Constitution and By-Laws of the Chi Lambda Sigma Womens Society

Preamble
We, the members of the Chi Lambda Sigma Womens Society, a social
and service organization, in order to improve character and enhance
leadership at Erskine College, do ordain and establish this Constitution and
By-Laws of the Chi Lambda Sigma Womens Society.

Article I
Section 1: All female students of Erskine College, who are not members of
another society are eligible for membership, after completion of fall semester
of their freshmen year.
Section 2: Those desiring membership in Chi Lambda Sigma Womens
Society must fulfill the following requirements:
A.
She must attend 1 open meeting and 2 study breaks.
She must have a written, legitimate excuse for her absence at such
open meeting or study breaks prior to the absence. Excuses are to
be turned into the Society secretary.

Attendance at all rush events is mandatory unless a

written, legitimate excuse is submitted to the Society secretary at
least 24 hours in advance of the absence.
B.

She must be present at Vote Night meeting. At this

meeting she shall present a talent, either alone or in a group of
other rushes, and be interviewed by society members.
C.

A rush class number is voted on by the society. This

is in case of a small rush class so that anyone may rush no matter
how few rushees are interested not an exclusion process.
D.

In voting for admission, the results will be based on

majority rule. 51% or more.
E.

F.
New members shall be installed at the next regular
meeting of the society. She shall receive a copy of the duties of the
members of the Chi Lambda Sigma Womens Society. Each new
member shall take this oath:

I, (state your name), do swear upon my honor to fulfill to the best

of my abilities the Constitution, By-Laws, and duties of the Chi
Lambda Womens Society.
G.
New members shall be immediately eligible for
appointment to offices other than President and Vice-President.

Article II
Section 1: The responsibilities of the members of the Chi Lambda Sigma
Womens Society are as follows:
To have proper sisterhood attitude and respect to all
members in the Society and other Chi Lambda Sigma organizations.
A.

B.
To attend and fully participate in all Chi sponsored
functions, and show the proper attitude when attending these
functions.
C.
To participate in meetings and not complain about
the job those in charge are doing without helping or giving ideas.

To attend to all delegated responsibilities on time,

properly, and to the best of her ability.
D.

E.
To take all problems with other members up with that
member only and to always speak in a sisterly manner about fellow
members.

Article III
Section 1: This constitution shall go into effect immediately following
ratification by a majority of the quorum of the society present.
Section 2: No amendments, alterations, or additions shall be made to the
Constitution and By-Laws without one weeks notice being served and a vote
by the majority of quorum present.

Article IV
Section 1: The offices of the Chi Lambda Sigma Womens Society shall
consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
A.

These four officers shall make up the Executive Committee.

B.
All officers shall be elected for the period of one year.
Nominations and elections shall be conducted on the first meeting in
April. Induction of non officers shall be conducted at the concurrent
meeting.

The offices of President and Vice-President shall be elected

from those who have been a member at least one full semester. All
other officers may be elected from the total membership for the Chi
Lambda Sigma Womens Society.
C.

D.
A candidate for any office must have at least two full
remaining semesters in school.

No officer shall succeed herself, unless running unopposed

and no other interest is shown. All current officers may be eligible for
another office.
E.

The President of the Society shall not be president of more

than one other extracurricular organization.
F.

Section 2: No officer shall be divested of office except that she be

impeached.
Impeachment is warranted only if the officer be judged
guilty of a major offense against the entire sisterhood or the
Constitution of the Chi Lambda Sigma Womens Society.
A.

The highest remaining officer, before the entire active

membership, must carry out impeachment by showing of the guilt of
the accused member. A quorum vote of the Society by means of a
secret ballot is necessary for conviction.
B.

Section 3: In absence of the President, the ranks of those who shall preside
over the meeting are as follows:
A.

Vice-President

B.

Secretary

C.

Treasurer

D.

House Representative

Section 4: In case of vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President

shall take over her office and shall possess all powers of the President.
Vacancies of any other office shall be filled by a special election held within
two weeks.

Section 5: Elected officers shall be installed at the second meeting in April.

On that night, the President shall require the following oath of the PresidentElect:
Do you, (name), swear upon your honor to fulfill to the best of your
abilities the office of (name office) of the Chi Lambda Sigma Womens
Society as prescribed in the Constitution and By-Laws?
After taking the oath, the new President shall administer the above oath to
the other officers-elect for their respective offices.
Section 6: It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all meetings of
the Society, enforce decorum, decide all points of order, and appoint all
committees. She shall not make a motion unless she turns the power of her
office over to the next ranking officer present. She shall not vote on a
motion unless her vote is necessary to break a tie. She shall set the time of
the regular meetings with the approval of the Society. She shall be the first
representative on behalf of the Society to the Intersociety Council.
Section 7: It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to take charge of
meetings in the absence of the President and to assist her in any and all
capacities on request of the President.
Section 8: It shall be the duty of the Secretary to call role at each meeting of
the Society, keep a legible record of the minutes of each meeting, notify
members when they have taken their two unexcused cuts, and carry on all
correspondence of the Society. She shall collect all excuses for absences
from members and rushes. The Secretary shall send a copy of the meeting
minutes to each member within a week of the meeting. She shall be
responsible for recording dockets and informing members when a docket is
issued.
Section 9: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to attend to all the financial
business of the society. She shall be responsible for a Treasurers report at
each meeting. She shall collect members dues at the beginning of each
semester. All receipts for purchases for the Society by other members shall
be turned over to the Treasurer. She shall, at the end of her term, make a
report of all receipts and expenditures, and deliver all money and papers
pertaining to her office to her successor.

