IFC Bylaws - Fraternity and Sorority Life

Constitution of the Interfraternity Council

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana

Proposed and accepted November 1992

Ratified April 1, 1995

Proposed Amendments October 20, 1999

Proposed Amendments November 12, 2003

Article 1. Name:

We shall be known as the Interfraternity Council (IFC) of Montana State University.

Article 2. Purpose:

To serve as a public relations medium between the fraternity system, the university and the community.
To promote and coordinate interfraternal and all Greek activities in order to bring cohesion amongst the chapters and within the system.
To act as a problem solving group for the fraternity system.
To establish policy and to discipline fraternity groups for acts perpetrated by those groups (either in part or all of one or more fraternities) through due process in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws of these articles.
To provide a liaison between Panhellenic Council and the fraternity system.
To promote the interests of Montana State University, the community and the fraternity system.
To promote superior scholarship as basic to intellectual achievement.
To provide a liaison to the ASMSU Senate.

Article 3. Membership:

The membership of IFC shall be composed of the male fraternities at MSU and be represented by their respective presidents and a representative.
Each fraternity shall have one vote. The president of a chapter has the authority to relinquish his vote to any active member within his respective fraternity.
If a member fraternity has more than two (2) unexcused absences in a row from IFC meetings the fraternity in questions shall be on social suspension for a three (3) week period, beginning on the weekend following the missed meetings.

Article 4. Officers:

All officers shall keep and maintain a file concerning their respective offices and activities in the Student Affairs and Services Office during their term.
All officers are also required to attend an executive meeting to prepare an agenda for the regular IFC meeting.
The Executive Committee will meet regularly at the dicretion of the president of IFC.
The officers of the council, in voting order, shall be President, Vice President, Sergeant at Arms, Secretary, Treasurer, Recruitment Chairman, Public Relations Chairman, and Greek Activities Chairman.
If an officer is delinquent in their duties, they may be removed from office and replaced immediately by a vote of all member fraternities.
Eligibility and Duties of the Officers:
1. President
  1. The President of the Interfraternity Council shall not hold any of the following offices in his own fraternity: President, Risk Chairman, or Rush Chairman.
  2. He shall conduct all Executive Committee and council meetings.
  3. He shall appoint all committees and committee chairmen.
  4. He shall see that all committees and activities are run in an orderly manner as specified by IFC.
  5. He has the authority to vote only in case of a tie.
  6. He shall be elected by the voting membership at the end of the fall semester and shall serve a one-year term.
  7. He shall maintain a working relationship with the Office of Student Affairs and with ASMSU.
2. Vice President
  1. To discharge the duties of the president in the event of the president's abscence, resignation or forfeiture of office.
  2. To serve as an ex-officio member of, and to supervise the activities of all standing committees except the recruitment committee unless prior arrangements have been made through the actions of IFC.
  3. To be in charge of the programming consisting of a Greek council and relations between IFC and Panhellenic.
  4. Work in cooperation with the Panhellenic Greek week chairperson in the preparation of a Greek Week program.
  5. Be responsible, along with Panhellenic chairperson for the selection of Greek Week Committee members.
  6. Publish a schedule of Greek Week one month prior to Greek Week.
  7. To perform such duties as assigned by the president.
  8. To be responsible for all scholarship.
3. Sergeant at Arms
  1. The Sergeant at Arms shall not hold the following positions in his respective fraternity: President, Risk Chairman, or Recruitment Chairman.
  2. Shall serve as the chairman of the Tribunal Committee
  3. Shall be in charge of enforcing parliamentary procedure and be familiar with Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised
  4. He shall maintain order during meetings.
  5. He shall be familiar with and maintain a copy of this Constitution and the associated by-laws.
4. Secretary
  1. Shall take minutes of all meetings and distribute them within 72 hours to all fraternity presidents, Greek Advisor and IFC Executive officers.
  2. Handle all IFC correspondence
  3. Sign all contracts involving IFC and MSU in the absence of the president.
5. Treasurer
  1. Prepare an annual budget by the first meeting of each year.
  2. Prepare a treasurers report for each meeting.
  3. Be responsible for the collection and expenditures of all monies, but only with the approval of the voting members.
  4. Prepare a budget analysis for the Greek Coordinator before presenting the budget to IFC.
6. Recruitment Chairman
  1. The Recruitment Chairman of IFC shall not hold the following offices in his respective fraternity: President, Risk Chairman, or Recruitment Chariman.
  2. Prepare a recruitment program and rules for the forth-coming year by the end of spring semester. The program and rules must be approved by IFC and worked out closely with the recruitment chairmen of the member fraternities.
  3. Be responsible for seeing that the recruitment program is carried out.
  4. Shall write and submit to the Sergeant at Arms any recruitment rule infractions
  5. Produce a recruitment brochure with the Public Relations Chariman by the end of spring semester (approved by IFC)
  6. Conduct and present an evaluation of the fall recruitment program.
  7. Shall not hold a fraternal membership recruitment office other than that of IFC recruitment for the length of his term in office.
  8. He shall meet with and educate chapter Recruitment Chairs a minimum of once per semester.
7. Public Relations Chairman
  1. Publicize such events concerning IFC activities as the president and council may see fit.
  2. Submit a report at each regular meeting.
  3. Outline semester goals.
  4. Promote public relations within the Greek system, Montana State University, and the Bozeman community.
  5. Submit weekly updates, on the Greek system, to the Exponent.
8. Greek Activities Charman
  1. Help Vice President with Greek Week Organization
  2. Help Recruitment Chairman with Organization of Recuitment Activities
  3. Work with the Intramurals Activities Office of MSU
  4. Oversee and organize a yearly all Greek philanthropy project.

