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Home > NASPAA Initiatives > PAA Honor Society

Sample of Local Chapter Constitution

(SAMPLE)
PI ALPHA ALPHA
LOCAL CHAPTER CONSTITUTION
June, 2003



This is a sample constitution which may be used as a guide in preparing local chapter constitutions. Please note that local chapter constitutions must conform to provisions set forth in the National Constitution. Therefore, read the National Constitution carefully before beginning to draft chapter constitution.

CONSTITUTION

______________________________________CHAPTER

P1 ALPHA ALPHA

 Article I - Name


This chapter shall be known as the (name of college or university) Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society of Public Affairs and Administration.

Article II - Purposes
The purposes of this society shall be to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in public affairs and administration, to promote the advancement of education and practice in the art and science of public affairs and administration, and to foster integrity, professionalism and creative performance in the conduct of governmental and related public service activities.

Article III - Membership
SECTION 1 - QUALIFICATIONS

Membership shall be limited to those of academic excellence and achievement and/or distinguished public service who are or have been enrolled or teach in public affairs or public administration programs, or who serve or have served in the public service.



SECTION 2 - CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be limited to those who demonstrate academic excellence in public affairs and administration programs in NASPAA member schools and/or distinguished public service, and who fall within the following classes: student, alumni, faculty, and honorary. All membership is national membership with local chapter affiliation where appropriate.


(a) Student Membership

(1) Undergraduate Students

Candidates for undergraduate degrees who rank in the upper ten percent of their graduating class may be inducted provided that:

    (a) they have completed 15 semester hours of course work required for the public affairs or public administration major or its equivalent;

    (b) they have maintained an average grade of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 in all courses included in the major in public affairs and public administration, and at least a 3.0 in all other course work;

    (c) they have met the requirements of (a) and (b) above and are in the last semester or quarter of their junior year.

(2) Transfer Students

Transfer students who meet the qualifications for undergraduate membership may be inducted after they have completed a minimum of one full year of course work in the school or college to which they transfer and in which the chapter is located.

(3) Graduate Students

A graduate student may be inducted from among the master’s degree students who have maintained a GPA of at least 3.7 for 50 percent of the required course work (a minimum of 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours).

(4) Doctoral Students

Doctoral students who meet the requirements for Pi Alpha Alpha master’s degree student membership or who have completed all the requirements for the MPA or its equivalent, may be inducted without restriction as to number.



 (b) Alumni Membership
Those who meet all the requirements of student membership but who have graduated before induction by a local chapter may be inducted as alumni members. Student members shall become alumni members upon graduation. If an alumni member relocates to a city where there is another chapter, s/he may also affiliate with the other chapter.



(c) Faculty Membership

Any full-time member of a NASPAA member institution faculty offering course work in public affairs or administration degree program at which a Pi Alpha Alpha chapter is located, may be elected to faculty membership by such local chapter.



 (d) Honorary Membership
(1) Local Honorary

Any person who has achieved distinction in public administration and who possess the distinguished qualities that Pi Alpha Alpha foster may be inducted to honorary membership in a local chapter. Local chapters may induct as many as two individuals per year without express approval of the National Council. Prior to induction of more than two honorary members, the local chapter must request and receive approval by the National Council.

(2) National Honorary
A person who has made a particularly distinguished contribution to public administration through practice or education may be inducted to national honorary membership.



 SECTION 3 - NOMINATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership

The (name of college or university) Chapter shall have a nominating committee which shall consist of three members, two of whom shall be members of the full-time faculty teaching in the public affairs and public administration program of this university or college.

(b) National Honorary Membership

The National Council and local chapters may nominate candidates for national honorary membership. The selection of the national honorees will be made by a majority vote of the national executive committee at the Annual Conference of NASPAA or as prescribed by National Council policy.



SECTION 4 - ELECTION OF CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP

Election to chapter membership shall be by a three-fourths vote of those present at an official chapter meeting.




SECTION 5 - DUES

Each fellow shall pay such initiation fees and annual dues as may be prescribed by the (name of college or university) Chapter and/or the National Council of Pi Alpha Alpha.



SECTION 6 - TRANSFER OF STUDENTS FELLOW

A student fellow of the National Society, in good standing, who transfers to (name of college or university) and meets the appropriate requirements above, shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of this Chapter but shall be considered an official member of the chapter in which the student was inducted.


Article IV - Local Organization
SECTION 1 - OFFICERS

The officers of the (name of college or university) Chapter shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, treasurer, and a chapter Advisor, and their names shall be reported to the National Director of Pi Alpha Alpha. (There may be a secretary-treasurer if the local chapter desires. Also, there may be such other officers as are deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the local chapter, e.g., historian, parliamentarian, etc.) All officers shall perform duties as prescribed by this Chapter and in accordance with procedures established by the National Council of Pi Alpha Alpha.

 (a) President

The President shall preside at all meetings and serve as the official representative of this Chapter. The President shall be elected by the membership from among the student members.

(b) Vice-President

The Vice-President shall serve in the capacity of the President during such times as he/she may be absent and perform other duties as directed by this chapter. The Vice-President shall be elected by the membership from among the student and faculty members.

(c) Secretary

The Secretary shall act as President during the absence of the President and the Vice-President and shall keep the official minutes of this Chapter and perform other duties as normally are associated with this office. The Secretary shall be elected by the membership from among the faculty and student members.

(d) Treasurer

The Treasurer shall collect the dues and perform such other duties as normally are associated with this office.


(e) Chapter Advisor

The Chapter Advisor shall be chosen by the chapter from among the tenured faculty member of Pi Alpha Alpha. The Chapter Advisor may be the NASPAA Principal Representative and/or the Treasurer of this Chapter.

(f) Elections

Officers, except the Chapter Advisor, shall be elected annually and shall assume their offices following their election. A majority of the membership shall be required for the election. Should a vacancy occur in any office, except the Chapter Advisor, it shall be filled by special election.



SECTION 2 - MEETINGS

Regular meetings of the (name of college or university) Chapter shall be conducted at least bi-annually, at the beginning of the Fall and Spring academic terms. Special meetings may be called by the President or Chapter Advisor.



SECTION 3 - VOTING

(a) Elections

All elections shall be by secret ballot.

(b) Business

A simple majority of the membership present will be sufficient to act on business before this Chapter unless specified otherwise in the adopted rules and regulations of this Chapter and/or of the National Council of Pi Alpha Alpha.



SECTION 4 - DELEGATE(S) TO THE BIENNIAL NATIONAL CONVENTION OF PI ALPHA ALPHA

The (name of college or university) Chapter may select a delegate to represent this Chapter in all business conducted during the Biennial National Convention. This Chapter may designate more than one delegate to the convention, but shall be entitled to but one vote. The name of the chapter member to cast this vote shall be reported to the National Director of Pi Alpha Alpha prior to the convention. The expenses of delegates shall not be a charge on the national treasury of Pi Alpha Alpha.

Article V - Amendments
The Constitution of this Chapter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the active membership within a period specified by the President and Chapter Advisor.
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