bylaws
By-Laws
of
Gamma Epsilon Delta Chapter,
Lambda Alpha Epsilon – American Criminal Justice Association
Revised –13th October 2006
Article I: MEMBERSHIP
A. Requirements
1. Applicants for membership must meet the requirements as set forth in the Chapter Constitution.
2. University applicants must have declared a major or minor in Criminal Justice or some related field such as corrections, safety science, industrial security, etc.
3. University applicants must have a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the time of their application and must maintain this 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) throughout their membership in the Association.
B. Applications and Applicants
1. Applicants will complete the standard membership form and submit said form to the Executive Committee.
2. Applications will be considered at any regular Chapter meeting during the academic school year.
3. Applicant may be required to make application to the National Chapter as well as the local chapter in order to be officially considered a member of Lambda Alpha Epsilon, thus receiving all paperwork to endorse his/her membership.
4. A check in the amount of the initiation fee (see schedule of fees) and the local chapter dues must be on file before an application can be considered by the Executive Committee.
5. Applicants will be called to appear before the Executive Committee to answer any questions pertaining to their membership.
6. Any member desiring to register an objection to an applicant shall do so in writing, setting forth the reason(s) for such objections within ten (10) business days after application is presented to the subordinate chapter.
7. Perspective members may appeal a denial of membership to the Executive Committee who will bring the denial of membership before Chapter membership for a vote of approval or denial. Vote will be by secret ballot and will require a simple majority for passage.
8. Applicants may participate in Chapter activities only after all dues have been paid in full and applications fully received and approved by the Executive Committee of the local Chapter.
9. If the application is rejected by the Executive Committee of the Grand Chapter, the initiation fee shall be returned in full with the notice of rejection signed by the President and Secretary of the Grand Chapter.
C. Dues and Assessment
1. To maintain good standing, a member must have paid the yearly membership fee required by the Grand Chapter.
2. To maintain good standing, a member must also have paid the yearly membership fee required by the Local Chapter.
3. Members may be assessed such amounts as deemed necessary so long as the amount and purpose of each assessment is approved by a majority vote of paid members present at the meeting.
4. On receiving a notice of rejection by the Executive Committee of the Grand Chapter concerning payment of fees, Local Chapter membership will be terminated.
D. Classification of Membership
1. Active Members
A. Active members are those members of the Association who have paid all current dues and assessments to their subordinate chapter as well as their Grand Chapter; and who meet all qualifications for membership. Such member shall be in good standing.
2. Inactive Members
A. Members who have dues outstanding to the Local Chapter or the Grand Chapter shall be classified as Inactive Members by the Executive Board.
B. Members who do not participate in Local Chapter functions may be reduced to Inactive Membership status by the Executive Board.
C. Inactive Members do not have voting privileges on Local Chapter business.
D. Members who are moved to Inactive Member status shall be notified of the action by the Executive Board.
Article II: MEETINGS
A. In accordance with the Chapter Constitution, there will be a minimum of one regularly scheduled meeting each month of the academic school year.
1. The President shall call the first chapter meeting during the first month of the academic school year.
2. At the first meeting of the academic school year, the President shall advise the membership of the additional scheduling of regular meetings to be held during the school year.
3. Regularly scheduled meetings are those requiring mandatory attendance for which penalties may be imposed for failure to attend.
B. A special meeting may be called at any time by the President. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President or the Executive Committee may call a special meeting.
C. Order of Business
1. Call to Order
2. Review of minutes from previous meeting
3. Treasurer’s report
4. Reports by Committees
5. Unfinished business
6. New Business
7. Bills presented
8. Announcements
9. Next meeting announcement
10. Adjournment
D. Quorum
1. Once more than one-half of the Active members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Absentee votes, when applicable, may be utilized in the quorum count.
E. Voting
1. Every Active member is entitled to one vote pertaining to matters before the membership.
2. Members may utilize the absentee vote under the following conditions and stipulations.
A. At the meetings for election of officers.
B. At meetings when the order of business is concerned with proposed changes to the Chapter Constitution and/or By-laws.
F. Attendance
1. Attendance is requested by the Executive Committee of LAE members at regularly scheduled meetings and other functions.
2. The Executive Committee shall take action is deems necessary to insure participation for the continuance of a viable organization.
Article III: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. General Provisions
1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of members as specified in Article IV and Article VI of the Chapter Constitution.
2. Only members in good standing may serve on the Executive Committee.
3. No elected officers shall serve more than two consecutive terms of office. The tenure of the office of Secretary and the office of Treasurer shall be for the duration of two academic years before re-election is necessary. All other offices maintain a tenure of one academic year before re-election is necessary.
4. All elected officers shall be required to attend regular and special meetings of the Association and shall be subject to disciplinary action for absence from three consecutive meetings without reasonable cause.
5. The Executive Committee should meet prior to the first regular scheduled meeting of the year and once a month thereafter.
6. The Executive Committee shall have the power to assess penalties for absenteeism from regular Chapter meetings with approval of the Chapter sponsor.
7. The Executive Committee shall possess the power to schedule and announce special meetings of the Association.
8. The Executive Committee shall have the power to make decisions pertaining to general business of the Chapter when it is impossible to schedule a special meeting or bring the business before the Association.
