National Constitution of Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity
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Constitution & Bylaws: NATIONAL CONSTITUTION OF PI ALPHA PHI FRATERNITY PREAMBLE For the promulgation of the noble purposes of Academics, AsianAmerican Awareness, Brotherhood, Leadership, and Philanthropy, which caused the Fraternity of Pi Alpha Phi to be established in 1929 at the University of California at Berkeley and organized as Pi Alpha Phi National Fraternity, Incorporated under the laws of the State of California, the following Constitution is adopted. ARTICLE I. NAME The name of this international fraternal organization shall be “PI ALPHA PHI FRATERNITY, INC.” ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES Section 1. The purpose of PI ALPHA PHI Fraternity (hereinafter referred to as “The Fraternity”), a California Corporation, will be to establish, maintain, govern, promote and perpetuate a fraternal order. Section 2. The objectives of PI ALPHA PHI Fraternity are to instill, encourage and maintain in all members brotherhood, academic success, leadership, community service, philanthropy, and AsianAmerican awareness, the principles of Pi Alpha Phi, and to support a brotherhood whose members will conduct themselves at all times in accordance with these principles. ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP Section 1. General: The fraternity shall be composed of male individuals who possess good character, dignity, and loyalty who have been duly initiated by an active chapter or by other procedure consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Fraternity. Section 2. Qualifications: Any enrolled male student in good standing of a college or university at which there is a recognized chapter or colony of Pi Alpha Phi may become a member of the fraternity, provided: ● that he is not a member of another fraternity similar in character to Pi Alpha Phi. For purposes of these documents, “similar in character” shall not include a local fraternity or association seeking a charter as a chapter of Pi Alpha Phi or honorary, professional, academic, or trade fraternities. ● He completes a pledgeship normally proscribed by the chapter proposing to initiate him. This pledgeship period may not last longer than 12 weeks. The period of pledgeship may be waived by written approval of the National Secretary. ● The chapter to which his name is proposed shall express confidence in his character and qualifications, including the academic requirements of Pi Alpha Phi, by electing him at a meeting duly called, by vote of its collegiate members upon such vote as its collegiate members shall determine with complete autonomy. ● He is formally initiated into the chapter so electing him. Section 3. Membership Eligibility: The Fraternity shall not discriminate in membership based upon race, color, creed, religion, age, disability, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or national origin. 1 Section 4. The status of members shall be: a. Active Collegiate Members, defined as undergraduate students in good standing at a fouryear institution; b. Graduate Members, defined as graduate students in good standing pursuing an advanced degree at a fouryear institution; c. An Alumnus Member, defined as an individual who has graduated from a fouryear institution and was properly initiated; d. Suspended, as defined in the Bylaws. ARTICLE IV. COMPOSITION OF THE FRATERNITY The Fraternity shall consist of the National Council, active chapters established and existing at recognized institutions of higher learning in the United States of America and Canada, and members as defined in Article III, Section 4. SECTION 1. General: The National Council may establish undergraduate chapters and alumni associations in a manner consistent with procedures described in the National Bylaws. ARTICLE V. NATIONAL COUNCIL Section 1. Name, Role and Powers The National Council shall be the Board of Directors of the Fraternity. The National Council shall be the administrative, executive and judicial head of the Fraternity and shall have, in addition to the powers expressly provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws, the authority to decide all questions regarding the meaning and interpretation of those documents and the authority to adopt such other resolutions, not inconsistent with the Constitution, Bylaws or Ritual of the Fraternity or resolutions or legislation adopted by the National Convention as shall be necessary or appropriate for the welfare and growth of the Fraternity. Section 2. Composition The National Council shall be composed of 7 alumnus members each of whose original undergraduate college class shall have been graduated from a college or university at least 4 years prior to the year of the convention at which a Council member may be elected. Except as provided in Article II, Section 1. (D) of the National Bylaws, members of the National Council shall be elected by the National Convention for a term of two years to expire at the National Convention held two years hence. A Council member may be reelected to one consecutive two year term following his election to the Council. No individual may serve on the National