Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Beta Chapter Constitution and By-Laws Preamble We, the members Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Beta Chapter, in order to promote a more perfect union among college men; to aid and insist upon the personal progress of its members; to further brotherly love and a fraternal spirit within the organization; to discountenance evil; to destroy all prejudices; to preserve the sanctity of the home; the personification of virtue and chastity of woman; do enact and establish this Constitution for the government of its members. JEWELS Henry A. Callis Nathaniel A. Murray Charles H. Chapman Robert H. Ogle Eugene Kinckle Jones Vertner W. Tandy George B. Kelly Cornell University Ithaca, New York 1906 THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION Each chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is a unit of and subject to the rules and regulations of The General Organization of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Constitutions of chapters should not conflict in any way with the Constitution and By-Laws of the General Organization. No chapter constitution is in effect unless it has been submitted to the office of the Executive Secretary for approval. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the Constitution and By-Laws which follow have been accepted and approved by Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., as provided in the Constitution and recorded in its proceedings on 27 February 2016 (prior Chapter actions). This Constitution is the basic law of the Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and supersedes all previous laws, rules, and regulations. Derek Oliver, Jr. Dezmond Evans President Secretary ____________________ _______________________ 1 ARTICLE I NAME, LOCATION Section 1. The name of this Chapter, a College Chapter, shall be Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Section 2. The Chapter seat is Howard University in the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia. ARTICLE II Membership Section 1. Membership in this Chapter shall be of one class; College Section 2. A member in good standing shall be one who has fulfilled all obligations to his Chapter and to the General Organization. Section 3. Any undergraduate male enrolled at Howard University, in Washington D.C, with at least thirty-one earned credit hours, may be presented as an applicant for membership in this Chapter provided that he is of good character, meets the General Undergraduate Membership requirements, and is presented by a member of the Chapter in good standing. In addition, the general Grade Point Average stipulated by the University must be met. Section 4. A member of a College Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., who wishes to become a member of this Chapter (transfer student) may do so by presenting a letter stating that he is in good standing with the last Chapter with which he was affiliated, making known his intention of becoming affiliated and presenting evidence to show eligibility to become affiliated and presenting evidence to show his ability to become a member of this College Chapter. In lieu of a statement from his Chapter, he may become a member by the process of reinstatement, whenever regulations governing such procedures established by the General organization of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., are in force. 2 ARTICLE III OFFICERS Section 1. The officers of this Chapter shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Historian, Director of Educational Activities, Dean of Membership, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Parliamentarian. The Chapter may elect or cause to be appointed such other officers as may be required. Section 2. All officers of this Chapter to serve the following school year shall be elected in the month of April. The successful candidates shall take office no later that the first regular meeting the following September of the new school semester. Elections for new officers for the following fraternal year must take place in April of said year and a new directory must be submitted via Alphanet.com within 10 days of said elections. Section 3. Restriction for the election of the office of the President: Members receiving the highest number of votes for each office shall be elected for a term of up to one year. The office of the President, shall only be held by a college brother prophyte in the chapter, unless all current prophytes in the chapter have chosen not to run for the office. If there are no prophytes in the chapter the office of the President is restricted to those members who have serve at least on academic year in the chapter. If the previous conditions cannot be met, then the election of the office of the President is open to the general membership of the chapter. After being elected and having served for up to one full year, the President may be re-elected unless scheduled to graduate from Howard University. The President then becomes ineligible for another term as President. Section 3.1 Restriction for the election of the office of the Treasurer: Members receiving the highest number of votes for each office shall be elected for a term of up to one year. The office shall only be held by a college brother prophyte in the chapter, unless all current prophytes in the chapter have chosen not to run for the office. If there are no prophytes in the chapter the office of the Treasurer is restricted to those members who have serve at least on academic year in the chapter. If the previous conditions cannot be met, then the election of the office of the Treasurer is open to the general membership of the chapter. Section 3.2 Restriction for the election of the office of The Dean of Membership: Members receiving the highest number of votes for each office shall be elected for a term of 3 up to one year. The office shall only be held by a college brother prophyte in the chapter, unless all current prophytes in the chapter have chosen not to run for the office. If there are no prophytes in the chapter the office of the Dean of Membership is restricted to those members who have serve at least on academic year in the chapter. If the previous conditions cannot be met, then the election of the office of the Dean of Membership is open to the general membership of the chapter. ARTICLE IV STANDING COMMITTEES Section 1. There shall be seven standing committees, namely: The Executive Committee, Management Committee, Fund Raising, Programs, Brotherhood and Social, Community Service and Pan-Hellenic (In addition there may be the need for committees for large scale events such as Alpha Week, Beta Week, or then Annual Brother to Brother Conference). Section 2. The standing committees shall be constituted as follows: (a) The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The President shall serve as Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee will be responsible for the executive decisions of the Chapter. (b) All vacancies occurring between the annual elections of at-large members of the Executive Committee shall be filled by special election. The President of the board may appoint a temporary at-large member to fill the vacancy until the special election is held. The special election shall be held within a period not more than sixty (60) days. Notice of the special election shall be carried in the call for the meeting immediately preceding the special election. Section 3. The duties of the standing committees shall be as follows: (a) The Executive Committee shall exercise the authority of bringing to the Chapter meeting for action recommendations on the general affairs and programs of the Chapter. The Board shall have the powers of the general body in emergencies which necessitate action between Chapter meetings. All such actions taken by the Board in such emergencies must be reported to the next Chapter meeting. The Executive Committee members shall act as trustees of the Chapter, 4 responsible to the Chapter. The President shall convene the Board when the general affairs of the Chapter warrant consideration by the Board between 7 Chapter meetings. The Chapter is the sovereign body. (b) The Management Committee shall consist of all of the elected officials documented on AlphaNet.com and submitted to Nationals. The committee will be responsible for executing their individual responsibilities along with updating the Executive Committee on progress and execution. (c) The Fundraising Committee shall submit to the Chapter for approval all ideas in efforts of raising money for the chapter and or other programs. The Committee will also submit a schedule of events and a plan of action for raising money. All transactions are reviewed at the discretion of the Executive committee. (d) The Programs Committee shall plan programs for meetings of the Chapter at intervals determined by Chapter business agenda. In addition, the Committee shall recommend to the Chapter for approval, other programs of the Chapter interest and concern, which are in keeping with the objectives and policy if the Fraternity. Any such recommendations of programs which may involve financing must be accompanied by detailed budget analysis. (e) The Brotherhood and Social Committee shall be responsible for submitting a calendar of events for the Chapter on a month to month basis, and for recommendations of the major social activities of the Chapter as the Committee becomes aware of such events. All events accompanied by a logistical outline must be pre-approved by the Executive Committee before they are implemented. (f) The Community Service Committee shall be responsible for planning, preparation, and running of all community service events. The Committee will submit an agenda at the beginning of the fall semester and will bring all new projects to the Chapter as they come up.