Article 5. Advisors:

IFC and Panhellenic will jointly interview, select and employ an advisor which will be known as the Greek Coordinator.
The Greek Coordinator will be paid through the collection of annual dues from the fraternities and sororities.
The Greek Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating activities, relations and correspondence for the Greek system at Montana State University.
The Coordinator serves as an advisor for the entire Greek System and will be accessible to the Greek members at MSU.

Article 6. Amendments:

Any amendment to this constitution and/or its by-laws shall be submitted to IFC at least one regular meeting prior to its acceptance. An amendment must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the fraternities.

Article 7. Rules of Order:

IFC shall be governed by Robers Rules of Order, Newly Revised except in special matters specified by this constitution and by-laws.

Article 8. Meetings:

Meetings shall be held on alternating weeks throughout the academic year. The first meeting of each semester shall be on the first Wednesday after classes commence. Subsequent meeting dates shall be determined to fit the schedules of the membership. It is recommended that a meeting be held with the advisor at least once a semester. The president, with the approval of two other executive officers, shall have the power to call special meetings of IFC.

Article 9. Elections:

All officers shall be elected at least three (3) weeks prior to the end of fall semester. The period following elections up through the second meeting of spring semester shall serve as a transition period with both new and old officers attending meetings. Nominations shall be held the meeting prior to the election of officers.

Article 10. Membership Recruitment:

Dry Recruitment shall be defined as:
1. A period of membership recruitment in which a zero tolerance for alcohol use by member fraternities is adopted. Any member present at a recuitment function showing signs of outward intoxication, or use of alcohol during this period shall constitute a recuitment infraction.
2. The IFC Recuitment Chairman, with the approval of IFC, shall determine the duration of Dry Recruitment. This duration includes pledging ceremonies of member fraternities.
3. Bids cannot be sent prior to the beginnning of a formal (Dry) recruitment.
4. Once a potential new member has accepted a bid, another fraternity shall not recuit him until such time as he, of his own free will, drops the bid.
Any fraternity found in violation of Dry recruitment shall be referred to the IFC Standards Board.

Article 11. Finance:

School Year: January 1 through December 31
Contracts: Signature of the President and Secretary shall be required to bind IFC to all contracts.
Checks: All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer and the President or Greek Coordinator
Membership Dues: Each brother of the member fraternities shall be assessed a fee to finance the operations of IFC. The amount shall be determined by the membership by the end of fall semester. Any increase deemed necessary must be approved by a 3/4 vote of IFC.
All delinquency infractions shall be heard by the IFC Standards Board.

