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The American Civil War Society Ltd
RULES

Completely Revised August 1994
Last Updated December 2006		 Adopted at AGM 20/11/1994

Introduction

All Battle Re-enactments in the United Kingdom are governed by a Code of Conduct approved by the Home Office and the Health & Safety Executive. Both the Code of Conduct and the Company’s Rules must be strictly adhered to. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action and possible expulsion from Membership of the Company.

A. Membership

  1. Whilst at the events and venues of the Company, and/or whilst holding out in any capacity that they are acting for or engaged in activity for the Company, members are required to conduct themselves to a high standard, to obey all reasonable and lawful commands given by the Officials of the Company in pursuance of their duties and to uphold the standards and reputation of the Company.
  2. Former members who have failed to renew their membership for the current year will be refused participation at Company events.
  3. All members are required to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. Dangerous or offensive behaviour likely to prejudice the good name for the Company may lead to suspension or withdrawal of Membership or such other sanction(s) as the Board of Directors may decide.
  4. Officers and NCO’s will be held fully accountable to the Directors for the conduct of members of their unit and guests under their command.
  5. Only members, their families and guests will be allowed to camp at Company events and sites.
  6. The minimum age for participating in Company events is 14 years old.
  7. Women may participate fully in all events of the Company including being armed, equipped and dressed as men and in the ranks of units subject to:
    1. Individual units being free to decide as they may wish on their own membership in this matter, and:
    2. Women participating as soldiers must appear appropriately dressed and equipped to reasonable standards as the Board of Directors may determine, and be commensurate with the image and appearance of the unit they are re-enacting.
  8. No member or guest will be permitted to participate in Company events without first having signed the Company’s agreed disclaimer.
  9. Participation by non-members at Company events is forbidden except for the following:
    1. Members of other groups/units/societies invited by the Directors;
    2. Guests introduced by existing members for one event only, but only with the express approval of their unit commander and a Director.
  10. The Company reserves the right to revoke the membership of any member, or to impose such other discipline and/or sanction within its powers as the Board of Directors considers appropriate, who brings, or acts in a manner likely to bring the Company or its reputation into disrepute. The Board of Directors shall have power to impose such sanctions as they deem equitable and expedient upon any person, or persons, who, in the judgement of the Board, has, or have, acted in contravention of these Rules.

B. Firearms

  1. All members and guests are required to ensure that weaponry owned by them, or in their possession, is in a legal and safe condition and has been duly registered and proofed as necessary. Any weaponry found to contravene this regulation will not be permitted for use at Company venues and events. All members and guests are required to have all appropriate and current licences and permits for the use of weaponry and ammunition and for their use at Company venues and events.
  2. Company members must obey the law at all times. Any illegal use of firearms and ammunition will result in immediate expulsion from the Company and possible prosecution.
  3. The discharge of guns other than during battle re-enactments and events is forbidden except by authority of the Chairman, or the Health & Safety Director or Explosives Officer, or Assistant Safety Officers and/or an Army Commander.
    (Amended AGM Dec-2004)
  4. No weaponry of any type (whether required to be licensed or otherwise) is to be carried off camp and/or battlefield or event limits (including parades) except on official Company business save when in transit to and from home.
  5. Unsupervised weaponry must be kept safe and secure (preferably under lock and key) when at Company events and venues.
  6. No member or guest shall drink or have drunk alcohol or taken any toxic, hallucinogenic or mood altering or any other illegal substance prior to a battle or event of the Company on that day, or during an event, or be affected by any of the same from a previous day, or be under the influence of any of the same and be in charge of a firearm or ammunition whilst so affected.

C. Ammunition

  1. The use of blank ammunition other than that supplied, or expressly authorised, by the Health & Safety Director, Explosives Officer, Assistant Safety Officers or Pyrotechnics Officer, is strictly forbidden.
    (Amended AGM Dec-2004)
  2. Unused blank ammunition (or the makings thereof) may only be taken from Company events by duly licensed members who have been authorised by the appropriate Officer (as listed in B3 above) to do so. All other unused blank ammunition, or the makings thereof, is to be returned to the appropriate Explosives, Safety or Pyrotechnics Officers before leaving the event or venue.
    (Amended AGM Dec-2004)
  3. Members will ensure that ammunition is kept in a safe and secure cartridge box, pouch or container.
  4. No ammunition will be issued to, or allowed to be used by, any member or guest who has not registered at that battle or event and who is not covered by appropriate black powder and/or shotgun certificates and/or licences and authorities required for the use of the same.
  5. No ‘live’ ammunition of any description and no ‘live’ ammunition which has been converted into blank form will be permitted on site or to be used at an event at any time.

