When officers of a national, international or intermediate labor
organization are elected at a convention of delegates who have been
chosen by secret ballot, the structure of representation of the
membership is a matter for the union to determine in accordance with its
constitution and bylaws. There is no indication that Congress intended,
in enacting title IV of the Act, to require representation in delegate
bodies of labor organizations to reflect the proportionate number of
members in each subordinate labor organization represented in such
bodies. Questions of such proportionate representation are determined in
accordance with the labor organization's constitution and bylaws insofar
as they are not inconsistent with the election provisions of the Act.
Congress did not attempt to specify the organizational structure or the
system of representation which unions must adopt. However, all members
must be represented; the union may not deny representation to locals
below a certain size.
