Pi Sigma Alpha Xi Chapter Constitution

 National Political Science Honors Society

 

Article I--Purpose

 

1.      To promote scholarly achievement in the area of Political Science by recruiting members in high academic standing (at least a 3.0 GPA and at least 15 credits in Political Science). Official membership requirements may be dismissed if the individual displays strong activism in the organization. These same individuals will not be able to be a member of the national organization but will be awarded special membership in the local chapter.

2.      To represent the needs and interests of students enrolled in political science, the undergraduate student body of the University of Pittsburgh, administration, faculty, and other members of the community as well as other outside organizations interested in political science.

3.      To initiate, develop, and maintain programs and services that meet the academic, social, economic, and personal needs and interests of the student body at the University and the surrounding community.

4.      To stimulate and facilitate communication and interaction with the members of the student body, the University community and the surrounding community in Pittsburgh.

5.      To allocate all monies (i.e. grants or membership fees) in a fair and equitable manner, and utilize these monies so that the above functions may be fulfilled.

 

Article II--Standing Committees

 

1.      Financial/Allocations Committee

 

·        The chairman is to be the treasurer

·        A monthly report is to be given on the funds of the organization

·        The committee will be in charge of all the formal financing responsibilities (i.e. grants, SGB requests etc…)

·        Fundraising will be under the jurisdiction of the Fundraising committee

·        Any time organizational money is to be used, a proposal is to be made to the Committee and then passed onto the whole organization to be voted upon. At either level, vetoes of the proposals can be made.

·        Membership will be $35 ($25 for formal membership, and $10 extra fee for miscellaneous projects—“fun events,” induction ceremony, etc.). The $25 fee is to be paid only once.

·        Optional extra $10 fees may be instituted following a proposal to the organization.

2.      Fundraising committee

·        To raise money for extraneous activities, projects, food, memorabilia, and the like for the organization.

·        All proposals will be directed to the financial committee for a vote and be included in the monthly report given by the Financial/Allocations Committee.

3.      Publicity Committee

·        This committee will be designated the tasks of recruitment, public relations, advertising, press releases, and any other duties decided upon by successive administrations

·        The committee shall designate someone to serve as a press person.

4.      Web Page Committee

·        This committee will be in charge of constructing, maintaining, and updating the web page for the organization as needed and solicit more space when necessary. The committee will also be in charge of e-mail distribution lists of the organization.

5.      Programming Committee

·        This committee will diligently engage in activities, formulate proposals for organizational programs, follow them up and implement them.

·        The committee will solicit individuals for the implementation of the programs from other committees within the organization.

·        Proposals should include activities that are conducive to the organization’s integrity and purpose (it should maintain a positive image of the organization through activities associated with political science).

·        Programs can be co-sponsored with other organizations on campus.

·        Proposals of programs should include the financial obligation to the formulated program and details such as room reservations, who is involved, when it is to be held, etc.

·        The proposal is to be voted upon by the whole organization.

6.      Ad hoc committees will be constructed by the five officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian) or by any member of the organization who submits a proposal to be voted upon before the organization.

7.      Community Service Committee

·        This committee will be associated with tasks in tutoring, community involvement, outreach programs, and working with the local high schools.

·        The purpose will be to make Pi Sigma Alpha well known throughout the university and surrounding community.

8.      Membership Committee

·        The advisor may serve on this committee to oversee prospective member’s qualifications.

·        The committee shall coordinate the membership recruitment efforts of the society in two annual membership drives.

·        The Committee shall designate one individual to work with the department on issues of alumni outreach.

 

Article III--Membership

 

·        Formal membership requires a 3.0 GPA and at least 15 credits in Political Science

·        All officers must be formal/national members. Individuals must at least be a part-time student at a university

·        A probationary period will be instituted for new members to evaluate the individual’s activities within the organization.

·        Formal induction ceremonies for national membership will be in the Fall semester, in and around midterm examination period with Thanksgiving Break as the limit.

·        Members that are inducted following the Formal ceremony will simply receive their certificates and other organizational memorabilia at a meeting. No extra ceremony will be constructed due to the extra financial burden of implementing it.

1.      Informal membership (XI chapter membership) will be contingent on whether the individual is active in the organization

·         GPA and credit requirement can be waived if members prove to be active and supportive of the organization

2.      Only Two (2) Honorary National Members will be issued by the chapter each year as proscribed by the national office of Pi Sigma Alpha.

a.      The first will be given to an individual who has contributed significantly to the greater Pittsburgh Community or to the University Community.

b.      The second will be given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of political science.

                                                              i.      The chapter has created the Francis Newton Thorpe Award to honor its most distinguished teaching faculty to whom it awards a national membership.

                                                            ii.      Other distinctions may be amended to this document.

 

Article IV--Removal of Members or the Limitation of Rights

 

1.      Officers will investigate the matter first behind “closed doors”—the entire organization will not be included at this point.

·        The panel of officers will be deemed as a Fact-Finding Committee to determine if removal is probable and valid.

2.      The member in question will be interviewed by the Fact-Finding Committee

3.      If removal is found to be necessary, the issue is brought up before the organization. A 2/3 vote by the organization is needed to limit or remove a member’s powers within the organization.

