2009 National Constitution Amendment Proposals
Proposed additions – underlined Proposed deletions – strikeout line through text
Proposal 1
Proposed amendment submitted by the Senior Vice President Matthew Nicoletta Entire Document Currently, there are no titles or sections (only for articles). Sections are simply labeled by number.
Article I - Name
Section 1: Official Name
Section 2: Permissible Usage
Section 3: Abbreviations
Section 4: Incorporation
Article II - Purpose
Section 1: Definition
Section 2: Statement of Ideals
Section 3: Organization for Charitable Purposes
Article III - Organization
Section 1: Governing Documents
Section 2: Composition
Article IV - Membership
Section 1: Definition
Section 2: Non-Discrimination Policy
Section 3: Definition of Good Standing
Section 4: Eligibility to Hold Offices
Section 5: Membership Voting Requirements
Section 6: Transfers
Section 7: Resignation
Section 8: Discipline of Members by a Chapter
Section 9: Discipline of Members by the National Council
Section 10: Membership Drives
Section 11: Rush and Initiation Requirements
Article V - Grand Chapter
Section 1: Composition
Section 2: Authority
Section 3: Chapter Delegates
Section 4: National Alumni Association (NAA) Delegates
Section 5: NAA Delegate Elections
Section 6: Delegate Eligibility
Section 7: Delegate Voting Rights
Section 8: National Election Voting Rights
Section 9: Travel Reimbursement
Article VI - National Council
Section 1: Composition
Section 2: General Powers and Authority
Section 3: Authority to set Dues and Fees
Section 4: Executive Director
Section 5: Oversight of National Staff
Section 6: Qualifications
Section 7: Officers of Grand Chapter
Section 8: Indemnification
Section 9: Advisory Board
Section 10: National Headquarters
Section 11: Removal of National Officers
Article VII - Election of the National Council
Section 1: Term of Office
Section 2: Nomination Procedure
Section 3: Election Procedure
Section 4: Officer Installation
Section 5: Vacancies
Section 6: Presidential Vacancies
Article VIII - Duties of the National Officers
Section 1: National President
Section 2: Senior Vice President
Section 3: National Secretary
Section 4: Vice President of Finance
Section 5: Vice President of Membership Development
Section 6: Vice President of Chapter Development
Section 7: Vice President of Alumni Development
Article IX - Collegiate Chapters
Section 1: Powers and Authority
Section 2: Responsibilities
Section 3: Bylaws and Governing Documents
Section 4: Naming Convention
Section 5: Inactivity
Section 6: Authority of the National Council to Discipline
Section 7: Chapter Advisors
Section 8: Alumni Advisors
Section 9: Definition of Good Standing
Section 10: Chartering Process
Section 11: Establishment
Section 12: Recognition of Founder's Day
Article X - Alumni Organizations
Section 1: Powers and Authority
Section 2: Responsibilities
Section 3: Chartering Process
Section 4: Bylaws
Section 5: Establishment
Section 6: Naming Convention
Section 7: Authority of the National Council to Discipline
Section 8: Alumni Chapter Officers
Section 9: Alumni Chapter Executive Board Vacancies
Section 10: Definition of Good Standing
Section 11: Recognition of Alumni Associations
Section 12: Alumni Associations Statement of Purpose
Article XI - Chapter Officers
Section 1: Terms of Office
Section 2: Additional Officers
Section 3: Duties
Section 4: Officer Reports
Section 5: President
Section 6: Vice President
Section 7: Secretary
Section 8: Treasurer
Section 9: Initiate Advisor
Section 10: Historian
Section 11: Parliamentarian
Section 12: Officer Transition
Section 13: Vacancies
Article XII - Regions
Section 1: Composition
Section 2: Regional Conferences
Section 3: Regional Committees
Section 4: Regional Committee Delegates
Article XIII - Meetings and Events
Section 1: Grand Chapter Meetings
Section 2: National Council Meetings
Section 3: Collegiate Chapter Meetings
Section 4: Alumni Chapter Meetings
Section 5: Official Events and Activities
Article XIV - National Council Standing Committees
Section 1: Composition
Section 2: Appointment
Section 3: Awards, Scholarship and Emblem Committee
