Motorcycle Club Vice President: Duties and Authority

A motorcycle club vice president’s duties come from that club’s constitution, bylaws and delegated decisions. The role may include covering the president’s absence, coordinating projects or supporting membership processes. The title alone does not establish automatic succession, financial authority or a universal chain of command.

Start with the office as your bylaws define it

Read the clauses for election, term length, eligibility, absence, vacancies and removal together. Covering a meeting is different from becoming president permanently. Note which decisions require a member vote, board approval or an officer’s signature, and ask the secretary to identify the current adopted text.

One named example is Ruffians MC: its constitution gives the vice president presidential cover and prospect oversight. Ruffians Motorcycle Club: Constitution, ratified August 2026 Those are that organization’s assignments. Another club can distribute the same work differently, so do not import them as unwritten powers.

Translate duties into a workable handover

For each delegated project, record the task, budget limit, decision owner and reporting date. A charity ride might need a venue contact, a rider briefing and a spending approval; assigning those jobs does not transfer every board power to the vice president. Keep meeting notes concise enough that an absent officer can see what was agreed.

Financial and disciplinary authority deserve explicit boundaries. The AMA’s model bylaws use board review for bills and a hearing process for disciplinary charges. American Motorcyclist Association: Motorcycle Club Bylaws Template This illustrates why the office should follow written procedure. For the membership side, compare how motorcycle club membership processes vary.

Represent an office only after appointment or election

Confirm when a term begins and how any temporary appointment must be documented. Tell members who can approve what, keep private membership information restricted to the appropriate officers, and arrange a handover when the role changes. A good working record is more useful than an assumed rank hierarchy.

If the club uses officer patches, confirm the approved title and who may wear it before ordering. Review authorization and etiquette for vest patches. The merchandise identifies an already authorized office; buying a vice-president patch does not create that office or give the wearer authority.

Frequently asked questions

Is the vice president always second in command?

That phrase can hide important limits. The club’s governing documents determine which powers transfer during an absence and which remain with the board or membership.

Can a vice president expel a member?

Only follow authority and procedure actually granted by the organization. Do not assume a title permits unilateral disciplinary decisions.

Sources checked September 10, 2026. Named organizations’ policies apply to those organizations; practical examples and checklists are editorial guidance.