Chapter Constitution

(as amended November 7^th, 2002)

I. This Society is a constituent member of the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, an unincorporated organization (hereinafter Phi Beta Kappa Society), or its successor-in-interest, and shall be known as the Alpha of South Dakota or as the South Dakota Chapter.

II. This Chapter is under the general supervision and control of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. The purpose of Phi Beta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship, friendship, and cultural interests.

III. The membership of the Chapter shall consist of members in course, alumni members (if any), honorary members (if any), and associate members.

1. Only those persons shall be elected to membership whose qualifications have been carefully investigated. With a view to maintaining the historic character of Phi Beta Kappa, members of the faculty on the Nominating Committee shall be chosen predominantly from teachers of liberal subjects.

2. The members in course shall be elected primarily on the basis of broad cultural interests and scholarly achievements. The number of undergraduates elected from any class, including any who may be elected In their junior year, shall not exceed l5 per cent of those expected to receive liberal bachelor degrees in that class. Only those students whose work has been definitely liberal in character and purpose shall be eligible to election as members in course.

3. The Chapter shall determine the courses or work which shall be considered liberal in character, that is, studies designed principally for a knowledge or understanding or appreciation of the natural and social world in which we live, as contrasted with training intended principally to develop skill or vocational techniques. The Chapter may take into consideration the results of such methods as honors work and comprehensive examinations and also the opinions of teachers and administrative officers concerning the character, capacity, scholarly achievements, breadth of interest, and general promise of each student under consideration.

4. Graduates of the institution of not less than ten years' standing who, by contributions in the fields of the humane sciences and letters or by works of pure literature, have since graduation given clear evidence of the possession of distinguished scholarly capacities, may be elected to alumni membership. The number elected in any triennium should be strictly limited by the Chapter by-laws.

5. Men and women, not graduates of the institution, who, by contributions in the fields of the humane sciences and letters or by works of pure literature, have given clear evidence of the possession of distinguished scholarly capacities, may be elected to honorary membership. No graduate of another institution having a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa shall be so elected unless the consent of that chapter has been obtained. The number elected in any triennium should be strictly limited by the Chapter by-laws.

6. Members of other chapters of Phi Beta Kappa who become officers or members of the teaching staff of the institution shall thereby become associate members of the Chapter with full privileges in the conduct of its affairs. Other members of Phi Beta Kappa in the vicinity may be invited to any meeting of the Chapter.

7. The Chapter may make further limitations or restrictions concerning any class of members other than associate.

8. Since good moral character is a qualification for membership, any member found, after being given due notice and an opportunity to be heard, to have lost this qualification may be expelled from Phi Beta Kappa by a four-fifths vote of the members present at a regular annual meeting of the Chapter.

9. A citation of the qualifications of each person elected to alumni or honorary member-ship shall be entered upon the minutes and submitted for record to the Secretary of the United Chapters. A full report of all members elected, expelled, or recorded as having resigned or died shall be sent annually to the Secretary of the United Chapters.

IV. This Chapter shall send a delegation to represent it at each meeting of the Council of Phi Beta Kappa and shall contribute its share to the financial support of the United Chapters.

V. This Chapter shall, by suitable by-laws, provide for the election of officers, the selection of members, the conduct of its meetings, and such other matters as may be deemed proper; provided that said by-laws shall contain nothing inconsistent with this Constitution or with the Constitution and By-laws of the United Chapters, and provided further that said by-laws and any amendment thereto shall not become effective until approved by the Senate.

VI. This Constitution may be amended only by the Council of Phi Beta Kappa.

VII. This Chapter is organized and is to be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) (references herein to the Internal Revenue Code, hereinafter IRC, include the corresponding section(s) of any future United States tax code).

No part of the net earnings of this Chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its directors, officers, members, trustees, or other private persons, except that the Chapter shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein. No substantial part of the activities of the Chapter shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Chapter shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under IRC 501(c)(3), or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under IRC I170(c)(2), 2055(a)(2), or 2522(a)(2).

Upon the dissolution of this Chapter, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the lawful debts and liabilities of the Chapter, the assets shall be distributed to one or more of the following categories of recipients, as the Chapter shall determine:

1. A nonprofit organization or organizations which may have been created to succeed the Chapter, as long as such organization or each such organization shall qualify as an organization described in 501(c)(3); and/or

2. The Phi Beta Kappa Society, provided that it shall qualify at the time of distribution as an organization described in IRC 501(c)(3); and/or

3. A nonprofit organization or organizations having similar aims and objectives as the Chapter and which may be selected as an appropriate recipient of such assets, as long as such organization or each such organization shall qualify as an organization described in IRC 501(c)(3); and/or

4. The Federal government, or to a State or local government, but only if such assets will be used for a public purpose.