D. Safety during Battle Re-enactments and Events.

  1. Firearms will not be discharged dangerously in close proximity to any other participant member or the public. Due safety distances will be observed and the rule ‘if in doubt, do not fire’ observed.
  2. Loaded firearms must not be carried into, or used in, hand-to-hand combat.
  3. Edged weapons will NOT be used in hand-to-hand combat.
  4. Swords & sabres may be worn as appropriate and when realistic so to do with the approval of the Army Commander. Spurs may only be worn where appropriate to the impression and with the approval of the Army Commander. Bayonets axes and knives may be worn where appropriate to the impression provided they are safely secured and not drawn during battles or when it is unsafe to do so.
    (Amended AGM Dec-2004 Dec-2006 Dec-2007)
  5. All other metallic edges weapons (e.g. knives, axes, spurs etc. save where permitted by D4. above are forbidden.
    (Amended AGM Dec-2006)
  6. Capturing or taking away of battle standards or flags of any sort is forbidden.
  7. Hand-to hand combat may only take place by prior permission of the Army Commanders.
  8. All non-combatant personnel who are not attached to a particular unit are required to keep well behind their respective battle lines and in the vicinity of field hospitals etc., unless they are undertaking the duties of authorised medical personnel, or they have been expressly authorised by the Chairman, Health & Safety Director, Explosives / Safety /Pyrotechnics Officer(s) and/or Commanding Officer(s).
    (Amended AGM Dec-2004)
  9. No member or guest will be permitted to take part in a re-enactment or event of the Company if they have consumed alcoholic drink or illegal drugs and/or other intoxicating hallucinogenic or mood altering substances prior to or during the event on the day of the event, or are under the influence of any of the same. Any member found to have participated in a re-enactment of the Company in contravention of this rule may have their membership revoked and any guest will not be invited back.
  10. Safety distances in front of and the clearance zones of fire for cannon when loaded and/or firing and/or pyrotechnic effects will be strictly observed in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
  11. The use of ramrods to load ammunition during battle re-enactments and events is strictly forbidden except for clearing or dealing with a jammed or misfired weapon and then only under safety supervision and clear of, and to the rear of, any battle line and in safe manner and situation (save and except cannon, for which please refer to the Code of Conduct). Ramrods may, however, be used in certain very controlled circumstances when it is safe to do so e.g. closely supervised authentic firing displays/living history presentations or filming work where no re-enactors, the public or others are "down the line of fire." (Amended AGM Dec-2005)
  12. No member or guest will be permitted to participate in re-enactments of the Company without first having attended the appropriate drill and training sessions. (Added AGM Dec-1997)

E. Costume

  1. When at events of the Company, either American Civil War costume or modern civilian dress will be worn. American Civil War costume should be worn in the authentic camps. Uniforms of other societies and organisations not in keeping with this period are not to be displayed or worn. ‘Western’ cowboy gear is NOT accepted as Civil War costume.
  2. Uniforms of units are to be strictly adhered to. Individual interpretation outside the bounds of historical precedent supported by evidence is NOT acceptable. If in doubt, clear questions of uniform dress and equipment with the unit Commanding Officer first. Army Commanders have the ultimate right of veto and decision.
  3. Members or guests who fail to uniform and equip themselves to Company standards will be refused participation at the events of the Company.

F. General

  1. Members organising events for their unit outside Company activities must provide the Projects Director with full details.
  2. No article or letter will be published in any Company publication unless authorised by the editor and/or the Communications Director.
  3. All campsites, display sites and venues etc. are to be kept and left in a good and tidy state of repair and condition and litter and rubbish-free at the end of an event.
  4. Post 1865 transport will not be permitted on authentic camps except to load and unload equipment and stores and then only for as short a period of time as is reasonably necessary for that purpose.
  5. No open fires allowed in Family Camp areas (except domestic barbecues located and operated safely.) Only appropriate fuels in reasonable and safe amounts shall be used on such barbecues. (Amended AGM Dec-2005)
  6. Members are required to be courteous to and considerate of others. Consequently chopping firewood after midnight or before 7 AM (when others in camp are trying to sleep) is not to take place. At midnight noise, singing, music and any loud activities are to cease (quiet conversations not disturbing others are acceptable) unless exceptional circumstances, previously sanctioned by the Board and Army Commanders, allow for a reasonable extension of the midnight curfew. (Added AGM Dec-2007)
  7. Children and/or youths (those under the age of 18) are the direct responsibility of their parent(s) or guardian(s). Disciplinary action within Society Bye Laws and Rules will be pursued in the event of breaches of these responsibilities and failure to control children/youths by the relevant responsible adult(s) in whose care and charge they are at events. Under-age alcohol consumption is not sanctioned or condoned by ACWS. However, provided that the children/youths are well behaved, cause no nuisance or disturbance to others and are directly supervised by their parent(s) / guardian(s) / responsible adult, then such activities are only acceptable in their Regimental Street lines, when the public are not present of an evening or within caravan / tentage / awning on the Family Camp. ACWS can accept no responsibility for children/youths’ behaviour and it is the responsibility and duty of the relevant supervising adult to ensure good behaviour and discipline prevails. Groups of children/youths congregating away from their parent(s) / guardian(s) / supervising adult and consuming alcohol unsupervised, and/or changing into non-authentic dress, is not acceptable and will be a breach of these Rules. (Added AGM Dec-2007)
  8. Regiments may, within the confines of their own Street lines on Authentic Camps, not adhere to the strict authenticity guidelines when the event has finished for the day and the public have left, provided that they do not upset or interfere with the authenticity and re-enactment wishes of others in other tent-line Streets or elsewhere. Changing into any modern dress is however NOT acceptable (see Regulations and Guidelines regarding conduct on the Authentic Camps Section 2.) Behaviour must always be reasonable and considerate of others, but parties and events in such circumstances (sanctioned in advance by Unit Officer Commanding and Army Commander) are acceptable with these Rules. (Added AGM Dec-2007)