Section 4: Personnel Committee
Section 5: Constitution and Chapter Standards Committee
Section 6: National Development Committee
Article XV - House Corporations and Chapter Housing
Section 1: Prohibitions
Section 2: Incorporation
Section 3: Approval from National Council
Section 4: Insurance
Section 5: Reporting
Section 6: Display of Fraternity Marks
Article XVI - National Finances
Section 1: Dues
Section 2: Induction Fees
Section 3: Alumni Chapter Dues
Section 4: Fiscal Year
Section 5: Accounts
Section 6: Investments
Section 7: Annual Review (Audit)
Section 8: Annual Presentation of Proposed Budget
Article XVII - Chapter Finances
Section 1: Fiscal Year and Budget
Section 2: Charter Fees
Section 3: Dues
Section 4: Accounts
Section 5: Investments
Section 6: Annual Review (Audit)
Article XVIII - Chapter Records and Reports
Section 1: Chapter Member Contact Information
Section 2: New Member Information Form
Section 3: Chapter Officers
Section 4: National Dues
Article XIX - Disciplinary Actions of the National Council
Section 1: Chapter Delinquencies
Section 2: Offenses and Voting Requirements
Section 3: Notification of Disciplinary Action
Section 4: Notice and Procedure
Section 5: Reduction of Disciplinary Actions
Section 6: Definition of a Chapter Not in Good Standing
Article XX - National Awards
Section 1: Distinguished Service Keys
Section 2: Outstanding Chapter Award(s)
Section 3: Other National Awards
Article XXI - Jewelry, Insignia, and the Ritual
Section 1: Jewelry
Section 2: Insignia
Section 3: Ritual
Article XXII - Prohibitions
Section 1: Hazing
Section 2: Alcohol/Illegal Substances at Chapter Events
Section 3: Purchase of Alcohol/Illegal Substances
Section 4: Chapter Risk Management
Section 5: Oversight by National Council
Section 6: Conflicts with Sheltering Institutions Regulations
Section 7: Ownership of Real Property
Section 8: Distribution of Membership Lists
Article XXIII - Parliamentary Authority
Article XXIV - Dissolution
Section 1: National Fraternity
Section 2: Collegiate Chapter
Section 3: Alumni Chapter
Article XXV - Amendments
Section 1: Proposals
Section 2: Submission Guidelines
Section 3: Proposal Review
Section 4: Distribution of Proposed Amendments
Section 5: Approval
Article XXVI - Scope
Intent of Amendment: Adding section titles will help make it easier to locate information within the document.
Proposal 2
Proposed amendment submitted by the Senior Vice President Matthew Nicoletta Entire Document
Active Collegiate Member
Intent of Amendment: Change all occurrences of Active Member to Collegiate Member to avoid confusion between Active vs. Inactive status and Members of Collegiate Chapters (Active or Inactive). Since the proposed change affects every instance of the term Active Member, there are too many with too much context to enumerate here.
Proposal 3
Proposed amendment submitted by the Senior Vice President Matthew Nicoletta
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Members are those that have been inducted into any chapter of Phi Sigma Pi using The Ritual; this membership may only be terminated by expulsion or resignation from the national fraternity. Membership in Phi Sigma Pi may be further defined based on the following classifications:
A. Initiates shall be undergraduate students participating in the Collegiate Chapter's Initiation Program. Upon entering the Collegiate Chapter's Initiation Program, the student must have completed a minimum of one (1) semester or one (1) quarter of college work, must have two (2) semesters or four (4) quarters left as an undergraduate following the initiate semester, and must have at least a 3.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average on a 4.00 scale (where an A= 4.00). Active Members may be further designated based upon entrance into the Chapter, as follows:
B. Active Members in Collegiate Chapters shall be undergraduate students who have completed a Collegiate Chapter's Initiation Program and fulfilled National Requirements. Active Members shall pay to the National Headquarters, via the Collegiate Chapter, the National Dues by the appropriate due dates.
