Congress will take you, but not the League

From the ARRL Articles of Association and the By-Laws:
Article 11 states:
"No person shall be eligible for the office of Director, Vice Director, President, Vice President, or Treasurer who has not been a Full member of the League for at least four continuous years immediately preceding nomination and throughout the subsequent term of office, nor shall any person be eligible who has not held continuously during that period a valid authorization as a radio amateur in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the United States. No person shall be eligible for, or hold, the office of Director, Vice Director, President or Vice President whose business connections are of such nature that he could gain financially through the shaping of the affairs of the League by the Board, or by the improper exploitation of his office for the furtherance of his own aims or those of his employer. The primary test of eligibility under this Article shall be the freedom from commercial or governmental connections of such nature that his influence in the affairs of the League could be used for his private benefit."

And, under By-Laws:
General Provisions As to Officers and Directors:
"13. No person shall be President, Vice‑President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director or Vice Director of the League unless, at the time of nomination, he has reached his 21st birthday and is a Full member of the League."

There is no reference in the Articles or By-Laws where there is a mention that a Director candidate has to have a Technician or higher class of license. Dave has indicated to me that the Articles and By-Laws govern. His statement was in error under the current Articles and By-Laws.

So, if you're a Novice, and meet the other printed requirements, you can run for Director or Vice-Director.

However, if you want to run for Section Manager:

Under Rules and Regulations of the ARRL Field Organization, item 4 states:
"Any candidate for the office of Section Manager must be a resident of the section, a licensed amateur of Technician class or higher, and a Full member of the League for a continuous term of at least two years immediately preceding receipt of a petition for nomination and throughout the subsequent term of office."

As far as the Notice license, the ARRL has also proposed creating a new class of license that would in effect resurrect the Novice license with updated privileges. I can't remember if the FCC killed this proposal yet or it's still floating around somewhere with the rest of the outstanding proposals before the FCC.