Bylaws 

JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY CHAPTER (0211)

CONTENTS

Article I Name, Location, and Purpose

Article II Authority

Article III Membership Eligibility Requirements

Article IV Dues

Article V Chapter Officers and Other Functionaries

Article VI Duties of Officers and Other Functionaries

Article VII Standing Committees

Article VIII Ad Hoc Committees

Article IX Election of Officers

Article X Order of Business for Chapter Meetings

Article XI Amendments to Bylaws

Article XII Termination of Chapter

Article XIII Ratification

Article I  Name, Location, and Purpose

Section 101

This chapter, a unit of the international association of Phi Delta Kappa International, shall be known as the Jacksonville State University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. It is located in District VII and shall have its headquarters in Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602. Its purpose shall be to promote quality education, with particular emphasis on publicly supported education, as essential to the development and maintenance of a democratic way of life.

Article II Authority

Section 201

The Jacksonville State University Chapter shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of Phi Delta Kappa International. All revisions and amendments thereto are automatically accepted by this chapter and are to be incorporated in these bylaws as editorial changes. Should this chapter’s bylaws conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of Phi Delta Kappa International, the latter shall prevail, and the chapter’s bylaws shall be revised accordingly.

Section 202

Upon the dissolution of the organization, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the organization, dispose of all of the assets of the organization exclusively for the purposes of the organization in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Committee shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the court of jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Section 203

This organization is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Section 204

In accordance with the Phi Delta Kappa International bylaws, the following bylaws shall serve as guides for conducting the business of the Jacksonville State University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International.

Section 205

Parliamentary procedure shall follow the rules specified in Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article III  Membership Eligibility Requirements

Section 300

Membership in Phi Delta Kappa shall be open to all eligible professional educators, with the requirements for membership being those specified in Phi Delta Kappa’s Constitution and Bylaws. No additional requirements may be added.

Section 301

Individuals shall be eligible for membership in Phi Delta Kappa who are of good character; declare interest in and commitment to the accomplishment of Phi Delta Kappa’s goals and objectives; and, meet criterion a and either b, c, or d below.

1. The scholastic and activity record for each candidate shall be sufficiently high for admittance to candidacy for an advanced degree.
2. Persons who have a baccalaureate degree and/or are credentialed for teaching and who are employed in education in the area normally served by a chapter may be elected to membership provided such candidates shall be active in a position requiring teacher certification, or in educational work in adult and continuing education, educational research, early childhood education, elementary education, school administration or supervision, secondary education, teacher education, higher education, or any other education-related fields as identified by the chapter.
3. Undergraduate education majors who are in or have successfully completed student teaching.
4. Graduate students admitted to a graduate program in education, who are or have been in residence at any time during the fiscal year in which membership is proposed. The words “in residence” shall be interpreted in accordance with the regulations of the institution where the student is enrolled.

Section 302

The membership committee will assume responsibility for the following:

1. Accept member-sponsored nominations for prospective members.
2. Accept self-nominations from prospects for membership.
3. Secure documentation to substantiate that membership requirements have been met.
4. Examine the credentials of all prospective members and vote to accept or reject them.

Section 303

To be accepted for membership, a candidate must receive a majority vote of the membership committee.

Section 304 

Procedures for implementing decisions of the membership committee are as follows:

1. Membership committee notifies candidates of the committee’s actions.
2. Membership committee informs persons accepted for membership of the date for initiation and provides necessary forms/materials.
3. Membership committee receives fees and any other materials required for membership.
4. Membership committee prepares initiation.
5. Candidate is initiated.
6. The name of the member is published and distributed to chapter members. The chapter sends initiation report and fees to the international office.

Article IV  Dues

Section 401 

Annual dues for regular chapter membership are $ 15.00. The international office bills the member for total annual dues and returns $15.00 to this chapter as local dues.

Section 402

Total annual dues are payable in advance of the membership year to which such dues are credited.

Article V Chapter Officers and Other Functionaries

Section 501 

The officers of this chapter shall consist of a president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, historian, foundation representative, research representative, and chapter delegate and alternates. This chapter shall have two vice presidents: a vice president for programs and a vice president for membership. The newsletter editor shall be an officer of this chapter. The Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies shall be the advisor to the chapter and an officer ex officio.

Section 502

All chapter officers, except the chapter delegate and the advisor, shall be elected by a majority vote not later than the April meeting unless approval for a later election is granted by the Board of Directors.

Section 503

Chapter officers, except the chapter delegate, shall hold office during the succeeding fiscal year. (The fiscal year is July 1-June 30).

Section 504

The chapter delegate shall be elected at any regular meeting not later than the April meeting. The term of office for the delegate is two years from the beginning of the fiscal year in which the district conference meets.

Section 505

All chapter officers may serve successive terms.

Section 506

If the office of the president is vacated for any reason except expiration of term, the vice president for programs shall perform the duties, and shall be installed in the office at the next regular meeting.

