SECTION 1. Any officer of a Local Union, or of a branch, section, or division thereof, who fails or refuses to adhere to, or carry out, the instructions, directions, or decisions of the Local Executive Board or of the Local Union or of the International Executive Council, or who acts in violation of the Constitution, may be suspended forthwith by the Local Executive Board, or by the International Executive Council. Within five days of such suspension, the suspended officer shall be given a written statement of the reasons for his/her suspension, and within fifteen (15) days thereafter, he/she shall be given the opportunity to appear and explain his/her conduct to such Board or Council. He/she shall have the right to call any member of the Local Union as a witness and shall have the right to cross-examine any witness or any member of the Local Union or of the International Executive Council who speaks against him/her. A stenographic record shall be made of the proceedings of such hearing, a copy of which shall be furnished to the suspended officer. Upon the conclusion of such hearing the Board or Council shall decide whether the evidence warrants removal of the officer and shall either reinstate the accused to his/her office or remove him/her from his/her office, or may take other appropriate action. The officer thus removed may follow the appellate procedure set forth in ARTICLE XXII.