Some of the most essential elements that need to be included in a draft bylaw are your organization's name and purpose, information about memberships, the roles and duties of board members, how to handle financial information, and an outline of how to keep the bylaws up to date or amended.
Corporate bylaws are legally required in Illinois. Illinois statute §805 ILCS 5/2.20 requires that bylaws be adopted either by shareholders at the first shareholder meeting or by directors at the initial director meeting.
There's plenty of work that goes into writing bylaws, so let's break down what you need to get writing! Research. Form a committee. Create the structure. Outline your organization's key roles and responsibilities. Establish your meeting rules. Define your membership. Address finances. Outline the amendment process.