C. There shall be two types of Inactivity: Local and National Inactivity.
1. Nationally Inactive Members shall be Members who have been Active Members but who are not taking any classes that meet at the sheltering institution. A Member who is currently on an accredited or academically recognized co-op, internship, or study abroad program shall be eligible for National Inactivity. Nationally Inactive Members are exempt from paying National dues.
2. Locally Inactive Members are Active Members, with permission from their collegiate chapter, who do not wish to be active in Phi Sigma Pi's affairs. Further status of Inactive Members shall be left to the discretion of the Collegiate Chapter. Locally Inactive Members pay to the National Headquarters, via the Collegiate Chapter, the National Dues by the appropriate due dates.
D. Alumni Members shall be any former Active or Inactive Members who have left or who have graduated in good standing from the sheltering institution of a Collegiate Chapter. Current National Council Members shall only be considered as Alumni Members of Phi Sigma Pi. An Alumni Member shall be designated as an Active Alumni if the Member is a member of an Alumni Chapter or the National Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Pi.
E. Honorary Members shall be individuals who are ineligible to become Active Members of Phi Sigma Pi but who have demonstrated the highest qualities exemplified by Phi Sigma Pi through outstanding service to the fraternity or for their community. Honorary Members may be elected into Phi Sigma Pi by a Collegiate Chapter, an Alumni Chapter, or the National Council, are not required to participate in an Initiation Program, and shall not obtain the status of Active Membership.
F. Founding Members shall be Members who have been recognized by the National Council as the individual(s) responsible for a particular Chapter's founding. A Chapter may have one, more than one, or no Founding Members. Founding Members do not have any additional rights above those Members who are not Founding Members.
G. Charter Members shall be Members inducted in the interval between the signing of the Chapter petition and the induction of the first initiate class. Charter Members do not have any additional rights above those Members who are not Charter Members.
Section 2.
Phi Sigma Pi shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disabled status in admission to, access to, treatment of, or
employment in Phi Sigma Pi's programs and activities.
Section 3.
A Member of a Collegiate Chapter or Alumni Chapter shall be considered in good standing if they meet all of the following requirements:
A. The Member is not currently delinquent in the remittance of Chapter or National dues or fees;
B. The Member is not currently the subject of disciplinary action by the National Council or the respective Collegiate or Alumni Chapter;
C. The Member has met the requirements for attendance and participation set forth by the respective Collegiate or Alumni Chapter. An Alumni Member who is not associated with an Alumni Chapter shall be considered a “Member in good standing” if the Member is not currently the subject of disciplinary action by the National Council.
Section 4.
Only Active Members shall vote or hold office in Collegiate Chapters. Only Active Alumni or Honorary Members shall vote or hold office in Alumni Chapters. Any Member of Phi Sigma Pi in good standing may be a Grand Chapter delegate or be elected to the National Council. Section 5. Phi Sigma Pi Members in good standing may nominate qualified individuals to become Active or Honorary Members. Voting shall be by secret ballot and shall be completed at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the scheduled Formal Induction at a prior called meeting with voting on the Initiates on the agenda. No less than forty-eight (48) hours notice shall be given for this meeting. At least a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Active Members present and eligible to vote at the meeting with quorum shall be required for confirmation.
Section 6.
A Member in good standing may transfer from one Chapter to another Chapter. Transferring Members shall be inducted into the Chapter using The Ritual. Active Membership shall be conferred upon the signing of the Chapter Roll Book.
Section 7.
An Active or Inactive Member in good standing may resign from Phi Sigma Pi. To resign, a Member must submit a hard copy of a letter stating their intent to resign to any Chapter Officer and the letter must be presented to the Chapter during the next business meeting by any Chapter Officer or the resigning member. Upon acceptance of the letter by the Chapter, the membership of the Brother seeking to resign shall be terminated. Former Members who have resigned are not eligible for re-instatement into Phi Sigma Pi without at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval from the Active Members of the Collegiate Chapter and a unanimous vote of the National Council.
