Chi Epsilon Constitution
Preamble
Article I - Name
Article II - Objects
Article III - Organization and Membership
Article IV - Governent
Article V - Meetings
Article VI - Dissolution
Article VII - Methods of Amending
We students, faculty, and alumni of the Department of Civil Engieering 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 with
high scholastic ability, and believing that a society with the broad principles
of scholarship, character, practicality, and sociability would be an incentive
to greater acheivements in the civil engineering profession, do adopt this
constitution as a guiding instrument for this organization.
Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Chi Epsilon.
Objects
Section 1. The objects of Chi Epsilon shall be:
(a) To contribute to the improvement of the 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 neccessary; 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.
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 the 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 Membership 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 pre-eminent
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.
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 a 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 a councillor from each district.
(e) A district councillor 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 councillor by
a majority vote.
(f) A conclave may elect other councillors from time to time.
(g) The president and vice-president shall be elected from the 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 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 contol of its individual affairs, subject to
the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.
(b) The officers of the chapter shall be elected from the active members of
those chapters.
(c) Each chapter shall have a faculty advisor, 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.
Meetings
Section 1. National Conclaves and chapter meetings shall be held 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.
Dissolution
Section 1. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the
organization will be turned over to one or more organizationswhich themselves
are exempt as organizations described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding sections of any prior or future
law or to the Federal, State, or Local government for exclusive public purpose.
Methods of Amending
Section 1. This Consitiution 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 mambership of the chapter.
| 