9. The Executive Committee shall be held responsible to the Association for the consequences of their decisions.
B. Officers and Duties
1. The officers of the Chapter shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Sergeant-at-Arms.
A. The President’s duties shall consist of, but not be limited to, presiding over all meetings, serving as ex-officio member of all committees, and acting as official representative of the Chapter.
B. The duties of the Vice-President shall consist of assisting the President in the performance of his duties, serve as coordinator for campus events involving the Association, and presiding for the President in his or her absence.
C. The duties of the Secretary shall include keeping accurate minutes of the proceedings of the Chapter. Also, he or she shall keep the records of the names, addresses, and other such data pertaining to the membership as may be of interest or use and as directed by the Executive Committee of the Chapter.
D. The duties of the Treasurer shall include the following:
1. Assisting the Secretary in the performance of his or her duties.
2. He or she shall officiate for the Secretary in his or her absence.
3. He or she shall sign all orders drawn on the funds of the Association when lawfully voted.
4. All monetary transactions shall be made aware to the Treasurer for his or her final approval so as to maintain accurate financial records.
5. He or she shall furnish the Grand Chapter with all information required by the Grand Chapter.
6. He or she shall perform other such duties as directed by the Executive Committee.
E. The duties of the Historian shall include keeping records, both written and pictorially, of all events sponsored by the Association. He or she shall also preside over the maintenance of the Local Chapter’s website. He or she shall perform other such duties as directed by the Executive Committee as well.
F. The duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms shall be to call to order and adjourn all regularly scheduled meetings. He or she shall also be responsible for maintaining proper code of order for all business conducted by the Chapter. He or she shall also assist the Historian in the performance of his or her duties. He or she shall perform other such duties as directed by the Executive Committee as well.
G. Sponsors of the Association
1. The association shall recommend one person who is currently serving in an area of the Department of Criminal Justice to serve as their primary.
2. The Association may also recommend any number of co-sponsors to aid the Association.
3. The sponsors shall have the following rights, duties, obligations, and privileges.
A. They shall be the overseers of all business and social functions of the Association.
B. They shall be exempt of all dues as assessed by the Local Chapter unless the sponsor joins the Association as an active member.
C. They may advise the Executive Committee on matters concerning membership.
D. They will be expected to attend all meetings of the Association.
E. They will be expected to meet the criteria established by University of Central Missouri for sponsoring an organization.
C. Election of Officers
1. Officers of the chapter shall be elected by secret ballot at the first meeting of March during the spring semester of the academic school year. Upon election, the officer-elects shall serve an apprenticeship under the direction of the current officer that they will be replacing for the time period between the end of the National Competition until the end of the academic school year.
2. Whereupon completion of this apprenticeship, the officer-elects shall conduct the final two regularly scheduled meetings of the academic year and continue their post until their successors are elected and similarly qualified.
3. At the Chapter meeting prior to the election of new officers, nominations will be called for and qualifications of the candidates given. Candidates shall be given a brief time period immediately prior to elections to express their qualifications to the membership.
4. Should the presiding officer wish to nominate a member for office, he or she shall appoint an alternate presiding officer to conduct the meeting until completion of the nominations.
5. In order to be nominated, a candidate for office shall be an active member of the Association as defined in Article I, paragraph D, subparagraph 1 in the Chapter Constitution. He shall be either a major or minor in a degree program of the Department of Criminal Justice, Industrial Security, Safety Science, or other related field; shall have completed at least nine (9) hours of major or minor requirements; shall be a student for the full academic year; and have his or her dues paid in full.
A. In the case of President and Vice-President a nominee must be of junior standing, according to the requirements set forth by University of Central Missouri, by the start of the academic year in which he or she is to take office, in order to be eligible to hold said office.
6. Only active members of the Association may nominate a candidate for office.
7. The election of officers of the Chapter shall be held under new business and must be completed before adjournment.
8. A majority vote of all votes cast by active members present must be secured by one nominee to secure election of the office.
9. Each chapter office shall have its own separate ballot.
10. In the case of a tie, the names of the members receiving the two highest numbers of votes shall be voted upon again until one has secured a majority.
11. The highest office vacant must be filled before passing on to the next highest office.
12. In the event the current Sergeant-at-Arms is a nominee for another office, the President shall appoint a member to collect and tally the ballots. Ballots shall be shown to any member on demand and shall be kept by the Secretary during his or her term of office.
13. The results of the election may be challenged prior to the adjournment of the meeting at which the election was held. Upon the motion and majority vote of the members present, a recount of ballots will be made by two members designated by the presiding officer. The results of this recount shall be final.
14. At Chapter election, the order of call under New Business shall be:
A. Presidential Elections
1. Call for nominations for President
2. Candidates response (accepts or rejects)
3. Close for nominations for president
B. Vice-Presidential Elections
1. Call for nominations for Vice-President
2. Candidates response (accepts or rejects)
3. Close of nominations for Vice-President
Note: Defeated candidates from a higher office may be nominated for a lower office.
