The Constitution of Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Psi 1
Preamble We, the undersigned, all of whom are students of the University of Kansas, do hereby inaugurate this organization, and adopt the following Constitution, in which we certify as follows: Article I Name The name of the organization shall be the Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Psi. Article II Objective and Purpose The objective of the Chapter shall be to promote an organization of engaged Christian, collegiate men who recognize the importance of a life rooted with Christ in God, who, therefore, foster, encourage, and inspire activities and relationships to promote this end. Their activities shall assist in the development of faithful and energetic Christian leaders within the Lawrence community. As a wholesome Christian organization, members of the Chapter will provide opportunities to develop their faith and serve as positive Lutheran role models in the community. Members of Nu Chapter shall foster an atmosphere of scholarly merit through great habits of study and academic integrity. Members will also serve as campus leaders by being involved and visible students at the University of Kansas and beyond. 2
Article III Membership Section A: Eligibility The following groups are eligible for membership in Beta Sigma Psi: 1. All communicant Lutheran male students enrolled in the University of Kansas who are not members of any secret society with religious intent shall be eligible for membership in this fraternity. 2. Any Lutheran male student enrolled in the University of Kansas shall be eligible for membership with a three-fourths vote of Active Members, with a quorum being present. 3. Any male student enrolled in the University of Kansas, who has expressed explicit interest in developing their relationship with God through the Lutheran faith, shall be eligible for membership with a three-fourths vote of Active Members, with a quorum being present. Section B: Associate Membership Potential new members shall be elected to associate membership by: 1. Three-fourths of Active members, a quorum being present 2. The recommendation of the Rush Chairman, and shall be pledged by a unanimous minus one vote of the Executive Officers. Section C: Initiation Requirements Any Associate Member may be initiated into this Chapter after having fulfilled the following requirements: 1. He shall have signed and completed his associate membership according to the Interfraternity Council (IFC) rules. 2. He shall have complied in all respects with the regulations of this University 3
concerning initiations. 3. He shall have been elected into membership by a three-fourths vote of the Active Members, a quorum being present. 4. He shall have abided by the objectives of the Chapter and the rules governing associate membership as set down in the Chapter By-Laws. 5. He shall undergo a formal initiation and pay all dues required by the National Fraternity of Beta Sigma Psi and the Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Psi. Consideration for initiation will be held at least twice during each school year: the first regular business meeting of each academic semester. Section D: Active Membership All students of the University of Kansas who have satisfied all the requirements for membership set forth in the Constitution of the Chapter, have complied with all school rules for organizational membership, and have been duly initiated into the Chapter shall be termed Active Members and shall enjoy the following rights and privileges: 1. The right to hold Executive Board office. 2. The right to vote and submit motions and resolutions in Chapter meetings. 3. The right to participate in all Chapter activities. Section E: Alumni Membership Alumni membership shall consist of former Active Members of Nu Chapter. Alumni members may return to Active membership if they fulfill the following requirements: 1. He shall be enrolled as an undergraduate student as defined by the University. 2. He shall have been elected back into Active membership by a three-fourths vote of the Active Members, a quorum being present. Alumni attending the University of Kansas shall be charged an appropriate amount for activities attended at the discretion of the chapter. Any member may be removed from this Chapter s active 4
roster and given alumni status by a three-quarters vote of the Active Members, quorum being present. Section F: Honorary Membership Any eligible Lutheran who has distinguished themselves in his/her chosen field or who has extraordinarily aided this Chapter may be elected to honorary membership upon three-fourths vote of the Active Members, a quorum being present. Section G: Special Membership Special members shall consist of faculty, alumni, and pastoral advisors to the Chapter. Section H: Deactivation Any member may be expelled from this Chapter and relieved of his badge by a unanimous minus two vote of this Chapter, all members being present, subject to the approval of the National Council of Beta Sigma Psi at its next regular meeting. In the case the National Council does not concur with the action of this Chapter, the member shall be reinstated. 5
