BY-LAWS OF THE OMICRON MU CHAPTER

LOYOLA COLLEGE IN MARYLAND

 PI SIGMA ALPHA

ARTICLE I  
Name and Location of Organization

Section 1. This organization shall be known as the Omicron Mu Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society.

Section 2. This chapter shall be situated at Loyola College in Maryland.

Section 3. This document supersedes any previously approved By-Laws.

ARTICLE II  
Purpose of Organization

Section 1. The objectives of this organization shall be as follows:

1. to stimulate scholarship and intelligent interest in the subject of political science;
2. to seek to promote a better understanding of politics and government among its members;
3. to promote worthwhile curricular and extracurricular activities related to political science;
4. to advance and diffuse knowledge and interest in political science;

Section 2. It is a professed goal of this chapter to recognize superior scholastic ability in the field of political science at Loyola College in Maryland and to ensure that those possessing these qualifications will be afforded the opportunity to become a proponent of the above principles in the Omicron Mu Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha.

ARTICLE III  
Membership

Section 1. Membership in this chapter shall be active.

Section 2. Primary qualifications of student candidates for active membership include high scholarship, manifested interest in political science, and promise of achievement in their chosen field.  Any student at Loyola College in Maryland may apply for election into the Omicron Mu Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, as long as he/she meets the following requirements:

1. not less than a 3.0 GPA in political science courses;
2. completion of at least two (2) upper level political science courses;
3. rank in the top third of one's graduating class;
4. completion of ten (10) credit hours in the field of political science

Section 3. The Omicron Mu chapter shall initiate new members at such time as is deemed advisable by the organization's officers and faculty advisor. Initiations must occur annually, but can also occur biannually.

Section 4. The privileges of membership of an active member once initiated may be suspended or revoked by the unanimous vote of the entire chapter.

ARTICLE IV  
Officers & Committees

Section 1. Officers of this chapter shall be those provided by the national constitution, to wit: a President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Faculty Advisor.

Section 2. All officers shall be elected by majority of those present and voting at the Spring initiation meeting, to be held on or before May 10th of each year. The current president will preside over the elections. Potential officers can nominate themselves, or can be nominated by other members of the Omicron Mu chapter. Nominees may make brief speeches before the votes are cast. Votes will be cast by secret ballot. The president will cast a vote only in the case of a tie. If the election is close, the president may choose to have a run-off election between the leading candidates. Officers shall serve a term of one year.

Section 3. The duties of the President shall be as follows:

1. to call special meetings of this chapter; 
2. to be responsible (with the Faculty Advisor) for arranging speakers, programs, and entertainment for meetings of the chapter;
3. to see to it that the chapter follows the general policy direction as set forth in Article II;
4. to name the time and location of the meetings.

Section 4. The Vice-President shall assist the President and Faculty Advisor in any way possible and fulfill the duties of the President in the President's absence.

Section 5. The Secretary-Treasurer shall handle all correspondence of the chapter, including the following:

1. notification of members of the time and place of meetings;
2. keeping the minutes of the proceedings thereof;,
3. collect and handle all dues, fees, etc., which pertain to this organization.

Section 6. The Faculty Advisor shall assist the President in arranging speakers, programs, and entertainment for the meetings of this chapter.

Section 7. Any officer of the chapter may be removed by the concurrence of three-fourths (3/4ths) majority of the entire active membership of the chapter.

ARTICLE V  
Fees and Dues

Section 1. For initiation into the chapter, a one-time membership fee, including national dues and dues to the local chapter, shall be due and payable to the Secretary-Treasurer or the political science department administrative assistant by the day of initiation, or by a time pre-arranged as deemed necessary by the officers.

Section 2. No other dues or fees will be assessed or collected by the officers of this chapter except by majority resolution of those present and voting at any business meeting; such fees shall be payable to the Secretary-Treasurer or political science department administrative assistant.

ARTICLE VI  
Meetings

Section 1. Meetings to be held throughout the scholastic calendar year (September-May) shall be called by the President or the Faculty Advisor in case of the President’s absence.

Section 2. Active participation in the Omicron Mu chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha requires members to attend and become involved with the planning and running of all meetings and otherwise conducted business by the chapter.

Section 3.  All members shall be notified of meeting times and places by the Secretary-Treasurer of the chapter.

Section 4. Initiation of new members shall be conducted annually at a Spring Induction Ceremony.  Procedure, time, and place of these ceremonies shall be coordinated by the President and Faculty Advisor.

ARTICLE VII  
Constitution and Amendments

Section 1. The chapter shall have the power to make and amend these by-laws not inconsistent with the word and spirit of the national constitution, as may be deemed necessary.

Section 2. Amendments shall be adopted by the favorable concurrence of not less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of those members present and voting, provided that such amendment or amendments shall have been read in full to the chapter.

Approved this Eighteenth Day of January, in the Year Two Thousand Five.

Douglas Harris                                                                                                                  Faculty Advisor, Omicron Mu chapter  
Pi Sigma Alpha

Joseph R. Weidenburner  
Co-President, Omicron Mu chapter  
Pi Sigma Alpha

Stephanie A. Maloney  
Co-President, Omicron Mu chapter  
Pi Sigma Alpha

Teresa Schell  
Secretary-Treasurer, Omicron Mu chapter  
Pi Sigma Alpha