D. Recall of Officers
1. Officers of the Chapter may be recalled for any violation of the Constitution, By-Laws, or for neglect of duty.
2. Motion for recall may be made at any regularly scheduled meeting by an active member.
3. The following procedures shall be followed:
A. Motion made must be seconded from the floor.
B. There shall follow a discussion on the reasons for the motion.
C. A motion to close the debate shall be made and seconded from the floor.
D. A vote on the motion will be taken by secret ballot. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall collect and count the votes, provided he or she is not the subject of the motion. In the event the motion is for the recall of the Sergeant-at-Arms, the President shall designate another member to collect and count the votes.
E. An officer of the Chapter is recalled from office when three-fourths (3/4) of the members present vote for his or her removal from office.
F. The subject of the recall need not be present at the recall proceedings.
G. Following the recall of an officer, the Executive Committee shall hold a general election at the next regularly scheduled Chapter meeting to fill the vacancy.
H. The right of appeal for removal from office for cause shall not be denied if the appeal is made before the next scheduled Chapter meeting. Appeal must be made in writing to the Chapter Sponsor(s).
Article IV: STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CHAPTER
A. Membership Committee
1. This committee shall be responsible for a membership drive at the beginning of each academic term.
2. This committee shall be subordinate to and shall report directly to the Executive Committee.
B. Fundraising Committee
1. This committee shall be responsible for the organization and announcements of fundraising programs and projects for the Association.
2. This committee shall be subordinate to and shall report directly to the Executive Committee.
C. Historical Committee
1. This committee shall be responsible for the organization and announcements of Historical meetings and progress of the committee.
2. This committee shall be subordinate to and shall report directly to the Executive Committee.
D. T-Shirt Committee
1. This committee shall be responsible for the organization and announcements of T-Shirt meetings and the progress of the committee.
2. This committee shall be subordinate to and shall report directly to the Executive Committee.
E. CJCD Committee
1. The Vice President shall appoint a CJCD Committee consisting of no less than three (3) active members of the association.
2. This Committee shall organize and oversee the Chapter’s annual Criminal Justice Career Day.
This Committee shall be subordinate to and shall report directly to the Executive Board.
Article V: DUTIES OF GAMMA EPSILON DELTA TO THE GRAND CHAPTER
A. Subordinate chapters shall furnish the Grand Chapter with a roster of its membership and shall notify the Grand Chapter of any changes.
B. The subordinate chapter shall furnish the Grand Chapter a copy of the Chapter Constitution and By-Laws and shall notify the Grand Chapter of any changes.
C. The Secretary or other person designated by the subordinate chapter President shall be responsible for keeping an updated copy of the Grand Chapter Constitution and By-Laws for reference by their membership.
D. The Treasurer of the subordinate chapter will file annually with the Internal Revenue Service, a return of the “Organization Exempt for Income Tax.” This return must be field on or before May 15th. A copy shall be sent to the Grand Chapter Secretary.
E. Controller sheets in duplicate shall be furnished with all monies sent to the Grand Chapter Secretary. One copy will be returned for chapter records.
F. Subordinate chapters shall be subject to the provisions of these By-Laws, Grand Chapter Standing Rules and rulings of the Executive Board of the Grand Chapter.
Article VI: COMPETITION STANDARDS
A. At the regional and national level of competition each member is
required to take all five (5) academic tests.
B. If a member during a competition violates any laws excluding speeding tickets, he or she is subject to termination or a disciplinary action deemed necessary by the executive board, chapter advisor, and department chair.
C. If a member at the regional or national competition level is removed from a hotel, the Gamma Epsilon Delta chapter will not pay for a new room's expense and the member who is removed will reimburse the Criminal Justice department for the cost of the hotel room.
D. At regional and national conferences, alcohol is prohibited for all members until academic, crime scene, and firearms competitions are over. After all competitions are over, members of legal age may drink responsibly. Violators of this rule will not receive points for attending the conference and will be placed on probation for the semester following the incident. A second offense will warrant termination of membership.
Article VII: AWARDS
A. Outstanding Members Award
1) Executive Board may choose one recipient for the award each year.
2) The Outstanding Member Award is an honorary award and does not grant any special privileges to the recipient.
3) A distinctive Plaque will be presented to the awardee inscribed with his/her name and date of issuance.
4) One award may be given each year at the spring induction ceremony.
5) The five members acquiring the most points will be eligible for the award.
6) Selection for the award shall be based on
(1) involvement with the chapter.
(2) Dedication
(3) Professionalism
(4) Positive role model for other members
(5) Participation in a committee
(6) Participation in Fundraising
7) Recipient must not be a member of the Executive Board for the year that the award is given.
8) Recipient must be a paid member of both the national and local chapters
Article VIII: AMENDMENTS
A. This Constitution and By-Laws may be altered, amended, or rescinded at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Chapter, provided notice in writing of an alteration is brought to the attention of all members of the Chapter at least ten calendar days before it is to be voted on.
B. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of active members of the Chapter, present
at the meeting and inclusive of absentee ballots presented to the Chapter President (or his designee) prior to the vote, shall be
necessary to alter, amend, or rescind any section of the
Constitution and By-Laws.