Article I. Name

              The name of this organization shall be the Carnegie Mellon University Psi Chi Chapter, a local unit of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, herein referred to as the Chapter and the National Society.

Article II. Purpose

              The purpose of Psi Chi shall be to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology.

              All activities and functions of the organization must be legal under University, local, state and federal laws. The most recent version of The Word and The Student Organization Handbook and Resource Guide will supersede all requirements set forth during the creation and revision of this set of bylaws.

Article III. Members

Section 1. Active Members. Active Members are men and women who are making the study of psychology one of the major interest and who are faculty members or students of Carnegie Mellon University or are members who have been readmitted to active status by this Chapter. All shall possess high standards of personal behavior. Active members shall be entitled to participate in all chapter meetings and shall have the right to vote.

1. A.Student members shall be students enrolled in undergraduate programs at the time of induction. Only student members shall be entitled to hold chapter office.
   

1. a.Undergraduate students shall be enrolled in Carnegie Mellon University, have registered for major or minor standing in psychology or a program of psychological nature which is equivalent to such standings, have completed at least 3 semesters, have a minimum QPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, and have a minimum of QPA of 3.5 in psychology courses.
   

2. Section 2. Membership in Psi Chi is open to qualified candidates of any age, sex, sexual orientation, race, handicap or disability, color, religion, and national and ethnic origin. In addition, the Chapter will abide by the Carnegie Mellon Statement of Assurance (http://www.cmu.edu/policies/documents/SoA.html)
   

Section 3. Hazing will not be used as a condition of membership in this organization.

Section 4. Prior to induction, each prospective member shall pay an induction fee as determined by the National Society, which shall entitle the inductee to life membership without payment of further dues or assessments to the National Society. All active members shall pay chapter dues as established by the Chapter, which shall be updated on a yearly basis.

Article IV. Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Executive Committee of this Chapter shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. In addition, there will be a Public Relations Chair, Fundraising Chair and Social Chair. The officers shall perform duties prescribed by these bylaws, the constitution and bylaws of the National Society and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the chapter, and shall fulfill such other duties and requirements as may be determined by the National Society.

Section 2. The elections will be held in April. Any active member is eligible for an officer position.

Section 3. Nominations will be accepted in advance or at the elections meeting. Ballots or a hand count will determine the winner. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of all present members. In the case of a tie, the Chapter Advisor and President shall be consulted and determine course of action.

Section 4. Officers shall be elected by ballot to serve for one year or until their successors are elected, and the term of office shall begin Summer following election. In the event there is only one candidate for an office, the election may be made by a voice vote.

Section 5. No member shall hold more than one office at a time, and no member shall serve more than two terms in the same office.

Section 6. Should the office of the President become vacant, it shall be filled by the Vice President. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by chapter vote.

Section 7. An officer can be removed by a majority vote by active members. A written decree shall be provided with rationale by any concerned member at least one week prior to vote.

Article V. Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The Executive Committee and the Chapter Advisor shall determine the number of regular meetings to be held during each academic year and shall distribute a schedule of these meetings to each active member.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings can be called by the President or the Executive Committee and shall be called upon the written request of ten active members of the chapter. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call, and business shall be limited to that which is stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days’ notice shall be given.

Article VI. Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the chapter and the Chapter Advisor.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the chapter between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Chapter, cause all reports required by the National Society to be submitted in a timely manner, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws and the constitution, bylaws and rulings of the National Society.

Section 3. The President or the Chapter Advisor shall call meetings of the Executive Committee. 

Article VII. Chapter Advisor

Section 1. The Chapter shall have a chapter advisor who is a member of Psi Chi and a member of the faculty of Carnegie Mellon.

Section 2. The Chapter Advisor shall assist the Chapter in fulfilling its purpose and the requirements of the National Society.

Section 3. In the event that an advisor position becomes vacant, a new advisor shall be elected within 14 days. All active members are eligible to vote, and a majority will determine the winner.

Article VIII. Finances

Section 1. Chapter dues shall be determined by the President and Chapter Advisor. All members must pay the one-time National Society dues.

Section 2. Treasurer and President or Chapter Advisor must sign for any purchase made using Chapter funds.

Section 3. Funds shall be spent on supplies, events, activities, publicity and gear, but will not be used for anything illegal under University, local, state and federal law.

Article X. Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Advised shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with these Bylaws, the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Society, and any special rules of order the Chapter may adopt.

Article XI. Amendment of Bylaws

These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Chapter by a two-thirds vote, provided the amendment has been submitted in writing one week prior to the vote. These bylaws shall not be in conflict with the constitution and bylaws or rulings of the National Society. Any amendment of the constitution and bylaws or rulings of the National Society affecting these bylaws shall cause this document to be amended automatically to concur with such amendment. Amendments shall take effect immediately following vote.

Article XII. History

Date of Creation: September 12, 2009