The American Kennel Club is a “club of clubs”, and not a club of individuals. There are over 500 clubs that meet AKC membership requirements and have duly elected or appointed Delegates to represent them at quarterly meetings of the Delegate Body. Each Delegate functions as a representatives of his or her AKC Member Club in voting on matters coming before the Delegate Body and electing from amongst their membership the thirteen individuals who serve on AKC’s Board of Directors. Under the Charter and Bylaws of The American Kennel Club, “the Delegate Body shall have sole power to make the Rules governing dog shows and field trials and the clubs or associations formed to conduct them.”