Constitution of Phi Chi Pre-Medical Society, Incorporated. Draft 1 April 19, 2015

Transcription

1 Constitution of Phi Chi Pre-Medical Society, Incorporated Draft 1 April 19, 2015

2 Table of Contents Article I Name and Symbols... 1 Article II Purpose... 1 Article III Organization... 1 Article IV Charters... 1 Article V Grand Chapter... 2 Article VI Pre-Medical Chapters... 3 Article VII Meetings... 5 Article VIII Membership... 6 Article IX Elections... 7 Article X Revenue... 7 Article XI Amendments... 7 Article XII Dissolution... 7

3 ARTICLE I Name and Symbols SECTION 1: This society shall be known as Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity. a. This society may be referred to as Phi Chi. SECTION 2: All symbols and insignias shall be identical to those of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, Incorporated as given by the Constitution and Statutes of said organization. a. Where necessary, Phi Chi Medical Fraternity will be replaced with Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity. ARTICLE II Purpose SECTION 1: The purpose shall be to encourage and support the pre-medical interests and pursuits of members and contribute to good of others. ARTICLE III Organization SECTION 1: The Grand Chapter of Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity shall be the supreme governing body as hereinafter provided. SECTION 2: The Active Chapters shall be those established in regularly incorporated and accredited colleges and universities as hereinafter provided. SECTION 3: All enactments of the Grand Chapter shall be accomplished according to commonly accepted parliamentary law procedures. No amendment to the Statutes may be enacted which is in conflict with its comparable Constitutional Article unless such conflict has been previously removed by prior and proper amendment. ARTICLE IV Charters SECTION 1: A charter may be granted for an active chapter of the Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity, Inc., upon petition of no less than twelve (12) members, of a regularly incorporated college or university. A charter shall only be granted in accordance with the following conditions: a. The petition shall be transmitted to the Pre-Medical Fraternity Grand Chapter and Pre-Medical Society Committee of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity with all information necessary for full and thorough knowledge of the applicants and of the standards, resources and activities of the college or university in which it is proposed to establish a new chapter. b. Upon receipt of a petition, the Pre-Medical Fraternity Grand Chapter and Pre- Medical Society Committee shall make a full and speedy examination of the merits of the petition. The Pre-Medical Society Committee or Pre-Medical Fraternity Grand Chapter may, if deemed necessary, send one of their 1

4 members or a designated member of the Society to personally investigate the petitioners and the college wherein they propose to establish a chapter. c. A simple majority approval of the Grand Chapter and unanimous approval of the Pre-Medical Society of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity. ARTICLE V Grand Chapter SECTION 1: The supreme legislative power of the Fraternity shall be vested in a Grand Chapter of Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity. a. Regular sessions shall be held at least once a year and at such time and place, if feasible, as shall be recommended by the preceding session. It shall be composed of delegates from active chapters, alumni, and members of the Pre- Medical Society Committee of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity. 1. The delegate to the Grand Chapter from each active chapter shall be the sitting President of the active chapter. In the event that the President is unable to attend, a Vice President shall attend in the President s stead. 2. Any alum may attend sessions of the Grand Chapter but will not wield any legislative power. b. There shall be no special session of the Grand Chapter but regular sessions may be postponed until some future date by the officers of the Grand Chapter for due cause or justifiable reason for the benefit of the Fraternity. SECTION 2: A simple majority of delegates of active chapters shall constitute a quorum. SECTION 3: Meetings of the Grand Chapter shall be led by the delegate from the active chapter chosen at the preceding Grand Chapter meeting for this purpose. If no active chapter has been chosen for this purpose, the delegate from the most senior chapter present shall head the meeting. SECTION 4: The Grand Chapter has the power to: a. To affect its own organization, to elect its officers, appoint committees, and to adopt and enforce rules for its government and procedure. b. To grant charters to active and alumni chapter as herein provided. c. To revoke the charter of any active or alumni chapter and recover without legal due process all archives, paraphernalia and other property of the Fraternity, including surplus chapter funds and other tangible assets for custodianship; to suspend a chapter from the exercise of any or all of its powers and privileges and to punish any chapter, officer or member as may be deemed necessary for the welfare of the Fraternity. This requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority. d. To provide by Statute or resolution for the creation and disbursement of the revenues of the Fraternity. 2