Section 10: The executive committee may meet before each meeting to
discuss the agenda if the President deems it necessary. Committee chairs
shall also be notified if their presence is needed.

Article V
Section 1: The legislative power shall be vested in the active members of
the Society. No legislation shall be altered or amended except by a majority
of the quorum of the membership. The use of secret ballot shall be used to
elect new members and officers and can be used for all other elections upon
discretion of the president.

Section 2: A quorum shall consist of one-half plus one of the active

membership of the Society. A quorum is necessary in any election and with
any business.

Section 3: The President may appoint committees at the beginning of her

term. This is left up to her discretion; otherwise members may show interest
in committees and be placed on these committees. She may also appoint a
Sergeant-at-Arms and may, at her discretion, appoint any additional
committees not listed herein. These appointments shall last one year.

Section 4: There shall be five committees that shall be permanent or

standing committees. They shall be:
A.

Executive Committee

B.

Fundraising Committee

C.

Public Relations Committee

D.

Community Service Committee

E.

Rush/Social Committee

In addition, the President shall appoint one member as the second

representative of the Society to the Intersociety Council.
Section 5: The duties of these standing committees shall be:
A.
Executive- It shall be the duty of this committee to provide
leadership of the Society, be in communication with the Societys
committees and other Societies of Erskine College, and approve plans
for major events of the Society. This committee shall be chaired by the
President and made up of the Societys present officers.

B.
Fundraising- It shall be the duty of this committee to plan
and coordinate all fundraising activities. This committee shall be
chaired by the Treasurer.
C.
Public Relations- It shall be the duty of this committee to
plan and coordinate all service-oriented activities.

Rush/Social- It shall be the duty of this committee to send

invitations for membership to candidates and plan all activities
pertaining to rush. The committee shall also be responsible for
planning all social functions of the Society, including the annual
Champagne Social and Sunday Brunch.
D.

Sergeant-at-Arms- It shall be the duty of this member to

gain permission from Student Services for the House to be used and to
open the House 15 minutes before each meeting is to convene.
E.

Section VI
Section 1: The meeting night shall be voted on by the Society at the first
business meeting of the fall semester. Any temporary or alternate meeting
schedule is left up to the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Section 2: Meetings shall be conducted by the President. The executive
Committee shall be seated in front of the members. Roll shall be called by
the Secretary and dockets announced. The Treasurer shall give her report.
Members shall raise their hands and be recognized before speaking. Motions
must be made and seconded in order for a vote to be conducted.
Section 3: Mandatory attendance is required on Vote Night and at the
election of new officers. Failure to attend will constitute a minor docket
offense.
Section 4: Any member may go inactive for one semester only, by submitting
a written request and receiving Executive Committee permission. Inactive
members shall not be responsible for paying dues nor shall they be subject
to attendance or dockets.
Section 5: Dues are $25 for new members and $20 for continuing members.
Members shall be given at least two weeks notice of before dues are to be
collected. Failure to pay dues on the given date will constitute a minor
docket offense and the member will be charged $1 for each additional day
past the given date unless arrangements are made with the treasurer before
the due date.
Article VII

Section 1: The following constitute docket offenses. Fines must be paid

immediately. A
member shall not have the floor or vote until she has paid her fine to the
Treasurer. After two
weeks notice from the Secretary, the amount of the fine will be doubled. If a
member fails to
pay her fine within a month she is automatically expelled.
A.

Minor dockets

Failure to wear jersey or Chi Lambda Sigma shirt on

Jersey Day for at least one meal time and seen in a public place
(Moffat/Snappers). A fine of $2 shall be charged.
1.

Failure to provide a written excuse to the Secretary

within one week of an absence. A fine of $1 per day shall be
charged.
2.

Failure to pay dues by the date given. A fine of $1

per day shall be charged.
3.

B.

Major dockets

1.
Failure to complete assigned responsibilities. A fine
of $5 shall be charged.

Failure to attend Vote Night or election night. A fine

of $5 shall be charged.
2.

3.
Conduct unbecoming of a member at the discretion
of the society and voted upon. A fine of $15 shall be charged.

Speaking ill of a member in the presence of other

members. A fine of $15 shall be charged.
4.

5.
Failure to keep information that has been deemed
confidential. A fine of $20 and suspension of one semester shall be
given.
6.
Absences in excess of two unexcused absences will
result in dismissal of the member from the Society.

Section 2: The Secretary shall bring before the members of the Society all
offenses. She shall keep a continuous record of all offenses and their dates.

Revisions as of 8/31/16
Two absences total from meetings or events are allowed. After two absences,
only emergency or prearranged absences will be permitted or the member
may be asked to leave. This lead way is voted on based on the President and
Vice Presidents unanimous decision.
Dues for fall semester are due at the meeting closest to the date of October
20th. Spring semester dues will be decided on at the first meeting of the
spring semester.
If a member decides to take a semester off, she must return as a full
participant for the next semester or she will no longer be considered a
member. She is also not eligible to rush.