote and execute a plan for colonizing (with their consent) the free people of color, residing in our country, in Africa, or such other places as Congress shall deem most expedient. And the Society shall act, to effect this object, in co-operation with the general government, and such of the states as may adopt regulations upon the subject.

Article III .—Every citizen of the United States, who shall subscribe these articles, and be an annual contributor of one dollar to the funds of the Society, shall be a member.

Article IV .—The officers of this Society shall be, a President, eight Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Recorder, and a Board of Managers, composed of the above named officers, and twelve other members of the Society. They shall be annually elected by the members of the Society, at their annual meeting on new year's day, (except when that happens to be the Sabbath, and then the next day) and continue to discharge their respective duties till others are appointed.

Article V .—It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Society, and of the Board of Managers, and to call meetings of the Society and of the Board, when he thinks necessary, or when required by any three members of the board.  

Article VI .—The Vice Presidents, according to seniority, shall discharge these duties in the absence of the President.

Article VII .—The Secretary shall take minutes of the proceedings, prepare and publish notices, and discharge such other duties as the Board, or the President, or in his absence, the Vice Presidents, according to seniority, (when the Board is not sitting) shall direct. And the Recorder shall record the proceedings and the names of the members, and discharge such other duties as may be required of him.  

Article VIII .—The Treasurer shall receive and take charge of the funds of the Society, under such security as may be prescribed by the Board of Managers; keep the accounts, and exhibit a statement of receipts and expenditures, at every annual meeting, and discharge such other duties as may be required of him.

Article IX .—The Board of Managers shall meet on the first Monday in January, the first Monday in April, the first Monday in July, and the first Monday in October, every year, and at such other times as the President may direct.—They shall conduct the business of the Society, and take such measures for effecting its object as they shall think proper, or which shall be directed at the meetings of the Society, and make an annual report of their proceedings. They shall also fill up all vacancies occurring during the year, and make such bye-laws for their government as they may deem necessary, provided the same are not repugnant to this constitution.

Article X .—Every Society which shall be formed in the United States, to aid in the object of this association, and which shall co-operate with its funds for the purposes thereof, agreeably to the rules and regulations of this Society, shall be considered auxiliary thereto, and its officers shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings of the Society, and of the Board of Managers.

Faksimile: Life Membership Certificate