A.A.’s Legacy of Service comes to us from the Twelve Concepts for World Service, as written by A.A.’s co-founder Bill W., and which were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962. The Concepts are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure as it emerged through A.A.’s early history and experience.

The core principle of A.A.’s service legacy is to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

The Twelve Concepts for World Service were written by A.A.’s co-founder Bill W., and were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962. The Concepts are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure as it emerged through A.A.’s early history and experience. The short form of the Concepts reads as follows:

1. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. world
   services should always reside in the collective conscience of
   our whole Fellowship.
2. 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.
3. To insure 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.”
4. 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.
5. Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal”
   ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and
   personal grievances receive careful consideration.
6. 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.
7. The Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness.
8. The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of over-all policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities. Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.
9. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
11. The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern.
12. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government; that, like the Society it serve.

Copyright © 1962
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
All rights reserved

The text of the complete Concepts is published in The A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service (BM-31).

These are the Spiritual Principles of A.A.’s Legacy of Service

1. Ultimate Responsibility: Final responsibility and authority rest with the AA members.
2. Conference Voice: The general service conference represents the collective voice of the movement.
3. Leadership: Trusted service leadership involves guidance rather than governance.
4. Participation: All trusted servants have a right to active participation.
5. Right of Appeal: Minority opinions are always heard and considered.
6. Trustee Planning: The boards carry out long-term planning for the fellowship.
7. Service Responsibility: Operating and custody responsibilities are clearly defined.
8. Scope of Authority: The general service board operates with clear, delegated authority.
9. Good Leadership: Selecting capable leaders is vital to effective service.
10. Balance of Authority: Maintenance of traditional and legal standing remains balanced.
11. Administrators: Qualified staff and committees assist the service boards.
12. Spirit of Tradition: Universal principles—such as humility, honesty, and love—anchor all service work.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A Concepts Checklist provides further discussion points that can be utilized by groups to help guide them in the implementation of our Service Legacy.