Section 8.
An Active or Inactive Member of a Collegiate Chapter may be disciplined by that Chapter. Discipline shall include, but not be limited to, probation, suspension, or expulsion for non-payment of financial obligations, or for conduct unbecoming of a Member of Phi Sigma Pi. Suspension and expulsion shall require at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Active Members of the Chapter. Terms and length of probation shall be left to the discretion of the Chapter. A suspended member may be reinstated at any subsequent meeting by at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Active Members of the Chapter, after the terms of any disciplinary action have been completed.
Section 9.
An Active, Inactive, Alumni or Honorary Member of Phi Sigma Pi may be disciplined by the National Council. Discipline shall include, but not be limited to, being placed on probation, suspended, or expelled for conduct unbecoming of a Member of Phi Sigma Pi by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the National Council. The Member may be reinstated at any subsequent meeting by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the National Council, after the terms of the disciplinary action have been completed.
Section 10.
A) Each Collegiate Chapter shall hold a minimum of two (2) membership drives per academic year, with no more than one (1) membership drive held each quarter or semester. A membership drive consists of a rush period and an initiation period.
B) The rush period begins on the date of the first advertised rush event and ends with the pinning of the Initiates.
C) The initiation period begins with the pinning of the Initiates and ends with the Formal Induction of the new Members.
1) All events planned for or by the Initiates and approved by the Chapter during the membership drive shall be referred to as initiation events.
2) At these initiation events, the expressed purpose shall be education of initiates in accordance with the chapter and national guidelines.
D) The National Council shall have the authority to exempt a Collegiate Chapter from the provisions of this requirement, provided exemption from this requirement shall be in the best interest of the Collegiate Chapter and Phi Sigma Pi.
Section 11.
Each Collegiate Chapter is required to meet the following minimum rush and Initiation requirements:
A. Rush. Each Collegiate Chapter shall, at least,
1. Hold two separate Information Sessions at the beginning of the rush period with the purpose of demonstrating to prospective Initiates both the ideals of Phi Sigma Pi and the requirements of the rush and Initiation processes;
2. Hold two rush events for the purpose of allowing prospective Initiates to become better acquainted with the Active Members.
B. Initiation. Each Collegiate Chapter shall, at least,
1. Hold a minimum five-week Initiation Program with a minimum of five Initiate Meetings;
2. Require the Initiate class to complete one scholarship event, one social event, one service event, and one fundraising event. The purpose of each event should be to demonstrate one or more of the ideals of Phi Sigma Pi;
3. Assign each Initiate to one or more Active Members or active alumni of a Collegiate Chapter. The Active Members or active alumni will serve as examples and sources of guidance to their assigned Initiate throughout the Initiation Program;
4. Introduce the Initiate to the Scholar's Province, and the governing documents of the National Fraternity and the local collegiate chapter;
5. Require all Initiates to learn the Fraternity Songs;
6. Require all Initiates to learn the Fraternity and Collegiate Chapter's History;
7. Require all Initiates to achieve an individual score of at least 80% correct in order to pass the Phi Sigma Pi National Membership Exam
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Definition of Membership
Members are those individuals who have been inducted into Phi Sigma Pi by use of the Ritual Induction Ceremony. Membership may only be terminated by expulsion or resignation from the national fraternity.
Section 2: Membership Eligibility Requirements
Prospective members of Phi Sigma Pi shall be called Initiates. Initiates shall be undergraduate students currently enrolled in a program of study at the sheltering institution who have been asked to enter a Collegiate Chapter’s Initiation Program via the Ritual Pinning Ceremony. Upon entering the Chapter’s Initiation Program the prospective member shall:
A. have completed a minimum of one (1) semester or one (1) quarter of college work;
B. have two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters of prescribed undergraduate study remaining following the Initiation semester; and
C. have earned at least a 3.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale (where an A=4.00)
