Constitution

of the

Maryland Collegiate Honors Council

Article I:         Name

This organization shall be known as the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council.

Article II:        Mission

The mission of the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council shall be,

A.  To increase the public's awareness and improve their perception of Honors programs in higher education in Maryland;

B.   To provide a forum for sharing information about Honors programs;

C.  To increase the public and private fiscal commitment to Honors programs and projects;

D.  To provide students with greater opportunities for intercollegiate Honors program activities;

E.   To collaborate and cooperate with regional and national organizations which have similar goals.

Article III:      Membership

Membership in the Council shall consist of institutional membership and individual membership.

A.  Institutional membership: Any post-secondary institution with accreditation or recognized candidacy may hold membership and be eligible to send one representative to annual meetings. Foundations and State and Federal Agencies are eligible for institutional membership.

B.   Individual membership: Faculty, students, administrators and other interested persons are eligible for individual membership.

Article IV:      Voting

Each individual member and each representative of an institutional member shall be entitled to one vote in all transactions of the Council.

Article V:        Quorum

Twenty percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any previously announced meeting.

Article VI:      Officers

The officers of the Council shall be a President, a Vice-President and a Secretary.

Section 1:      The President shall be elected at the annual meeting and hold office for one year or until a successor is elected and installed. The President shall call for and preside over the meetings of the Council and shall appoint committees, and shall serve as the liaison officer with other Honors organizations.

Section 2:      The Vice-President shall be elected at the annual meeting and hold office for one year or until a successor is elected and installed. The Vice-President shall preside over the Council in the absence of the President and shall perform such duties as assigned by the President.

                        Section 3:      The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected at the annual meeting and hold office for one year or until a successor is elected and installed. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Council, collect dues and maintain financial records, and perform such duties incidental to the conduct of the office as may be required.

Article VII:     The Executive Committee

Section 1:      The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Council and four at-large members. At least two members of the Committee will be students.

Section 2:      Members of the Executive Committee must be in good standing. Since students may hold full membership on the Council, they may serve as officers of the Council.

Article VIII:   Meetings

The Council shall hold an annual meeting at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee. Other meetings may be called by the President by majority agreement of the Executive Committee or if requested in writing by ten percent of the membership.

Article IX:      Amendments

Any amendment to the Constitution shall be presented in writing to the membership thirty days before the meeting and voted on at the annual meeting. An amendment to the constitution shall be effective immediately upon enactment.

Article X:        Ratification

Ratification of the Constitution shall be by simple majority of those present and voting at the first annual business meeting of the Council.

Article XI:    Dues and Voting Rights

Section 1:      The annual dues for institutional members are $15.00.

Section 2:      The annual dues for individual members are $5.00, except for student members, who will pay $2.00 annual dues.

Section 3:      Only those institutions whose dues are paid by the time of the annual meeting are entitled to a vote in the business of the Council.

Section 4:      Only those individual members whose dues are paid by the time of the annual meeting are entitled to a vote in the business of the Council. Failure to pay dues on time does not restrict individuals from participation in the activities of the annual meeting.

Section 5:      Any member whose dues are in arrears for two consecutive years shall be dropped from the rolls.