How to change the bye laws of a lodge

Amendments to the bye-laws of a lodge must be submitted to the Grand, Provincial, or District Lodge for official approval before taking effect 12. Subordinate lodges only propose bye-laws; the governing Grand Lodge holds the exclusive legislative authority, meaning a local bye-law remains entirely inoperative until confirmed by that superior body 2. Under the United Grand Lodge of England, no bye-law or amendment is valid until approved by or on behalf of the Grand Master—often through the Provincial Grand Master under Rule 136—and any amendment inconsistent with the Book of Constitutions is void. Once passed in accordance with general regulations, the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India requires a prescribed registration fee to formally register the amendment.

When a lodge considers changing a bye-law, the proposition moves under standard Masonic parliamentary procedure 1. An amendment takes precedence over the original motion, requiring a vote on the amendment first 1. Amendments must operate by adding, striking out, or replacing specific words 1. While a secondary amendment (an amendment to an amendment) is permitted, a tertiary amendment is out of order to prevent confusion; members seeking further changes must reject the secondary amendment and offer a revised version 1.

Before an amendment is formally presented to the lodge for discussion, its mover may withdraw it freely 1. Once the lodge takes possession of the motion, it can only be withdrawn by leave of the lodge, which Masonic usage decides by a majority vote rather than unanimous consent 1. An amendment that is once rejected cannot be proposed again at the same meeting 1.