¬Revised: 8/3/2007

CONSTITUTION OF NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL OF
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH (CSULB)

PREAMBLE
We, the representatives of historically established community service fraternities and sororities undergraduate chapters, similar in structure and background recognizing the need for coordination and cooperation in activities of intercollegiate Greek letter fraternities and sororities at CSULB.  Recognizing that there are certain areas of action and programming that can best be realized by formal organization, we hereby establish such an organization and bind ourselves to abide by the provisions of the following Constitution and Bylaws.

Article I.  Name of Organization:  The name of this organization shall be the NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL, INC OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH hereinafter referred to as “NPHC”

Article II.  Statement of Purpose: 

Section 1. The purpose of the NPHC shall be to foster cooperative actions of its members in dealing with matters of mutual concern.  To this end, the NPHC promotes and facilitates the establishment, development and well being of its affiliate fraternities and sororities.  The NPHC provides leadership training and support for its constituents.

Section 2. To promote ethical leadership and academic achievement, and to cultivate civic responsibility.

Section 3. To provide the students opportunities for association and interaction with the faculty and administration of CSULB and with the members of the community.

Article III.  Membership:

Section 1.     The organization is free to accept new members without regard to race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity/expression or veteran status.

Section 2. Affiliate membership is limited to the CSULB undergraduate chapters   Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Lambda Alpha Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mu Chi Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Omicron Lambda Chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Delta Eta Chapter,  Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Epsilon Kappa Chapter, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Gamma Kappa Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Zeta Tau Chapter,  Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Chi Beta Chapter who maintain recognition and active good standing with the university, hereinafter referred to as “local chapters”.  Each local chapter shall have one vote.

Section 3. For the Local Chapter to be recognized as in good standing by CSULB a minimum of five (5) matriculated CSULB students (who are currently enrolled in at least one class) need to be regular members.

Section 4. Regular membership is limited to undergraduate members of affiliate chapters who paid all national dues and assessments, are in good standing with their national organization, regularly enrolled in the university and in academic good standing.

  Section 5. Each regular member has equal rights and privileges.
  
Section 6. Associate Membership is open to members in of the Affiliate organization who are CSULB graduate students. All associate members must be financial and in good standing with their national organization.  Associate members are ex-facto non-voting members.

Article IV.  Officers:

Section 1. The elected officers of the Executive Board shall be the President, Two Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Article V.  Meetings:

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be scheduled at least first and third Monday or second and fourth Monday.  Meeting time is to be set at the beginning of the Fall semester and be between the hours of 2:00PM and 6:00PM. The President shall present a full calendar of regular meetings for the entire academic year by or at the first meeting of the fall semester.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or Vice-Presidents.  All members must be given a minimum of 48 hours notice, weekends and holidays excluded, prior to the meeting time.

Section 3. Any local chapter that has two consecutive unexcused absences from NPHC meetings shall no longer be in good standing (cannot do campus programs). To regain good standing, a local chapter must attend three consecutive NPHC meetings.  

Article VI.  Executive Board:

Section 1. The elected officers shall constitute the executive board of the organization and each shall have one vote. The advisor(s) shall be ex-officio, non-voting members.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall have a closed meeting no less than once a month during the academic year. 

Section 3. The affiliate membership shall approve the operations budget annually.  Approval by the President and the Treasurer is needed for all disbursements of $150.00 or less, which are not first brought before the organization for approval.  Expenditures in excess of $150.00 must have majority approval of the affiliate membership.

Section 4. The Executive Board shall serve as a planning committee.  Executive Board actions must be ratified by the affiliate membership. 
    
Section 5. The President with the approval of the executive board shall appoint the hereinafter named officers named officers:  Parliamentarian and Historian, as may be required to carry out the business of the NPHC.  Both shall serve as non-voting members of the executive board.

Article VII.  Method to Amend the Constitution:

Section 1. Proposed constitutional amendments made by an NPHC executive board member or local chapter presidents shall be presented to the organization, in writing, one meeting before it may be voted upon.

Section 2. Approval by two-thirds of the voting members present at a regular meeting shall pass a proposed amendment.

Section 3. Approval by the University is needed to change the constitution.

Article VIII.  Succession of officers:

Section 1. In the event of permanent incapacitation, resignation, or removal from office, the line of temporary succession shall be as follows: President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 2. Upon the vacancy of any office, a new candidate will be  nominated at the next regular meeting or at a special meeting.  The election shall be at the meeting following nominations.

Article IX. The California State University, Long Beach Pan-Hellenic Council is affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council.  The CSULB Pan-Hellenic Council shall pay both national and regional dues.  (Also, attach copy of your inter/national organization’s constitution and bylaws.  State: NONE, if there is no affiliation).

Article X. Hazing Prohibition:

Section 48900 of the Education Code

SEC. 4.  Section 245.6 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   245.6. (a) It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined in this section.
   (b) "Hazing" means any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term "hazing" does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events.
   (c) A violation of this section that does not result in serious bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.
   (d) Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state prison.
   (e) The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought against any participants in the hazing, or any organization to which the student is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees, managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participated in, or ratified the hazing.
   (f) Prosecution under this section shall not prohibit prosecution under any other provision of law.
 
SEC. 5.  This act shall be known and may be cited as "Matt's Law" in memory of Matthew William Carrington, who died on February 2, 2005, as a result of hazing