·        A presentation is needed before the organization in written or oral form.

4.      Removal can be of the following reasons:

·        Misallocating of funds

·        Not upholding the responsibilities designated to the individual by the organization

5.      Upon removal, the individual receives at least his/her "activities" fee back.

 

 

Article V--Term of Office

 

·        Starts at the beginning of the summer term and ends at the final day of the following spring term (officers).

·        For a Chairpersons term see Article VI, Section 6

Article VI--Officer Position and Duties

·        The five positions will be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian

·        Duties expressly written in the constitution are to be adhered to in every degree. Other duties can be added but the officers are not confined to them unless so ordered by an agreement by all of the other officers.

1.      President

·        The position will have the duties of being the sole organizer of the chapter, symbolic head, good representative, he/she will oversee the smooth running of the organization, must exemplify the purpose of the organization, he/she will set the agenda for the general meetings, must motivate members for activism, will be the main contact point for other members and must be impartial towards the carrying out of programs.

2.      Vice President

·        He/she will assist the president when the president cannot perform his/her duties (i.e. removal, absentee, etc.), be with the president when meeting higher officials of the university or community, reserve rooms for meetings, share the task of being a communication point with the president, be involved in relations with other organizations (i.e. cosponsors on PSA behalf), and will check the organizations mailbox and inform all the members of any new information.

3.      Secretary

·        He/she will be in charge with taking minutes and handing copies to the other officers and Web Page committee, write down primary motions, assign the floor, take votes, keep a log of sign-in sheets of meetings and programs, and maintain a reserved office space for the organization.

4.      Treasurer

·        He/she will maintain contact with the secretary in the Political Science Department in charge of budgetary matters, hand out a monthly report to the organization at the end of the month for that month (reports must always be given whether or not money was spent, and receipts should always be included in the report).

5.      Historian

·        This will be an archival position. The historian may appoint a person to fulfill his/her duties when unable. He/she will video tape all programs, work with the media center for any other needs, choose a permanent assistant if needed or wanted (picture taking) to assist in media coverage, run down the minutes at every meeting and go over what issues which are still open, he/she will store the pictures and videos in an organized manner.

·        All pictures must have a date and the name of the event on the back.

·        Place for the storage of the materials will be determined by the administration.

6.      Chairpersons

·        Selection of chairs will result from an election by committee in the Fall Semester. A chair’s term will begin right after election and carry over to the following summer until the next Fall Semester committee election.

·        Chairs will uphold the purpose of their committees

7.      All officers and Chairpersons will keep in contact over summer break via e-mail or the phone.

Article VII--Meetings

1.      Will be referenced to Robert’s Rules (an amended copy will be included with the constitution and any conflicts between the constitution and Robert’s Rules, the constitution wins out and should be upheld)

2.      The agenda is to be given at the outset of the meeting with attention given to issues still open from pervious meeting(s).

3.      A general meeting should be held at least every 2 weeks.

4.      A quorum will be reached when there are at least 10 members or potential members.

5.      Committee Chairpersons and Officers (or in certain cases, a representative) should be present at every meeting.

6.      Officers are allowed 3 TOTAL absences per semester, only two of which can consecutive.  More than two consecutive absences will be grounds for removal of office

7.      Valid excuses may be at the discretion of the organization. No warnings on this issue are needed since the constitution is representative of that.

8.      The meetings must be run a democratic manner.

9.      Extra meetings such as Officer meetings or Committee meetings are not mandatory but are highly recommended. These meetings will be at the discretion of the officers and chairs.

Article VIII--Advisor

·        Duties and responsibilities of the Advisor will be clarified when needed during every administration

 

Article IX--Elections/Voting Procedures

 

1.      Elections will begin in the first week of April—nominations, or one week prior to the election ceremony. The actual date will be determined at a general meeting.

2.      The nomination ballots will allow voters to select 3 individuals from the organization for each position. Individuals can be nominated for more than one position. There shall be an additional meeting between the Nomination Day and Election Day to announce the positions that the nominees will run.

3.      An optional speech may be given by the nominees for their respective positions

4.      A quorum for the Nomination Day and Election Day will be 3/5 of the organization.

5.      People who do not show up for either day (absentee ballots) must e-mail Nominations or Electoral votes to all of the officers the day before and the e-mail should be brought by the officers to the actual day of nominating/voting.

6.      The advisor will be the tie breaker

7.      2/3 vote is only needed for ratifying the constitution, amending the constitution, and limiting or removing a member’s rights within the organization

8.      In case of special elections, a mandatory date must be decided upon as soon as possible. Normal election procedures will be in effect following that point.

9.      In case of an open presidential seat, the vice president will assume the presidential seat and an election will be needed to fill the open vice presidential seat.

Article X--Voters

1.      Voters will include active members (chapter and formal/national members). Honorary members are excluded from all voting processes due to the conditions of their membership.

2.      “Active members” will be determined by ALL of the officers and chairpersons.

 

Article XI--Constitution

 

1.      Any member of the organization provided he/she formulates a proposal outlining the amended provisions can modify the constitution. The proposal is sent to the floor where it is voted upon by the organization. A 2/3 vote is needed to pass the proposal.