Beta Beta Beta
National Biological Honor Society
University Of San Francisco
Omicron Alpha Chapter

Constitution

Article I- Name
This organization shall be known as the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society of the University of San Francisco.

Article II- Purpose
The purpose of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society shall be to function as an honor and professional society for students of the biological sciences at the University of San Francisco. Its activities shall be designed to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, and investigation in the biological sciences, and to promote the dissemination of information and new interpretations among students of the life sciences.

Article III- Affiliation
Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society of the University of San Francisco is the Omicron Alpha Chapter of the national Beta Beta Beta Biological Society based in Unadilla, New York. Every member of our chapter receives the national journal of the society called BIOS. Every regular member of our chapter becomes a life member in the national society.

Article IV- Membership
Section 1: Any person duly registered as a student of the University of San Francisco, and fulfilling the membership requirements of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society may be a member of this organization. Section 2: There are two classifications of members in our organization. Students from any major, or course of study are encouraged to join, as long as they show an interest in biology. Associate members shall be those undergraduates whose interests include the life sciences in some significant way but who are ineligible for regular membership. Regular members shall be undergraduate majors in the biological sciences who have completed at least three college courses in biology and have an average grade of at least a B (GPA of 3.0) in the major. They shall be in good academic standing and shall have spent at least three semesters as an active associate member of Tribeta. Memberships for both classifications of membership is $30/year.

The University of San Francisco maintains a strict policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age (over 40 years), sex, sexual discrimination, marital status, medical condition (cured or rehabilitated cancer), disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local ordinance or regulation. Section 3: To be elected to an office, the member must either be an associate or regular member.

Article V- Elective Officers
Section 1: The elective officers of the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, co-Historians, co-Publicity, co-Activities, and co-Webmasters. Section 2: The term of office shall be from time of election until new officers take office immediately following the next election. Section 3: Election Procedures A. Nominations Nominations of officers will be held at a general meeting to be held within two weeks from the end of regular classes in the spring semester of each academic year. B. Elections Officers shall be elected by a simple majority of the votes cast at the secret ballot election to be held within one week of the nominating meeting. Section 4: Duties of the President A. To call and preside at all meetings of the group and of the Executive Board. B. To perform all executive duties properly designated to the executive of organizations. C. To serve as an ex-officio member of all committees. D. To appoint officers not otherwise provided for in the Constitution who shall hold office during the term of the President, or at his/her pleasure. Section 5: Duties of the Vice-President A. To assume the duties of the President during his/her absence and to succeed to the office of President should it become vacant. B. To serve as ex-officio member of all committees. C. To serve as official greeter and representative of the club or group to all incoming students and visitors. D. To keep the organizations bulletin board (located in Harney, third floor) up-to-date. Section 6: Duties of the Secretary A. To keep the minutes of all meetings and meetings of the Executive Board. B. To handle such correspondence and records as are required of the office. Section 7: Duties of the Treasurer A. To transact and record all financial affairs of the organization. B. To make financial reports to the organization at regular meetings or when requested to do so by the President. Section 8: Duties of the co-Historians A. To maintain an accurate history of the organization, through photography of organized events (community service, social activities, conferences, etc.). B. To have at least one historian on hand to take pictures at all major events (when called for). C. To develop and keep an organized collection of all negatives labeled and dated with their contents (i.e. what event is on the negative). D. To maintain a photo album throughout the year, and be able to present it when requested. E. To work with the Webmasters by contributing photos to use in the Tri-Beta web page. Section 9: Duties of the co-Publicity A. To publicize the meetings of the organization through banners and fliers in an organized and timely manner. B. To publicize the events and activities of the organization (as deemed necessary) through banners and fliers in an organized and timely manner. Section 10: Duties of the co-Activities A. To plan and execute at least two activities per month for the organization, whether it be social or academic. Section 11: Duties of the co-Webmasters A. To maintain the organization's web page in order to achieve a user-friendly, informational and accurate resource for its users.

Article VI- Executive Board
Section 1: Membership A. Membership on the Executive Board shall be given to the following offices: President; Vice-President; Secretary; Treasurer; Historian; Publicity; Activities; and Webmaster. B. The voting members of the Executive Board shall be all members excluding the presiding officer who shall vote only to resolve a tie. C. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members excluding the committee chairpersons. Section 2: Powers A. To draft the laws and regulations of the organization. B. To make appropriations from the treasury. C. To fix membership fees or dues and order them collected. D. To appoint officers to fill vacancy of an elective office except as otherwise provided for in this Constitution. E. To conduct and/or dispose of any business of the organization which may be of an emergency nature. F. To approve the appointments of the President. G. All actions taken by the Executive Board must be approved by a majority of a quorum of the Membership of the Executive Board. H. The Executive Board may originate a petition to amend this Constitution.

Article VII- Meetings
Section 1: The time, date, and place of regular meeting shall be determined by the organization at the first regular meeting of the year to be held during the second week of the fall semester in each academic year. Section 2: A special meeting of the membership may be called by the Executive Board or upon receipt by the President of a petition signed by ten percent of the members. Section 3: One half of the members of the organization shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the membership. Section 4: Business shall be transacted by a simple majority vote of a quorum of the membership. Section 5: The Parliamentary authority of this organization shall be Robert's Rules of Order.

Article VIII- Initiative, Referendum, Recall
Section 1: Petition A petition signed by ten percent of the membership and submitted to the President or Vice-President shall initiate initiative, referendum, and recall. Section 2: Procedure When a duly authorized petition is received, a secret ballot election shall be called within two weeks. Section 3: Validation A 2/3 majority of the quorum of the membership must vote in favor of the petition in order for it to pass. Any petition so passed will become effective three days after the date of voting.

Article IX- Authority
This Constitution is based on the authority of Institutional Policy on Freedom of Expression of the University of San Francisco, and nothing herein shall be constructed in violation thereof.

Article X- Amendments
Section 1: Petitions An amendment to this Constitution shall be presented in the form of a petition signed by ten percent of the members and submitted to the Executive Board; or submitted to the Executive Board by a simple majority vote of the members at a regular or special meeting. Section 2: Procedure The Executive Board shall call a secret ballot election within two weeks after the petition is received. At least two announcements of the time and place of the election must be publicized before the voting. Section 3: Validation To be adopted, the amendment must receive a 2/3-majority vote of approval by the membership. Upon approval, the amendment shall go into effect immediately. Section 4: Enabling Clause This Constitution shall become the official governing document of the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society of the University of San Francisco.


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