Article 12. Ratification:

A 3/4 affirmative vote of the members of IFC shall be required to ratify this constitution.

By-Laws of the Interfraternity Council

Ratified April 24, 1996

1. Judicial Board

The Interfraternity Council Judicial Board, here by known as J-Board, is constituted solely for the purpose of protecting the fraternity system through the maintenance of high standards of self-governance, accountability, and education. It shall judge every formally written complaint involving fraternity or individual conduct and infractions of: theIFC constitution, By-Lwas, and regulations set forth by IFC. It shall then offer an appropriate decision.
Membership:
1. The J-Board shall consist of two members from each fraternity, the Sergeant at Arms, and the President of IFC.
2. Each member must be of sophomore or higher status and have at least one year of affiliation with their fraternity.
3. Membership selection will be the discretion of the individual fraternity.
4. The chairman of the J-Board shall be the Sergeant at Arms of IFC.
5. Each fraternity will have both one voice and one vote.
6. In case of a tie, the Sergeant at Arms shall have the tie breaking vote unless there is a conflict of interest in which case the vote would pass accordingly down the line of IFC Executive Officers starting with the President.
7. The J-Board must have full quorum (one member per fraternity) in order to set a hearing date. Any fraternity which is absent:
  1. Will lose thier vote for the particular hearing.
  2. May be fined a maximum of $250 at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
8. A list of all J-Board members will be available upon request at the beginning of each semester.
Procedures
1. All formally written complaints must be submitted to the IFC Sergeant at Arms within one week of the alleged offense.
2. The J-Board will assemble only upon the reciept of a formally written complaint.
3. The accused will be notified of the complaint, by the Sergeant at Arms, both through certified mail and in person withing five (5) days of its submission.
4. Within one week of receiving the complaint, the J-Board will assemble in a Pre-Meeting:
  1. Members will be informed of the complaint.
  2. No discussion will be held at this time.
  3. A hearing date will be set within one week.
  4. The Dean of Students and Greek Coordinator will be informed of the complaint.
  5. All hearings and meetings shall be closed and confidential unless otherwise authorized by the J-Board.
  6. It will be decided whether to proceed by taking action with the fraternity(s) and/or the individuals(s) involved.
5. Both the complainant and accused shall be informed of the hearing date immediately following the Pre-meeting.
6. The complainant's charges shall be presented before the J-Board and accused by the Sergeant at Arms.
7. The accused fraternity(s)/individual(s) then have the opportunity to respond.
8. Upon final questioning by the J-Board, both parties will have the opportunity to present a closing statement.
9. The chairman may reopen the hearing upon the presentation of new material evidence to the J-Board within three months of the decision.
10. The chairman of the J-Board may adjourn the hearing upon the request of either party under special circumstances.
Decision:
1. The decision shall be based upon a simple majority vote.
2. The decision shall be submitted no later than seven days after the closing of the hearing.
3. The decision shall contain a written judgment and explanation addressed to the accused, the complainant, the Greek Coordinator, and the Dean of Students.
4. In special cases, depending primarily upon severity, the J-Board and Dean of Students may take separate or concurrent action.
5. Any J-Board member who is personally involved in the case shall disqualify himself from participation in the case. The involved fraternity will still retain a J-Board position and vote.
Penalties
1. The J-Board has the authority to levy fines, warnings, probation, suspension from IFC functions, loss of vote in IFC, and community service. The J-Board may not remove a member fraternity from IFC.
2. Maximum Fine: $20 per member (active members, associates, and pledges) plus any compensation for damages.
3. The decision may be sent to the fraternity's nationals at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
4. You cannot lose your J-Board vote as the result of a penalty.
5. No penalty can extend for a period longer than one year.
6. Any member fraternity that has been suspended may be reinstated automatically within one year of the decision.
Appeals:
1. Can be brought only to the J-Board
2. Must be formally written and recieved by the Sergeant at Arms.
3. Will be limited to two and must include new information.