Interfraternity Council Constitution

Submitted January 30, 1997. Amended January 28, 1998. Amended October 9th, 2001. Amended March 5th, 2002. Amended September 23, 2002. Amended October 1, 2002. Amended April 15, 2003 . Amended February 8, 2005. Amended July 13, 2005.
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Quick Link:  preamble | name | purpose | membership | officers | legislative body | conduct body | legislation | finances | meetings | amendments | ratification

PREAMBLE

We, the representative members of the fraternity system of Duke University, believing that the social Greek letter fraternity is a contributing member of the University community, do establish this Constitution. We hereby grant and delegate to the Interfraternity Council such powers and responsibilities as are necessary to provide an organization which both represents and serves the member fraternities and community of Duke University. We do therefore pledge ourselves as members of Greek letter fraternities and to fulfill our intellectual, cultural, and social obligation to ourselves and the university community as a whole.

I. NAME

This organization composed of an Executive Council, a Council of Presidents, and a Judicial Board, shall be known as the Interfraternity Council of Duke University, hereafter referred to as the IFC.

II. PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to promote and further the best interests of the fraternity system, member fraternities, and the Duke University community, and to determine and regulate matters of concern to the fraternity system and its members.

III. MEMBERSHIP

1. The members of this organization shall be of the following fraternities:
   • Alpha Epsilon Pi
   • Alpha Tau Omega
   • Beta Theta Pi
   • Chi Psi
   • Delta Kappa Epsilon
   • Delta Sigma Phi
   • Delta Tau Delta
   • Kappa Alpha Order
   • Phi Delta Theta
   • Pi Kappa Alpha
   • Pi Kappa Phi
   • Psi Upsilon
   • Sigma Chi
   • Sigma Nu
   • Sigma Phi Epsilon
   • Theta Chi
2. Petitioning for Membership:
   1. To become a member of the IFC an organization must be a Greek letter fraternity recognized by the University. Should a group wish to petition the IFC for membership, it must be a nationally recognized Greek letter fraternity.
   2. A petitioning Greek letter fraternity shall apply for recognition according to the guidelines in the Expansion and Colonization Procedures

IV. OFFICERS

1. The officers of the IFC shall be the following: President, Executive Vice President, two Vice Presidents of Recruitment and Pledging, Vice President of Community Interaction, Vice President of Chapter Services, Treasurer/Secretary, Conduct Board Chairman.

2. The elected body of officers shall be collectively known as the Executive Council.

3. The term of office for all Executive Council members shall be one year in length. The term of office shall start no sooner than the last day of February of the given year and no later than the final day of the Spring Academic semester.

4. The election of the Executive Council shall take place before the end of the Spring Academic Semester, allowing for a period of transition. Gaining a majority of the Council of Presidents on a secret ballot, with the outgoing IFC president voting in the event of a tie, elects officers.

5. The Executive Council is accountable to the Council of Presidents for all its actions and shall keep the Council of Presidents informed of all policy changes or activities involving member fraternities.

6. No more that two members from any fraternity may be represented on the Executive Council. The Appointed VP of Recruitment and Pledging must a member of a different fraternity that that of the Elected VP of Recruitment and Pledging. Exceptions to these rules can only be made with the agreement of the current IFC president and President Elect along with majority agreement by the Fraternity Presidents.

7. The IFC Executive Council members are obligated to attend IFC executive meetings, IFC Presidents meetings and to fulfill the following duties:

President (1 elected)
a. Provide guidance and focus the efforts of other IFC officers and committees
b. Preside over all meetings of the council and executive board
c. Build rapport with member chapters regularly to determine what chapter needs are not being met as well as which IFC efforts are particularly strong
d. Meet monthly with Panhel, NPHC, and IGC officers to build rapport between organizations
e. Meet regularly with Office of Greek Life officials and other campus administrators to discuss upcoming events and concerns of the Greek community
f. Serve as official spokesperson for the campus Greek System unless otherwise delegated to another officer

Executive Vice President (1 elected)
a. Sponsor programs once each semester to educate chapter presidents, social chairs, and risk management chairs on current risk management chairs and potential liability issues
b. Meet as necessary with neighbors or neighborhood associations where fraternity off-campus houses are located to discuss issues of concern
c. Help organize the fall Greek presidents retreat
d. Develop and implement one original leadership initiative designed at strengthening the Duke Greek Community
e. Serve as chair of expansion committee and assist new chapter transitions to Duke

