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APPENDIX A

The following Governing and Policy Decisions are reprinted from "The Society for Creative Anachronism Organizational Handbook." Only those Governing and Policy Decisions that deal with SCA Combat Related Activities, or other related matters, have been reprinted here.

1 . COURTS OF INQUIRY AND CHIVALRY

a. No court of inquiry/chivalry shall be established at the corporate level of the Society. Any courts within the Society are presumed to be within the medieval context of the Society and pertain only to conduct within the structure and definitions of the Society.

b. The primary purpose for these courts within the Society is for the investigation of questions and issues, much as a "Commission" in the 20th Century; for opening communications on issues; and for the clarification of issues. Only secondarily are courts considered to be for the purpose of trying members of the Society for alleged behavior or incidents. No courts of the latter type are to be established by any branch below kingdom level.

c. No court shall be held within any Kingdom on individual behavior that falls within the jurisdiction of a civil or criminal court maintained by the nation or other political division where it takes place, nor shall any recommendation about individuals be made on such issues. However, the Board recognizes that a given action may have implications both in law and in the Society's rules of courteous behavior, and will recognize a court which restricts itself to the latter as long as the act in question occurred in a Society context.

d. If a court concludes that the appropriate action is one reserved to the Board, the judgment should be issued in the form of a request that the Board exercise the reserved power in question.

e. The Board of Directors remains the ultimate level of appeal for all issues and all members of the Society.

2. ENFORCEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN CROWN AND CORONET LISTS

a. Kingdoms and principalities will ensure that all competitors in Crown and Coronet Lists are aware of membership requirements for themselves and their prospective consorts at the time they register for participation in the Lists. All competitors shall sign a statement to the effect that they and their prospective consorts meet the requirements for membership. This statement will be kept on file with an officer designated by the Kingdom.

b. All entrants and prospective consorts must be members on the first day of the month in which the Crown or Coronet Lists occur. In order to qualify, people must be listed in the Registrar's data base as current members, and this requires that membership applications or renewals reach the Registry before the first of the month PRIOR to the month of the tournament. For example, the deadline for a tournament in May would be the last working day of March.

c. If either entrant or prospective consort is in violation of membership requirements, both are subject to dismissal by the Board, nullification of their official acts, and liable to loss of any honors and privileges deriving from having held the Crown or Coronet.

3. RAPIER FIGHTING IN THE SOCIETY

The Board acknowledges period Rapier Combat as an ancillary activity of the Society when property supervised by the Marshals and when approved by individual kingdoms. Rapier Combat may take place within a kingdom only by rules established by the Marshallate of that kingdom and after the approval of those by the Marshal of the Society. The Board directs the Marshal of the Society to formulate guidelines for Rapier Combat within the Society. Rapier Combat, not having been a part of formal tournament combat in the Middle Ages, shall not be a part of formal tournament lists for royal ranks and armigerous titles.

4. SCA COMBAT-RELATED ACTIVITIES

a. Definitions: SCA Combat-Related Activities are defined as Armored Combat, Period Fencing, Combat Archery, Marshaling, Scouting, and Banner Bearing in Combat. Other activities clearly failing within the scope of the above are also considered combat-related activities.

b. Authorization for SCA Combat-Related Activities: A participant in any of the SCA Combat-Related Activities as defined above must be authorized by a marshal warranted and designated by the Earl Marshal of a kingdom, or his representative, as able to authorize individuals in the appropriate activity. The Society Marshal shall define requirements for authorization for all combat related activities and shall place them in the Marshal's Handbook. Kingdoms may define such additional types of authorization (such as weapons forms) as they deem necessary. Authorizations shall be registered with and kept on file by the Minister of the Lists or other designated official of each Kingdom.

c. Waivers for SCA Combat-Related Activities: Waivers for SCA combat related activities are required for participation in these activities. This is NOT the same waiver as the General Membership Waiver. A Waiver for SCA combat-related activities must be on file for each person authorized for a combat-related activity.

d. Combat Authorization Card: A Combat Authorization Card shall be issued to each authorized participant in an SCA combat-related activity. This card shall be presented to the Lists Official at an SCA event to register for such activities and shall establish that the person is authorized and has an SCA Combat-Related Activities Waiver on file with the kingdom. This card must be shown to any marshal or lists official upon request. The Society Marshal shall establish procedures for the notification and registration of authorizations and the issuance of the Combat Authorization Cards.