5 e. To provide by Statute or resolution for the regulation of the officers, chapters and members of the Fraternity and to define their respective duties and privileges. f. To alter and amend this Constitution as hereinafter provided. g. To enact, subject to this Constitution, such laws, rules and regulations necessary to promote the welfare of the Fraternity, its chapters, officers and members. SECTION 5: All enactments of the Grand Chapter shall be accomplished according to commonly accepted parliamentary law procedures. No amendment to the Statutes may be enacted which is in conflict with its comparable Constitutional Article unless such conflict has been previously removed by prior and proper amendment. ARTICLE VI Pre-Medical Chapters SECTION 1: Pre-Medical Chapters shall be known by the name of the established college or university where the chapter is chartered. SECTION 2: The chapters of the Society shall not become incorporated as chapters, since they are a component of the National Society, which is incorporated. SECTION 3: The elected officer positions of active chapters shall be: a. President, Internal Vice President, External Vice President, Judge Advocate, Secretary, Treasurer, and two (2) Representatives. b. Additional officers as provided for in the By-Laws of the chapters and not prohibited by the By-Laws of the Society. SECTION 4: Officer positions may be held by active members of the respective chapter. a. A chapter may set forth additional requirements for these positions provided that they are in compliance with the By-Laws of the Society. b. All officers of the chapter shall be eligible for re-election. SECTION 5: Officers shall be elected for at most a period of one year from the last meeting of the collegiate year to the next. a. Additional elections may be held at such times provided by the By-Laws of the chapters provided they are not in conflict with the By-Laws of the Society. SECTION 6: Should an officer no longer be able to fulfill the duties of the office, an interim election will be held at an active body meeting no less than one month after said officer vacates the position. SECTION 7: An officer may be recalled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of active members present at any meeting. SECTION 8: The duties of the offices of the active chapters: 3

6 a. President: 1. Shall be the official head of the chapter and shall reside at all sessions of the chapter and exercise general supervision over the members and committees of the chapter. a. As head of the active chapter, the President s approval is required for all official actions of the chapter. b. A presidential veto may be overridden by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a chapter meeting. 2. Shall, in case of a tie, cast the deciding ballot except in elections. 3. Shall represent the active chapter in all Grand Chapter meetings as herein provided. b. Internal Vice President: 1. Shall be acting President in the temporary absence or disability of the President, except in Grand Chapter meetings. 2. Shall be the successor of the Presidential office in the event of vacation or permanent absence or disability of the President. 3. Shall be tasked with supervising internal affairs of the active chapter and granted with powers to affect changes that are necessary and proper to carry out the duties of the office in accordance with the By- Laws of the Chapter and the By-Laws of the Pre-Medical Society. c. External Vice President 1. Shall be tasked with supervising external affairs of the active chapter and granted with powers to affect changes that are necessary and proper to carry out the duties of the office in accordance with the By- Laws of the Chapter and the By-Laws of the Pre-Medical Society. 2. Shall be the secondary delegate to Grand Chapter meetings in the President s absence. d. Secretary 1. Shall set down in a durable book the minutes of the chapter and transact all correspondences. 2. Shall establish and maintain a system to record active member attendance to chapter meetings and events. 3. Shall serve as a member of all appointed committees. 4. Collect from the treasurer all money due from the members to be paid to the National Society and remit the same to the National Secretary Treasurer as prescribed by the By-Laws of the Society. 5. Shall sign all documents and perform such other duties as may be delegated by the President or by enactment of the chapter, conduct the office in accordance with the official Uniform System of Chapter Accounting as prescribed by the By-Laws of the Phi Chi Medical Society and promptly supply the Grand Chapter and Pre-Medical Committee, on proper forms, all official information requested in addition to information concerning the state of the chapter and its relation to its members and officers. 6. Shall supply a chapter letter for each issue of Phi Chi Chronicles. e. Treasurer 4