Section 507

If the office other than the president is vacated for any reason except expiration of term, the vacancy shall be filled by the officers of the chapter from among good standing members of the chapter. If, however, the vacancy occurs within three months of the next election, the office may be left vacant.

Section 508 

The president may appoint a parliamentarian to advise him/her on procedures in the conduct of the business of the chapter.

Section 509 

Newly elected officers shall be installed by the retiring president or designee at the last regular meeting of the Phi Delta Kappa year. No person may be declared an officer until formally installed.

Article VI Duties of Officers and Other Functionaries

Article VII Standing Committees

Section 701

There shall be an Executive Committee composed of all elected officers of the chapter. The Executive Committee shall determine the time and place of meetings; plan programs for the chapter; propose the budget for the fiscal year; fill offices vacated by resignations, dismissals, or deaths; carry out routine business between chapter meetings; and make recommendations to the chapter on other business matters such as expending unbudgeted funds.

Section 702

The membership committee will be chaired by the vice president for membership and include at least two other members appointed by the president. This committee has the right and duty of selecting as members those candidates who meet the requirements for membership. The committee is to receive nominations from the members and self-nominations. It will seek out candidates in the area normally served by the chapter who have achieved a measure of success in the profession and who show promise of a successful career in education. It will also present to the chapter the names of those undergraduate education majors who are in or have successfully completed student teaching, and graduate students who are preparing for a life career in educational service, who are maintaining a high standard of scholarship, and who are likely to be helped by Phi Delta Kappa and likely to be assets to the chapter. Before selecting a candidate for membership, the committee shall ensure that the individual satisfies the membership requirements outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws. The committee will also institute plans and procedures to encourage members to remain in good standing, and to encourage Kappans who move into the chapter’s service area to affiliate with the chapter.

Article VIII Ad Hoc Committees

Section 801

The president may appoint ad hoc committees to perform whatever functions he/she, the executive committee, or the chapter deem necessary or desirable.

Section 802

At least two months prior to the election, the president shall appoint a nominating committee to consist of membership committee members and any other good standing members desired by the president. This committee shall present a slate of officers and may present a slate of additional members for the executive committee. This committee may also serve as the election committee.

Section 803

The president shall appoint the election committee to assist in conducting the election, counting ballots, ruling on eligibility of voters, and the like. This committee may be the nominating committee and as many additional members as the president deems necessary.

Article IX Election of Officers

Section 901

The slate proposed by the nominating committee shall be announced in the chapter newsletter, and nominations also shall be open on the floor at the election meeting.

Section 902

To be eligible for election, a candidate nominated on the floor must accept the nomination in person during the election meeting.

Section 903

Elections shall be held yearly no later than the April meeting unless approval for a later election is given by the Board of Directors.

Section 904

Election shall be by a simple majority of those present and eligible to vote. The vote shall be by secret ballot or in the absence of competing nominees for any office, by voice vote of all eligible members present at the election meetings.

Section 905

In the event of a tie between the two leading candidates for an office or between candidates, there shall be a run-off secret ballot to decide the winner.

Section 906

Only members of the Jacksonville State University #0211 Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa in good standing may hold office or vote in elections of officers or vote to change bylaws. Prior to such elections, members who desire to vote may be asked to display their membership credentials to the election committee.

Article X Order of Business for Chapter Meetings 

Section 1001

The presiding officer shall call the meeting to order.

Section 1002

The normal order of business is as follows:

1. Approval of minutes of previous meeting
2. Treasurer’s report
3. Reports of standing committees
4. Reports of ad hoc committees
5. Unfinished business
6. New business
7. Closing

Section 1003

The normal order of business may be altered by the presiding officer to accommodate guest speakers, to allow for special programs, etc.

Section 1004

A quorum shall consist of the members present at a chapter meeting.

Section 1005

A minimum of six meetings shall be held during the fiscal year. Project activities may be substituted for two of the six required meetings.

Article XI Amendments to Bylaws

Section 1101

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting provided the proposed amendments have been screened by the Executive Committee.

Section 1102

Proposed amendments to the bylaws must be written and presented to the Executive Committee at least 30 days prior to final action. The Executive Committee shall screen them and present them on the floor at the next regular meeting following the 30-day period with the committee’s recommendations for accepting, rejecting, or altering them. The committee may not alter or discard a proposed amendment without the consent of its originator.

Section 1103

A majority of two-thirds of the members present and eligible to vote is required to amend the bylaws.

Article XII Termination of Chapter

If the chapter, at some future date, voluntarily surrenders its charter or has it withdrawn by Phi Delta Kappa International’s Board of Directors, all remaining funds, after obligations have been met, will revert to Phi Delta Kappa International.

Article XIII Ratification

These bylaws shall become effective for the Jacksonville State University #0211 Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa after acceptance by two-thirds of the members present at a regular meeting, and after approval of these bylaws by the Board of Directors of Phi Delta Kappa International.