VIII. A.A.'s TWELVE CONCEPTS (short form)

(pp. 172-175)

Here is a side-by-side chart showing The Twelve Concepts (Short Form) next to a plain language explanation.

THE TWELVE CONCEPTS	Plain Language explanation
A.A.'s Twelve Steps are principles for personal recovery. The Twelve Traditions ensure the unity of the Fellowship. Written by co-founder Bill W. in 1962, the Twelve Concepts for World Service provide a group of related principles to help ensure that various elements of A.A.'s service structure remain responsive and responsible to those they serve. The “short form” of the Concepts, which follows, was approved by the 1971 General Service Conference.	A.A.'s Twelve Steps are guidelines that help with personal recovery. The Twelve Traditions are principles designed to keep the Fellowship united. The Twelve Concepts for World Service are a group of related ideas to help guide members in A.A.'s service structure to answer to the Fellowship. The Twelve Concepts for World Service were written by co-founder Bill W. in 1962. The “short form” of the Concepts, which you see below, was approved by the 1971 General Service Conference.
I. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.	This means that the whole Fellowship has responsibility and authority for how A.A. works. In other words, A.A. members must always have the final say in any Fellowship-wide decisions that may affect them.
II. The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole Society in its world affairs.	This Concept tells us that the General Service Conference of A.A. is the voice and moral center of the Fellowship whenever A.A. participates in Fellowship-wide affairs.
III. To ensure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A.—the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives—with a traditional “Right of Decision.”	To make sure that our leaders are effective, this Concept tells us that they have a “Right of Decision.” This means each has the power to decide how they will handle particular problems or situations, who to consult, and when to report.
IV. At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.	The Fourth Concept says that everyone has a “Right of Participation.” This means the members of A.A. who are responsible to serve the Fellowship have the right to vote on or discuss the things they are responsible for.
V. Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.	This one explains that everyone has a “Right of Appeal” to voice an alternative opinion if they think the majority is going in the wrong direction. Everyone can also make a complaint if they have been mistreated.
VI. The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board.	This means that in most world service matters, the Conference expects the General Service Board trustees will be the chief initiators. They are also the group most responsible for such matters.
VII. The Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness.	The Seventh Concept tells us that the Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal documents. They give the trustees legal responsibility to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document. To be effective, it needs A.A. members to follow A.A. Traditions, and also to support A.A. financially.
VIII. The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities.	This means that the trustees plan and administer overall policy and finance for A.A. Through the A.A. World Services and the AA Grapevine directors that they elect, they oversee the corporate services available to the Fellowship.
IX. Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.	This Concept explains that good service leadership at all levels is key to our ability to do good work into the future. The founders of A.A. were originally responsible for world service leadership. Now that leadership is the responsibility of the trustees.
X. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.	This Concept tells us that for everyone who is involved in A.A. service, the authority they have should match their responsibilities. In addition, A.A.'s board members and leaders will be given clearly defined jobs and an equal amount of authority to do those jobs.
XI. The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern.	The Eleventh Concept states that the trustees should always have the best possible people as committee members, corporate service directors, executives, staff, and consultants. Making sure that the people who take on these roles have the right qualifications and knowledge will always be important.
XII. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government, and that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.	This one explains that the Conference will respect the spirit of A.A. tradition. This means making sure: The Conference never becomes a source of too much wealth or power There is always enough money to carry the message to those who need it No one is put in a position of total authority over others That all important decisions are made by discussion, vote, and a strong majority That its actions never punish anyone personally or start public arguments That it never makes any rules for the Fellowship That it will always remain a democratic organization, both in how the members think and the actions they take.