Article IV Elected Positions Section A: Elected Positions The Elected Officials of the Chapter who shall be elected are as follows: President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Rush Chair, Scholarship Chair, Social Chair, Sergeant-at-Arms, External Relations Chair, Judicial Chair, Athletics Chair, Chapter Historian, Membership Educator, Spiritual Chair, and Philanthropy Chair. Section B: Regular Elections Elections shall be held the second to last meeting of the Spring semester. The Australian ballot system shall be used for all regular elections. Each voter will rank the candidates in order that he sees fit. If no one candidate receives a simple majority of the vote, then the lowest vote-getter will be dropped and a vote will be taken again. The lowest vote-getter will continue to be dropped until one candidate has a simple majority of the votes. The vote shall be by secret, written ballot. The President and Sergeant-at-Arms shall make tabulation of the election results, provided that they are not a candidate for the position being voted upon. Section C: Assumption of Duties All newly elected positions shall assume their duties at the first meeting following the elections. Section D: Length of Term All elected officers shall serve for two semesters, or one academic year. Section E: Nomination Procedure The Sergeant-at-Arms will form a list of nominations. This list will consist of incumbents seeking reelection, as well as those made from the floor one meeting before all general elections, or the day of the general elections. Two nominators must back all nominations in order for the nominee to be considered. The Secretary shall post these nominations so that all may observe them until 6
the next meeting. Section F: Qualifications of Nominees These nominees shall be members in good standing with the Chapter and the University. Only those members who will be duly initiated into Beta Sigma Psi at the start of the next semester are eligible to hold Executive Board positions, as defined in the Standing Rules & Legislation. If they are not initiated, it will create a vacancy at that position. In addition, nominees for Executive Board positions must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher or previous semester s GPA of 3.0 or higher. Section G: Vacancies In case any vacancy of office occurs, a special election shall be called to nominate and elect an Active Member to fill the vacancy. This officer shall take office immediately after his election and fulfill the remaining length of the term. Nominations need not be posted one week in advance. If a special election cannot be held immediately, the President may appoint a temporary replacement, upon approval of the Executive Board, until an election can be held. Section H: Appointed Officers Appointed officers shall be defined in the Standing Rules & Legislation and filled by Presidential appointment. All appointed officers must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Board of the Chapter. 7
Article V Meetings Section A: Regular Open Meetings The following guidelines will be used for Regular Open Meetings: 1. Regular Meetings shall be held once a week throughout the academic year on Sunday evenings, unless otherwise announced. 2. Meetings cannot exceed a time limit of ninety minutes. 3. A written excuse must be submitted to the Secretary for early dismissal or absence from a meeting. 4. All members are required to attend all Regular Meetings. 5. Anyone wishing to conduct business may sit in during the Open Meeting. 6. All officers will gather thirty minutes prior to Regular Open Meetings to discuss the agenda and report on the state of the fraternity (SOTF). Section B: Active Meetings The following guidelines will be used for Active Meetings: 1. Active Meetings may be requested by the Advisory Board or any member of the executive board and confirmed upon agreement by three executive officers. 2. Meetings cannot exceed a time limit of seventy-five minutes. 3. Only initiated members of Beta Sigma Psi may attend Active Meetings. Voting is reserved to only those who are currently initiated Active Members on the Chapter s roster. 4. Voting on matters will be allowed provided members have been adequately notified and a quorum is present, or an absentee ballot may be allowed as proctored and by the Secretary. For an absentee ballot to substitute for a quorum, constituents must be well 8
informed by the Secretary. 5. Non-voting members, such as Alumni, pastoral advisor, faculty advisor, alumni advisor, Officers of the National Fraternity, visiting members from other chapters of Beta Sigma Psi, etc., may attend Active Meetings but can be asked to leave by the President. Should a non-voting member refuse to leave after being asked by the President, or if two or more members disagree with the decision, a vote must be taken. The non-voting member shall be removed by a simple majority of the Active Members, a quorum being present. 6. All main motions must be submitted in writing, to the Secretary, before the beginning of new business. Section C: Paper Chapter The following guidelines will be used in the event of a Paper Chapter: 1. If it is known in advance that more than one-third of the membership will not be present for a regular meeting, the President may call a Paper Chapter. 2. Notice must be given at least 24 hours prior to regular meeting time. 3. Officer and committee reports shall be given to the Secretary no later than the regular meeting time. 4. The Secretary shall then compile the reports and distribute minutes within two hours of the Regular Meeting time. 5. No more than three Paper Chapters may be called per semester. Section D: Special Meetings Special meetings may be called at any time at the discretion of the President or upon request of three members. The Secretary or Sergeant-at-Arms shall give all members no less than twelve hours notice of the special meeting, if possible. Section E: Quorum 9
