SAMPLE CONSTITUTION

SIGMA IOTA RHO

THE HONOR SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1. Name.

The Society shall be known as the __X__Chapter (to be determined) of Sigma Iota Rho, Honor Society for International Studies at the Your School Name Here.

Section 2. Symbol.

The letters SIR stand for the following Greek words:

SIGMAfor "synesi," meaning Prudence;

IOTA  for "ideodoi," meaning Ideals; and

RHO  for "rhomi," meaning Power.

These three words signify some of the most important values studied by those in the field.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

Section 1. Purpose.

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote and reward scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies and to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Classes.

Sigma Iota Rho is an interdisciplinary honor society specializing in the interdisciplinary field of international affairs. There shall be three classes of membership: student, faculty, or honorary.

Section 2. Undergraduate Membership

Election to undergraduate membership shall be by a local chapter from among such juniors and seniors of the institution who meet or exceed the following qualifications.

(a)        Have completed course work in international studies (or international relations) including courses in related fields of anthropology, economics, foreign languages, geography, history, political science, and other related disciplines;

(b)        Have attained a Junior standing and completed at least twenty-one (21) hours of course work toward the International Studies (or International Relations) major or minor, including at least two courses at the 300 or 400 level.

(c)        Have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in all courses, and a grade point average of at least 3.4 in international studies (or international relations) courses.

(d)        Must maintain full-time student status of at least twelve (12) hours to be a voting member or hold an office.

Section 3. Graduate Student Membership.

With their experience and undergraduate work completed, graduate student members are a much added benefit to Sigma Iota Rho Chapters.  In order to qualify for graduate membership, students must meet the following criteria:

(a)       Are in a graduate program which focuses on international studies (or international relations) including courses in relevant subject areas of anthropology, economics, foreign languages, geography, history, political science, and other related disciplines;

(b)        Have completed one semester of graduate level work in the aforementioned area;

(c)        Have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher in all courses, and a grade point average of at least 3.3 in international studies (or international relations) courses;

(d)        Must maintain full-time student status to be a voting member or hold an office.

Section 4. Faculty Membership.

Any interested member of the faculty involved in the teaching of courses giving credit in international studies (or international relations) may be elected to faculty membership. Faculty members shall possess all the privileges of membership except for voting and holding office in local chapter.

Section 4. Honorary Membership.

Any person of recognized ability and achievement in the field of international studies (or international relations) may be an elected an honorary member. No more than two such members may be elected in any one academic year. Honorary members shall possess all the privileges of active membership except that of being an officer or council member of the corporation.

Section 6. Subsequent Service.

All persons duly elected to membership (other than honorary) by a local chapter who are subsequently enrolled as students or are serving as faculty members in a different institution at which a chapter is located shall be deemed members of the chapter.

Section 7. Selection.

Selection to membership shall be by procedures determined by the local chapter, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Membership will not be restricted on the basis of sex, race, national origin, or handicap.

Section 8. Initiation Fee and Dues.

Each member shall pay such initiation fees and annual dues as may be prescribed by the local chapter, which includes any national fees applying at that time.

Section 9. Pins and Keys.

The members shall receive certificates of membership and may purchase pins, keys, and other symbols of membership as may be available from the National Director of Sigma Iota Rho on such terms and under such conditions as the National Council may determine.

ARTICLE IV - GOVERNMENT

The chapter shall have full control of its individual affairs, subject to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society.

Section 1. Officers.

The student officers of the chapter shall be elected by the student membership in the spring for the next academic year from the active members of the chapter. Officers of the chapter may be removed from office, and membership of a member may be revoked by a ¾ vote of all members on the membership list and at least one half of the other officers. An officer may be removed from office or a member's membership may be revoked if he/she loses full-time status or is unable to adequately fulfill his/her duties.

(a)        President - An elected President will preside at all meetings of the Chapter. He or she will maintain the power to appoint all committee chairpersons and shall present all motions to the Chapter.

(b)        Vice President - A Vice President shall be elected whose duties shall be to preside at all meetings and functions that the President cannot attend and assist the President in directing the affairs of the Chapter.

(c)        Secretary-Treasurer - A Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected whose duties shall be to handle all dues, accounts, new members, rule observances, etc. at all stated meetings and protocol, and conduct such other duties as are assigned by the President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain all financial records, and shall counter-sign all financial transactions with the President or Faculty Adviser.

(d)        Executive Committee - The three officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Chapter, which will direct the affairs of the Chapter with the assistance of the Faculty Adviser. The Executive Committee shall have the power to make decisions for the organizations between regular meetings. All actions taken by the Executive Committee shall be reported promptly to the members of the organization.

(e)        Replacement - In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Executive Committee shall select a replacement, to serve until a new officer is elected by the general membership at the next regular business meeting.

Section 2. Nominations and Elections.

(a)        Nominating Committee - The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee not less than sixty (60) days prior to each biennial meeting. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the three most recent past Presidents able and willing to serve thereon and more than two additional members designated by the President. If there are not three past Presidents available, the President may appoint a sufficient number of other members to complete the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall present nominations for officers and at the biennial meeting of members.

(b)        Nominations by Members - Additional nominations may be made from the floor by any member at the time the Nominating Committee makes its report.

(c)        Voting - All nominations shall be voted on by separate vote for each office. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes of each office shall be declared elected and shall thereupon take office.

ARTICLE V - ADVISER

The Chapter Adviser shall be the Director of Undergraduates Studies of the International Studies (or International Relations) Program, or a faculty member teaching courses in the major. The adviser will assume those responsibilities as outlined in this constitution. The adviser may be removed from his/her position by a ¾ vote of all members on the membership list and at least one half of the other officers. The adviser may be removed if it has been determined that he/she is unable to adequately fulfill the position.

ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this constitution must be submitted in writing at a regular or special meeting of the organization. Said amendments will be voted on at the subsequent meeting. Amendments may be adopted by a ¾ vote of the active members or by a 2/3 vote of the active members and a majority vote of the Chapter Executive Committee. All amendments must be submitted to the Syracuse University Office of Student Programs.

The same amendment may not be proposed more than once during any academic year.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

Section 1. Member Meetings.

General meetings shall be held at a prescribed day and hour as decided upon by the chapter in its first special meeting.

A quorum consists of a simple majority of the membership plus at least one officer. Robert's Rules of Order (newly revised) shall govern all meetings.

ARTICLE VIII - RATIFICATION

The Constitution shall become effective upon approval by the membership, the Commission on Student Services, and the President/National Director of Sigma Iota Rho International.