Constitution of Chi Epsilon

Index

Preamble

We, students, faculty, and alumni of the Department of Civil Engineering at various colleges and universities, believing that a mark of distinction should be placed on the undergraduate who has upheld the honor of the department by high scholastic ability, and believing that a society with the broad principles of scholarship, character, practicality, and sociability would be an incentive to greater achievements in the civil engineering profession, do adopt this constitution as a guiding instrument for this organization.

ARTICLE I
Name

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Chi Epsilon.

ARTICLE II
Objects

Section 1. The objects of Chi Epsilon shall be:

(a) To contribute to the improvement of civil engineering profession as an instrument for the betterment of society.

(b) To recognize the fundamental characteristics of the successful civil engineer, and to aid in the development of these characteristics.

(c) To encourage wherever possible any movement which will advance the best interest of engineering education; to actively support, where necessary; and to institute procedures and practices for the improvement of the civil engineering departments at the schools at which chapters of Chi Epsilon are established.

ARTICLE III
Organization and Membership

Section 1. Organization.

Chi Epsilon shall consist of a Supreme Council, and of such chapters as have been, or shall be regularly established in engineering schools, and of such alumni chapters as have been, or shall be regularly established.

Section 2. Basis for Membership.

The selection of members shall be based upon Scholarship, Character, Practicality, and Sociability - the four primary requirements of a successful engineer.

Section 3. Chapter Membership.

Membership shall be chosen from among students duly registered in civil engineering, and students registered in directly associated civil engineering options, whose curricula have been approved by the Supreme Council. Membership shall be chosen from among students who have completed at least one-half of the work required for their bachelor's degree, or its equivalent.

Section 4. Chapter Honor Membership.

Chapter Honor shall be in recognition of outstanding professional accomplishment in the field of civil engineering.

Section 5. National Honor Membership.

Election to National Honor Membership shall be in recognition of outstanding professional accomplishment in the field of civil engineering, and preeminent contribution to the object and purpose of Chi Epsilon by any of its duly initiated members. No more than two members per biennium shall be elevated to National Honor Member.

ARTICLE IV
Government

Section 1. Of the National Society

(a) The government of Chi Epsilon shall be vested in a duly authorized National Conclave and a duly elected Supreme Council.

(b) The National Conclave shall consist of the Supreme Council, and an official delegation consisting of one active undergraduate member elected from each active chapter in good standing with the Society. Each official delegate attending the Conclave and each member of the Supreme Council shall have one vote.

(c) The Supreme Council shall be composed of members of Chi Epsilon, none of whom shall be an undergraduate member, with the number established by the Conclave.

(d) The United States of America shall be divided into districts composed of geographically oriented chapters, with one member of the Supreme Council selected as councilor from each district.

(e) A district Councilor for a specific district shall be elected by a two-thirds vote of the delegates from that district at a Conclave. In the event a two-thirds vote cannot be obtained, the Conclave shall elect the councilor by a majority vote.

(f) A Conclave may elect other Councilors from time to time.

(g) The President and Vice President shall be elected from members of the Supreme Council by the National Conclave. The remaining national officers shall be selected in accordance with the Bylaws.

(h) The National Conclave shall transact all business pertaining to Chi Epsilon except such as may be otherwise delegated. It shall have the authority to levy assessments on the chapters and members for its own support, and that of the Supreme Council.

(i) Between Conclaves, the Supreme Council shall have the power to conduct the national business of Chi Epsilon and to interpret the National Constitution and Bylaws.

(j) The Supreme Council may designate up to four of its members as an Executive Committee to plan Conclaves and make other recommendations to the Supreme Council between council meetings.

Section 2. Of the Local Chapters.

(a) Each chapter shall have full control of its individual affairs, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.

(b) The officers of the local chapters shall be elected from the active members of those chapters.

(c) Each chapter shall have a Faculty Adviser, who shall be elected by the chapter.

(d) New initiates will be selected and elected by the chapter, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.

ARTICLE V
Meetings

Section 1. National Conclaves and chapter meetings shall be held periodically for the purpose of transacting Chi Epsilon business.

Section 2. A National Conclave may be called by the Supreme Council. Active chapters may petition the Supreme Council for a National Conclave.

ARTICLE VI
Dissolution

Section 1. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Cooed 1954 or corresponding sections of any prior or future law or to the Federal, State, or Local government for exclusive public purpose.

ARTICLE VII
Methods of Amending

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a three-quarters vote of the official delegates and members of the Supreme Council present at a National Conclave, followed by the ratification of three-quarters of the active chapters. The chapter ratification vote shall require approval of three-quarters of the total active membership of the chapter.