Two-thirds of the Active Members shall constitute a quorum. Section F: Parliamentary Authority The rules of procedure contained in Robert s Rules of Order [Revised] shall govern this Chapter s conduct of meeting in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution or By-Laws of this chapter. 10
Article VI Duties Section A: Duties They shall promote the objectives of this Chapter as set forth in the Constitution and to this end perform all duties required of them by these Standing Rules of the Chapter and Constitution. Every member of the Chapter, Honorary, and Special Members excepted, is required to pay fees, assessments, fines, and regular dues as levied by the Chapter in its Standing Rules. Section B: Suspension of Membership A member can have his membership suspended under the following circumstances: 1. The Executive Board may suspend Active Members and Associate Members from the rights and privileges of membership or associate membership for the following reasons: a. Delinquency payments of dues, fees, assessments, fines, etc. as defined in the Standing Rules & Legislation, shall be sufficient for automatic suspension. b. Habitual disregard for the Constitution and Standing Rules & Legislation of this Chapter. 2. The interpretation of the rules for suspension and the use of these rules are in the hands of the Executive Board. The decisions of the Executive Board are subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Active Members in a meeting, a quorum being present, should the suspended member appeal the action of the Executive Board to the Chapter membership. 3. Suspension of membership will involve the loss of voting, office holding, and activities as determined by the Executive Board. 4. Provisions for reinstatement or recommendation for expulsion of a suspended member shall be made by the Executive Board whenever necessary. 11
5. Suspended members shall assume Alumni Status Section C: Transfer of Membership A member can have his membership transferred under the following circumstances: 1. An Active Member of another Chapter of Beta Sigma Psi in good standing with his former Chapter and currently enrolled in the University of Kansas may transfer his membership to Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Psi with no loss of membership privileges. The transferring member must present a letter from an officer of his former Chapter, confirming that he is an Active in good standing of the National Fraternity and of that Chapter. The transfer is also subject to a threefourths vote of acceptance of the Active Members present in the meeting in which the transfer is present, a quorum being present. 2. All members transferring in from other Chapters will be placed at the end of the Nu Chapter s junior pledge class or at the end of the individual s pledge class, whichever is lower. 12
Article VII The Executive Board Section A: Composition The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Rush Chair, Scholarship Chair and Philanthropy Chair,. The President shall serve as Chairman and call meetings. The President shall act as the tiebreaking vote. Section B: Purpose The Executive Board shall plan and guide the development of the Chapter and make recommendations to the members. Section C: Duties The duties of the Executive Board include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Shall see that the Chapter s purposes are carried out. 2. Shall oversee the administrative structure of the Chapter and ensure that all officers and committees are fulfilling their constituted functions. 3. Shall be in charge of interpreting the rules of suspension and reinstatement and shall initiate such action. 4. Shall meet weekly in order to consider their business. 5. Shall set a permanent meeting time and date at the beginning of the semester. 13
Article VIII Judicial Board A judiciary committee will convene whenever called by the Judicial Chair if disciplinary action is deemed necessary against a member of Nu Chapter. This committee will comprise of the President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President, Sergeant-at-Arms, Pledge Class President, and is headed by the Judicial Chair. Multiple positions may not be held by any member. Matters will be voted on and passed by a simple majority, with the Judicial Chair acting as tiebreaker. If a member of the judicial committee is under review, an alternate will be appointed by the remainder of the committee. Complaints will be brought before the Judicial Chair, unless it is about the Judicial Chair, in which case the President will be informed. Article VIII Amending Procedure This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Active Body, a quorum being present. Proposed amendments must be submitted at a regular Active Meeting and posted for all to observe at least one week in advance of the vote to approve or disapprove the amendments. Article IX Suspension Procedure Any provision of these Standing Rules & Legislation can be temporarily suspended by a three-fourths vote of the Active Body, a quorum being present. 14