The Twelve Concepts

One: Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole fellowship. 

AA: In the midst of the “exuberant success” of early A.A., Dr. Bob became fatally ill and Bill asked, “When Dr. Bob and I are gone, who would then advise the trustees and the office?” The answer, Bill felt, was to be found in the collective conscience of the A.A. groups. Rather than top-down leadership, “The AA groups are to be the final authority; their leaders are to be entrusted with delegated responsibilities only.” This Concept is rooted in Tradition 2 (the ultimate authority is the HP; leaders don’t govern).

Al-Anon: Confusion about roles and responsibilities can affect all our relationships. Our serenity depends on our ability to take responsibility for what is ours, and to let go of the rest (i.e., other people’s lives and work).

Two: The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole Society in its world affairs

AA: For the groups to carry on their primary purpose of working with alcoholics, they delegate their leadership role to the General Service Conference by each electing a GSR to represent them.

Al-Anon: I gain trust by letting go of some responsibilities, and giving them to someone else. This allows others to exercise their initiatives and skills, and I celebrate their accomplishments.

Three: To ensure effective leadership, we should endow each element of  A.A. -the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives - with a traditional "Right of Decision."

AA: If the groups instruct their GSRs in detail, rather than giving them their own right to make decisions, then the area conference is hamstrung waiting for further instructions. “Our entire A.A. program rests squarely upon the principle of mutual trust.”

Al-Anon: Placing our faith in a power greater than ourselves helps us to trust the outcome of the decisions we make. And so we learn to extend the same trust to others (and their decisions).

Four: At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional "Right of Participation," allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.

There is a spiritual reason for the “Right of Participation.” All of us desire to belong. In AA, no members are “second class.” The “Right of Participation” (during voting in the service boards) therefore reinforces Tradition 2, that no member is placed in “ultimate authority” over another.

Al-Anon: Participation is based on mutual respect and gives us the courage to speak when appropriate, the maturity to be silent when needed, and the detachment to listen to other points of view without judgment. 

Five: Throughout our structure, a traditional "Right of Appeal" ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.

The presiding officer makes sure the minority has a second opportunity to present its views even after extensive debate on an issue, followed by a vote in which a “substantial unanimity” is reached: Those opposed are polled individually to see if they wish to speak further to their minority view. And any person in the service structure can petition for redress of a personal grievance directly to the General Service Board, without prejudice or fear of reprisal.

Al-Anon: All opinions must be heard in order to have an informed group conscience (and mutual respect).

Six: The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board.

The trustees have the legal and practical responsibility for the operation of A.A. World Services. Although “our objective is always a spiritual one,” nevertheless our world service is a “large business operation” (involving millions of dollars annually and so on).

Al-Anon: This concept builds on the principles of delegation, authority, and responsibility found in the earlier concepts. No one person can do all things necessary in a relationship or entity. As we work together, we develop some level of trust in others (and ourselves). We also learn to link the responsibility of the job with authority to do it.