The problem
Clubs are asked to show their constitution meets the governing body's model rules for affiliation, for funding, or before changing rules at the AGM. A volunteer secretary comparing a 20-page constitution clause by clause with 30 pages of model rules can spend 6 hours on it, and missed differences surface later when a funder or the governing body asks.
What the AI does
Claude compares documents loaded together in one chat on every plan, the free one included. The secretary uploads the club's constitution and the governing body's model rules or required clauses and asks for a table of every difference: missing clauses and different wording on membership, voting, quorum, dissolution and safeguarding, with clause numbers in both. The committee reviews the table against the documents, agrees changes and takes them to a general meeting as the constitution requires. No members' details go in.
A worked example
A cricket club in Somerset with 150 members is applying for a grant that asks for a constitution in line with the governing body's model. The volunteer secretary uses Claude's free plan to compare the two before the committee meeting.
Before
About 6 hours of a volunteer's time comparing documents clause by clause
After
About 2 hours, including checking every difference at the source
What it's worth
A one-off governance check rather than a monthly saving: about 4 hours of a volunteer secretary's time each time the constitution is reviewed. The free plan handles documents of this length; Pro, about $17£13€15A$25C$24 to $20£15€18A$29C$28 a month, is only needed if usage limits get in the way.
How to set it up
- Use Claude's free plan; Pro is $17 (about $17£13€15A$25C$24) a month billed annually if usage limits get in the way.
- Upload the constitution as last adopted and the governing body's current model rules or required clauses.
- Ask for a table of every difference, with clause numbers in both documents, and a list of required clauses that are missing.
- Check each row against the documents and agree the changes at committee.
- Take the changes to a general meeting as the constitution requires, then send the adopted version to the governing body or funder.
What goes wrong
- Claude can miss a difference that matters, such as a quorum or notice period. Check each row against both documents.
- Some model rules set minimum requirements rather than wording to copy. Ask the governing body if unsure what must match.
- Changing a constitution usually needs a vote at a general meeting with notice. Nothing changes until members adopt it.
- Keep members' names and contact details out of the upload; only the two documents are needed.