Council for more than four years out of any eight year period. Section 3. Officers The National Council shall be composed of the following officers: The National President, the National Vice President, the National Secretary, the National Treasurer, and (titles of other officers or simply “Directors”). Article VI: THE NATIONAL CONVENTION Section 1. Site and Date The National Council shall select the time and location for each National Convention, to be held annually, 2 giving appropriate consideration to the opportunity for maximum participation by undergraduate and alumnus members and alternating the site among various locations in the United States to the extent that financial considerations permit. Section 2. Composition The term “National Convention” shall refer to the business sessions conducted as provided elsewhere in these documents. The National Convention consists of the National Council and one undergraduate and one alumnus delegate from each active chapter; provided, however, that only delegates properly registered and seated pursuant to the National Bylaws may speak and vote on matters that come before the National Convention. Section 3. Powers The National Convention shall have the authority to (1) adopt resolutions concerning matters of interest to Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity including resolutions to amend, change, modify or revoke any section or language contained in a section or part of the National Constitution and Bylaws; (2) amend, change, modify or revoke any resolution adopted by the National Council; (3) hear and decide any appeals expressly provided for in the National Constitution and Bylaws; (4) elect the members of the National Council. Section 4. Resolutions, Appeals and Amendments (a) All appeals, amendments to the National Constitution or Bylaws or other resolutions to be considered by the National Convention must be submitted in writing to the National Secretary or his designated representative by an active chapter, by the National Council or by an individual in the event of an appeal pursuant to the National Bylaws not less than ninety (90) days prior to the opening date of the National Convention. (1) In the event that the appeal, amendment or other resolution relates to a decision or action by the National Council which is taken less than ninety (90) days prior to the opening date of the National Convention and the presentation is made in a timely manner after notice of the decision or action the presentation shall be considered as being made outside of the ninety (90) day requirement. (b) All appeals, amendments and other resolutions shall be submitted to the active chapters no later than sixty (60) days prior to the opening date of the National Convention. This communication may be accomplished via electronic mail with notice on the national fraternity website. In the event that an appeal, amendment or other resolution falls within the purview of Section 4. (1), the communication shall be submitted as soon as reasonably practicable. (c) Any appeal, amendment or other resolution that is not submitted in accordance with these requirements may be presented to and considered by the National Convention upon the affirmative vote of at least threefourths (75%) of the properly seated delegates at the National Convention. (d) Changes and modifications to resolutions properly submitted and received for consideration that relate to technical aspects or clarifying language may be accepted prior to submitted the resolution to the National Convention provided that such change does not alter the intent or purpose of the original resolution. (e) Any resolution that would change the National Constitution or National Bylaws shall be enacted upon the affirmative vote of twothirds (67%) of the properly seated delegates at the National Convention. Any appeal of a decision by the National Council shall be sustained upon the affirmative vote of threefourths (75%) of the properly seated delegates at the National Convention. Any resolution by the National Convention shall 3 be approved upon a majority vote of fiftyone (51%) of the properly seated delegates. Section 5. Delegates, Eligibility for Seating (a) Notification to chapters of standing: On or before April 1st of each year every active chapter shall be notified by electronic mail of its status by the National Secretary or his designated appointee. “Status” refers to its standing within the national fraternity as that relates to the payment of dues and fees and the filing of all appropriate forms and reports as designated by the National Council. If an active chapter is not in good standing, that chapter may identify an undergraduate and alumnus delegate for the National Convention that year but the delegate(s) may or may not be seated as noted in Section 5, subsection (F). The National Council shall decide upon an appropriate period of time for a chapter that is not in good standing to meet the requirements for good standing; however, that period of time shall end at least thirty (30) days before the opening date of the National Convention. (b) Undergraduate and alumnus delegates from active chapters shall be members of Pi Alpha Phi Fraternity in good standing.