Constitution of the Society of Physics Students

Article I.  Chapter Organization and Administration

Section 1.  Purpose 

a. To provide information and service in the interest of the members
of MIT community who are interested in physics.

b. To encourage interaction between undergraduate students, graduate
students, faculty, staff, and other members of MIT community
interested in physics.

c. To represent MIT in the national SPS organization.

Section 2.  Membership and Voting 

a.  An active SPS member is defined to be an MIT undergraduate or
graduate student who is currently a member of the national Society of
Physics Student organization.  In addition, an active member must have
attended at least one previous meeting in the academic semester,
except for the first meeting of the semester in which the active
member of the previous semester is automatically considered a member,
and no new non-member is recognized to become active.

b.  Any member of the MIT community may attend Chapter meetings.  Only
active SPS members shall have a vote at Chapter meetings.  A quorum of
two-thirds of active members is required.

c.  Decision of the organizaion is based on simple majority unless
otherwise stated in the constitution.

Section 3.  Officers

a.  The officers of MIT SPS are to be elected in the following order:

President, Programs Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President,
Membership/Publicity Chairman, Colloquium Committee Chairman, and
Regional Representative.

With the following provisions:

i.  The election meeting shall be held near the end of each term.
Nominatons will be open to the secretary two weeks prior to election
until immediately prior to voting.

ii.  Officers shall have a term of office running from January 1 to
May 31, or from June 1 to December 31

b.  Any officer may appoint assistants to assist him in the duties of
his office, and for the assistants' instruction in the operation of the
Chapter.

c.  Any officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the
total active members.

d.  In the event of a vacancy in an office, a special election shall
be held for that office at the earliest opportunity, according to the
regular election procedures excluding the nomination meeting.

Section 4. Duties of the Officers

a.  President
The president shall call and conduct meetings of the Chapter and the
Executive Committee, see to it that all the other officers perform the
duties of their offices, and delegate to people to perform duties not
specified under this constitution.

b.  Programs Chairman
The Programs Chairman shall organize all social activities,
recreational and educational outings, and Chapter sponsored activities
not included within the duties of another office.

c.  Secretary
The Secretary shall record and post the minutes of Chapter meetings,
and provide all new members with a copy of this constitution and all
amendments thereto.

d.  Treasurer
The Treasurer shall handle all financial matters of the Chapter.
He/She shall maintain orderly financial records.

e.  Vice President The Vice President shall assume the duties of the
President in the President's absence.  He/She shall arrange a suitable
setting for Rush activities, Chapter meetings, and clean up after the
meeting.  The Vice President or his/her appointee shall rule on
questions of order at Chapter meetings.

f.  Membership/Publicity Chairman
The Membership/Publicity Chairman shall acquire new members.  He/She
shall post the time and location of all Chapter meetings.  He/She
shall post notices of activities when the MIT community is invited.

g.  Colloquium Committee Chairman
The Colloquium Committee Chairman shall organize the undergraduate
physics colloquia.  He/She may form a Colloquium Committee as he/she
deems necessary.

h.  Regional Representative
The Regional Representative shall conduct all Chapter correspondence,
and act as a liaison between the Chapter and the outside community.


Section 5.  The Executive Committee

a.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Programs
Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President.

b.  Executive Committee meetings shall be held promptly when it has
business to conduct, and shall be held in closed session.

c.  Any decision of the Executive Committee may be reversed by a
majority of the Chapter at one of its regular meetings.

Section 5.  General Meeting

a.  A general meeting will be held in the beginning of each academic semester.

b.  Additional general meetings may be called by general meeting
itself, executive committee, or a member of SPS.  Announcement for
meetings will be notified through SPS member electronic mail list at
least one week prior to the date.

Article II.  Ratification and Amendment

to become effective, this constitution must be ratified by a
two-thirds vote of the Chapter following a two week tabling period.
Amendment of this constitution shall also require a two-thirds vote of
the active members present after a tabling period of two weeks.

Article III: ASA God Clause

The MIT SPS agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the
Association of Student Activities, and its executive committee.  This
constitution, amendments, to it, and the by-laws of this organization
shall be subject to review by the ASA Executive Committee to insure
that they are in accordance with the aforementioned rules and
regulations.