Daily Traditions · one month, one Tradition
April
Tradition 4 · 30 readings
Tradition 4
"Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole."
Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
April 1
But Government, No
the threat
April 2
That Powerful Minority
before the tradition
April 3
No Other Authority
the threat today
April 4
Nobody Was Asked
how a group breaks it
April 5
The Sheet on the Table
how it gets captured
April 6
The Letter and the Spirit
the threat
April 7
A Town-Meeting Democracy
before the tradition
April 8
Those Groups Ought to Be Consulted
the threat today
April 9
Rule No. 62
how a group breaks it
April 10
A Center of Service
how it gets captured
April 11
The World Is Waiting
the threat
April 12
Every Group Argument
before the tradition
April 13
Paramount
the threat today
April 14
Full of Wisdom
how a group breaks it
April 15
Improve on Our Methods
how it gets captured
April 16
The Whole of New York State
the threat
April 17
Dutiful Children
before the tradition
April 18
Who Holds the Link
the threat today
April 19
A Bare Majority
how a group breaks it
April 20
Run the A.A. Affairs
how it gets captured
April 21
In Every Group
the threat
April 22
Suggestive Only
before the tradition
April 23
Everybody's Book
the threat today
April 24
The Same Night
how a group breaks it
April 25
One Group's Yes
how it gets captured
April 26
Preoccupied With Their Own Affairs
the threat
April 27
Directly Accountable
before the tradition
April 28
Never Acts of Government
the threat today
April 29
Voted Away
how a group breaks it
April 30
Continuous Effectiveness
how it gets captured
JanuaryTradition 1 · liveFebruaryTradition 2 · liveMarchTradition 3 · liveAprilTradition 4 · liveMayTradition 5 · liveJuneTradition 6 · liveJulyTradition 7 · liveAugustTradition 8 · liveSeptemberTradition 9 · liveOctoberTradition 10 · liveNovemberTradition 11 · liveDecemberTradition 12 · live
Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).