2.  For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.

     3. Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism.  Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover.  Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money of conformity.  Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.

     4. With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience.  But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted.  And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board.  On such issues our common welfare is paramount.

     5. Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose - that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. 

     6. Problems of money, property, and authority may easily divert us from our primary spiritual aim.  We think, therefore, that any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from the spiritual.

     7. The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members.  We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying any obligation whatsoever, is unwise.  Then, too, we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose.  Experience has often warned us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority.

     8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional.  We define professionalism as the occupation of counseling alcoholics for fees or hire.  But we may employ alcoholics where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise have to engage non alcoholics.  Such special services may well be recompensed.  But our usual A.A. Twelfth Step work is never to be paid for.

     9.  Each A.A. group needs the least possible organization.  Rotating leadership is the best.  The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full-time secretary,  The trustees of the General Service Board are, in effect, our A.A. General Service committee.  They are custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receivers of voluntary A.A. contributions by which we maintain our A.A. General Service Office at New York.  They are authorized by the groups to handle our overall public relations and they guarantee the integrity of our principal newspaper, the A.A. Grapevine.  All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders in A.A. are but trusted and experienced servants of the whole.  They derive no real authority from their titles; they do ont govern.  Universal respect is the key to their usefulness.

     10. No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues---particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.  The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one.  Concerning such matters they can express no views whatsoever.

     11. Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity.  We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising.  Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed.  Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion.  There is never need to praise ourselves.  We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.

     12. And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance.  It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility.  This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all.