7 1. The treasurer of the active chapter shall collect and receive all money due the chapter from its members on its local accounts, keep an accurate written record of all the transactions of this office in conformity with the official Uniform System of Chapter Accounting as prescribed by the By-Laws of the Phi Chi Medical Society and report same to the Grand Chapter and Pre-Medical Society Committee on forms provided for that purpose. f. Judge Advocate 1. Shall be the parliamentarian of the chapter, be competently informed on the By-Laws and regulations of the Society, By-Laws of the chapter and Robert s Rules of Order. 2. Shall be the court of last resort in the chapter in the matter of interpretation of the By-Laws of the chapter and their applications. 3. Shall direct the President in official conduct and correct any violation or attempted violation of the By-Laws. Appeals of the Judge Advocate s decision shall be to the Pre-Medical Society Committee. g. Representatives 1. Shall be in charge of formal communication between the active body and officers. 2. Shall release a detailed newsletter containing pertinent information from each official active meeting. 3. Shall be the spokespeople for the active body. SECTION 9: A chapter is delinquent if there are less than five (5) members in good standing (i.e., paid their Registration Fee and have been properly reported to the Central Office.), if the reports to the Central Office are in arrears, or if the chapter is found to be non-compliant with the By-Laws of the Society by the Pre-Medical Society Committee. ARTICLE VII Meetings SECTION 1: Active chapters will hold no less than one meeting per month of the collegiate academic year. a. The President may postpone a regular meeting for a period of no more than two weeks from the scheduled date, and the Secretary will notify all members of pertinent information. b. Special meetings may be held provided the Secretary gives at least twentyfour hours notice to active members. SECTION 2: A quorum of a majority of chapter officers is required to conduct official chapter business. SECTION 3: A majority of those present at any regular chapter meeting shall be sufficient to determine the attitude or decision of the chapter in any case where the By- Laws of the Society does not require a greater majority. 5

8 SECTION 4: The order of procedure of chapter meetings shall be as follows: Call to Order Roll Call Read and Adoption of Minutes of Last Meeting Reports of Officers Reports of Committees Reading of Correspondences Unfinished Business New Business Election and Installation of Officers Adjournment a. The order of business may be changed by a majority vote of the active members present. ARTICLE VIII Membership SECTION 1: All candidates for membership must fill out the appropriate forms as provided by the Grand Chapter. SECTION 2: An undergraduate member is defined as a student who: a. Is in good standing with the undergraduate institution where the charter for the chapter is held. b. Has completed all appropriate requirements for membership set forth by the chapter. SECTION 3: An honorary member is defined as faculty or staff of the Undergraduate Institution working in a mentoring capacity within a chapter of the pre-medical society or any previous member of Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity who graduated as an active member of the chapter. a. Honorary members are not subject to the yearly dues and fees required. SECTION 4: No chapter may restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or military involvement. SECTION 5: A delinquent member may be removed from a chapter by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of members of said chapter present at any meeting. a. Delinquency may be defined as, but is not limited to, any of the following: 1. Persistent intoxication that interferes with duties and responsibilities as an active member. 2. Criminal activity. 3. Fraud. 4. Conduct that is inconsistent with the expectations of a future member 6

9 of the medical community. 5. Furnishing illicit substances to minors. 6. Conduct that may harm, result in injury to, or endanger any individual. b. Disciplinary action may be taken prior to removal of a member at the discretion of the chapter. ARTICLE IX Elections SECTION 1: A quorum of a majority of active members is required to hold elections. SECTION 2: Elections for officer positions shall be held at least once per academic year. Additional elections may be provided for in a chapter s By-Laws. SECTION 3: An active member may occupy at most one officer position. ARTICLE X Revenue SECTION 1: No chapter may own real estate. SECTION 2: A registration fee of one hundred (100) USD shall be required of every new active member to cover National Society dues. a. The chapter treasurer must send all registration monies to the Central Office of Phi Chi along with the appropriate registration forms within five (5) days of receipt. SECTION 3: A chapter may set additional fees at its own discretion. ARTICLE XI Amendments SECTION 1: This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at a Grand Chapter meeting. SECTION 2: Chapter by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at any active meeting. ARTICLE XII Dissolution SECTION 1: In the event of dissolution of a chapter, the Grand Chapter shall decide the fate of all resources. SECTION 2: In the event of dissolution of the Phi Chi Pre-Medical Fraternity, Phi Chi Medical Fraternity shall decide the fate of all resources of the society. 7