Vice President of Recruitment and Pledging (1 elected and 1-2 appointed)
a. Structure recruitment for the upcoming year
b. Publish the IFC/Panhel recruitment brochure
c. Publish informational handouts at the beginning of school and before Christmas break to be sent to the homes of the freshmen to raise interest in Greek life
d. Offer several fall programming efforts designed at raising freshman interest and awareness of the Greek recruitment process
e. Oversee recruitment period in beginning of spring semester
f. Organize and monitor chapter new member activities

Vice President of Chapter Services (1 elected)
a. Administer IFC review process
b. Assist in organization and planning of Greek awards banquet in the Spring
c. Research new ideas and suggestions to be distributed to chapters to enhance chapter scholarship programs including possible scholarship and grant opportunities
d. Coordinate and organize Greek Week

Vice President of Community Interaction (1 elected)
a. Meet at least twice each semester with the Chronicle to discuss campus coverage of Greek issues and to alert them to upcoming possibilities for Greek media exposure
b. Coordinate Greek-wide service/philanthropy events with Panhel/IGC/NPHC representatives
c. Establish relationships with local service organizations and act as a source of information for chapters on potential campus and community service projects
d. Responsible for working with other councils to produce community newsletter at least two times each semester

Treasurer / Secretary (1 appointed)
a. Supervise annual budget process
b. Bill and collect IFC member dues
c. Receive and maintain accurate records of IFC expenditures and income throughout the year.
d. Distribute agendas and maintain minutes at IFC meetings
e. Email minutes of meetings out to President’s Council and IFC Executive Council within 48 hours of meeting
f. Maintain meeting attendance records

Conduct Board Chairman (1 appointed)
a. Work with Administration to continually develop updated Greek Conduct Policy
b. Oversee Conduct Board Hearings and work with others in the Greek community to decide on specific cases.
c. Continue the development of our community-wide Greek Conduct Body
d. Develop new member leadership retreat for 1-2 pledges from each chapter to educate them on topics of concern to the Greek community
e. Work with chapters on hazing/risk-management/residential life policies

V. LEGISLATIVE (GENERAL) BODY

1. The legislative body of this organization shall be called the Council of Presidents.
2. The Council of Presidents is herein vested with all legislative powers.
3. The membership of the Council of Presidents shall include the presidents of all member fraternities. Each fraternity shall have one vote on matters of concern. Each president may inform the Executive Council of a fellow fraternity member who may act as the representative of a fraternity in legislative matters.
4. All official IFC resolutions, recommendations, and endorsements shall require a majority of quorum of the Council of Presidents.
5. The President of the IFC shall serve as President of the Council of Presidents. He shall vote only in the case of a tie.
6. A quorum shall consist of one-half or more of the Council of Presidents.
7. All legislation and other IFC regulations must adhere to all rules and regulations administered by Duke University.

VI. CONDUCT BODY

1. IFC conduct cases will be investigated and processed according to the guidelines and policies of the Greek Conduct Board.
2. The Greek Conduct Board will be comprised wholly of chapter members from the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Inter-Greek Council.

VII. LEGISLATION

1. Upon passage by a majority of the Council of Presidents, all legislation shall become binding upon member fraternities.

VIII. FINANCES

1. The Treasurer handles financial responsibilities of the IFC. He shall inform the Council of Presidents on the financial status of the IFC at the request of the President.
2. A new member fee of fifty dollars shall be collected upon receiving new member’s bid card.
3. The Treasurer shall collect brother dues of ten dollars per active brother per semester, from member fraternities during each semester.
4. A member fraternity that fails to pay dues shall be subject to the penalties specified in the IFC Rules and Regulations.

IX. MEETINGS

1. The President shall inform each fraternity president of the time and place of meetings. The Council of Presidents shall meet at least twice per month that classes are in session.

X. AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be presented in writing to all members of the Council of Presidents at a regular meeting and shall be discussed and voted on at the next regular meeting. A two-thirds majority of the total membership of the Council of Presidents shall be required for adoption.
2. Presidents shall be required to live in their respective on-campus section during their presidential term, if applicable.

XI. RATIFICATION

When approved by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of the Council of Presidents, this Constitution shall immediately become effective and shall supersede all previous Constitutions and By-laws of the IFC. Submitted January 30, 1997. Amended January 28, 1998. Amended October 9th, 2001. Amended March 5th, 2002. Amended September 23, 2002. Amended October 1, 2002. Amended April 15, 2003. Amended February 8, 2005.  Amended July 13, 2005.

Addendums:

(1) Expansion and Colonization Procedures of the Interfraternity Council at Duke University Amendment
(2) Finances Amendment
(3) Attendance Policy Amendment
(4) Greek Conduct Board Guidelines and Policies Amendment
(5) Pledge Manual Amendment
(6) Non-Affiliated Group Amendment