The Bylaws of The Carnegie Mellon University Society of Physics Students
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be "The Carnegie Mellon University Chapter of the Society of Physics Students," abbreviated "CMU SPS."
ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this Chapter shall be to provide an opportunity for those interested in physics to interact with one another in order to support the advancement and diffusion of knowledge of physics, encourage interest in physics throughout the academic and local communities, and introduce students to the professional community.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership in this Society of Physics Students Chapter shall be open to all individuals interested in physics (we conform to the Statement of Assurance of Carnegie Mellon University).
Section 1.1. Members who do belong to the National SPS.
Any individual affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University who joins the national SPS is entitled to the following minimum privileges:
1. Registration as a student member of the American Institute of Physics, with all benefits therein, including a year subscription to
"Physics Today."
2. Ability to apply for scholarships from the national SPS office, as well as the potential to participate in all other national SPS activities,
including the physics honor society Sigma Pi Sigma.
3. Voting rights in all CMU SPS chapter matters, including election of officers and any issues brought before the membership for
consideration.
Section 1.2. Members who do not belong to the National SPS.
Any individual affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University who has an interest in the aforementioned chapter objectives and who has attended at least three
SPS meetings becomes a member of the CMU SPS chapter.
1. All members are entitled to vote in all CMU SPS chapter matters, including election of officers and any issues brought before the
membership for consideration.
2. Members who do not belong to the National SPS may not serve as officers.
Section 1.3. Active membership status
All members will gain active membership status upon becoming a member. Any member who does not attend at least three (3) of the
chapter activities in any semester will lose active membership status at the end of that semester. Members can regain active membership
status upon attending at least one third of the chapter activities in any semester thereafter.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. Chapter Officers
The officers for this chapter shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and a Treasurer. Any two of the last three offices may be combined. These officers are to be elected by the membership, assuming their duties within four weeks of their election.
Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates must have maintained active CMU SPS membership status throughout the current and previous semesters.
All CMU SPS chapter officers are expected to maintain active membership status during their tenure. In addition, each of these positions has required duties, established as the following:
PRESIDENT
* Provide leadership to the CMU SPS chapter by conducting meetings and thinking of ideas as to how to proceed with chapter activities.
* Supervise and actively encourage the activities of all other officers, making certain their duties are performed adequately. This responsibility can involve personally helping the fellow officers and/or appointing committees from the CMU SPS membership to accomplish this duty.
* Serve as the symbolic figurehead for the CMU SPS chapter, representing the membership amongst the professional community. This includes maintaining a working relationship with the chapter advisor and physics department chair, as well as interacting professionally with any guest speakers, tour guides, or other public figures.
VICE PRESIDENT
* Advertise all chapter activities through posted bulletins, electronic mail, and personal announcements.
* Be the web master for the CMU SPS home page site, maintaining its compatibility with standard world wide web browsers and posting new information at the request of the president.
* Help to foster a casual, social atmosphere at CMU SPS activities. This may include being particularly friendly with new members, or making sure refreshments are purchased for meetings.
* Provide leadership to the CMU SPS chapter by working in a partnership with the president, thinking of ideas as to how to proceed with chapter activities.
* Help the president supervise the activities of all other officers, making certain their duties are performed adequately. The vice- president also has the power to appoint committees from the CMU SPS membership to accomplish this duty.
* Serve in the place of the president for any length of time, including conducting meetings in the absence of the president, until either the president returns or a new president is elected by the CMU SPS membership.
SECRETARY
* Getting attendance taken for ALL chapter activities, in order to maintain an active membership list for the CMU SPS chapter.
* Note taking at chapter meetings, in order to present a summary of ideas discussed and to be posted for review by chapter members.
* Serve as the photographer for the CMU SPS chapter, taking pictures of chapter activities with either their own camera or one made available to the physics department.
* Compile a scrapbook for review at the end of the academic year, including the names and email addresses of members, pictures taken at CMU SPS activities, and any other creative displays of interest.
* Keep an accurate list of phone numbers and email addresses of CMU SPS members, so that members can easily contact one another.
TREASURER
* Keep concise, organized records for the chapter of available funds.
* Personally collect dues and keep accurate records of dues paying members, to provide a list of registered CMU SPS members.
* Organize and help with any other CMU SPS monetary transactions.
Section 2. Elections
Officers are to be elected each year at the beginning of the spring semester. Nominations shall be made during the meetings or by email starting the first meeting of the semester and ending during the second meeting of the semester. Elections shall be by closed ballot during the second meeting of the semester. Absentee ballots are acceptable and encouraged for members who are not able to attend the meeting at which elections take place.
In the case that any officer(s) resign their position before the normal spring elections, the president and/or Vice President are still responsible for making certain all officer duties are performed. This can be accomplished by appointing a committee from the CMU SPS membership or coordinating the duties amongst the rest of the SPS officers until an emergency election can be held.
In the case that both the president and Vice Presidential positions are vacated, then the remaining officers must decide who among the remaining officers has the leadership capabilities to fill the presidency. The officer titles can then be reassigned accordingly, and the new president can then reassign officer titles and make appointments necessary to always maintain a president, Vice President, secretary, and treasurer as stipulated by the national SPS constitution.
ARTICLE V. CHAPTER ADVISOR
The Chapter Advisor shall be a faculty member appointed by the Chairman of the Physics Department, after consultation with the Chapter officers. The Chapter Advisor shall provide liaison among the Chapter, the Physics Department, and the National Office of the Society of Physics Students. The Chapter Advisor will supply counseling to the Chapter, furnish continuity of experience in Chapter operations, and provide long-range perspective to insure departmental interest in and support of the Society of Physics Students. The Chapter Advisor shall assist the Secretary in furnishing the National Office with the required data and shall assist the Treasurer in transmitting fees and dues to the National Office.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
Regular meetings shall be held as determined by the officers. Special meetings may be called by the President or Vice President. There shall be at least six meetings per year.
ARTICLE VII. DUES
Local dues may not be collected by the Treasurer in addition to the dues required by the National Office. For local dues to be collected, this article must be amended.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS
These bylaws may be amended by a two thirds (of the voting members of CMU SPS in attendance) vote, provided that the amendment shall have been proposed at least one meeting, at least one week, previous to the time of the vote. Such amendments shall conform to the regulations established by the National Constitution of the Society of Physics Students.
ratified November 2004