NATIONAL CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the organization shall be the National Collegiate Honors Society for Anthropology, LAMBDA ALPHA, founded at Wichita State University.  The name LAMBDA ALPHA is composed of the initial letters of the Greek words LOGOS ANTHROPOU, meaning "The Study of Man".

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose of the society shall be to encourage and stimulate scholarship and research in Anthropology by recognizing and honoring superior achievement in the discipline among students, faculty, and other persons engaged in the study of Anthropology.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

• Section 1: Any person who is or was an officer, member of the teaching staff, graduate student, junior or senior in college, university or other institution of higher learning where there is a chapter of Lambda Alpha, may be elected to membership by a majority vote of the chapter under the supervision of at least one chapter faculty member or by a committee of chapter faculty members.  No person may be denied membership in Lambda Alpha by reason of race, color, creed, or national origin.
• Section 2: Minimum requirements for active student membership shall be:
1. Undergraduates must be currently enrolled and have completed not less than twelve (12) semester hours or the equivalent in academic Anthropology.  Undergraduates must have an average grade in these courses of not less than "B" or 3.0 and a cumulative quality point average of not less than 2.5.
2. Graduate students must be in good departmental standing with a 3.25 cumulative quality point average.
3. Faculty members in good standing in the institution, who are connected with the disciplines of Anthropology and/or Sociology, are automatically eligible for membership.
4. In those institutions with a joint Sociology/Anthropology department, Sociology courses not to exceed six (6) semester hours may be included for membership qualifications.
5. Alumni of any qualified institution may become members of any such chapter within five (5) years of graduation provided the same qualifications for undergraduate or graduate students, whichever applied, are met.  A person so elected shall become a member upon receipt by the National Office of his/hers written acceptance, payment of the national fees, and issuance by the National Executive secretary of the prescribed credentials and not before such action.  Alumni members may not vote or hold office unless admitted to active status by a local chapter.
6. A chapter may admit to active status anyone who has been a member of any chapter at any time.
7. Special exemption from the application of any of the above principles of eligibility may be granted only by the National Executive Council on the request of a collegiate chapter showing special circumstances and good reasons for such exemption.
8. The National Executive Council may, from time to time, recognize distinguished service in Anthropology by election to honorary membership and granting official credentials to persons who, by their outstanding contributions and achievements in Anthropology, have merited such distinction.  These persons shall pay no dues or fees of any king.
9. Each chapter shall review prospective members to determine their eligibility at least twice during each academic year.
10. All persons eligible for initiation shall pay an initiation fee, determined by the National organization, to the National treasury.  This fee shall constitute a life membership fee and no national dues, fees or other assessments shall hereafter be imposed.  The national membership fee shall entitle each member to a membership card and a diploma of membership.

ARTICLE IV: NATIONAL OFFICERS

• Section 1:
1. The National officers shall be a National President, National Vice-President, and National Secretary-Treasurer.  Additional National Vice-Presidents may be elected as the circumstances require. All officers are elected by the National Executive Council by a majority vote and shall hold office for two (2) years, beginning their term on the day they are elected or on another date specified at the time of their election and continuing in office until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Such officers may be eligible for reelection and advancement.
2. Each chapter may submit the names of nominees for national office upon the call for such nominations by the National Executive Secretary. Nominations must be received at the National Office within thirty (30) days following the date of the call for nominations.
3. Only active members of Lambda Alpha shall be eligible to hold National office.
• Section 2: It shall be the duty of the National president to execute the orders and policies of the National Executive Council and to report annually upon the work of the Society during the current year and to make recommendations for the future development of Lambda Alpha. He shall preside over all meetings of the National Executive Council.
• Section 3: It shall be the duty of the National Vice-President to assist the National President and to preside in his absence.
• Section 4: It shall be the duty of the National Secretary-Treasurer to receive and account for all funds of the Society allocated to him. He shall also keep an accurate record of all actions taken by the National Executive Council.
• Section 5: In the event of the death, removal or resignation of the National President or the National Vice-President, the vacancy shall be filled by national officers who shall move up in rank to the next higher position. In the event of the death, removal or resignation of the National Secretary-Treasurer, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the National President for the balance of the term, subject to confirmation by the National Executive Council.

ARTICLE V: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

• Section 1: The National Executive Council shall appoint a National Executive Secretary to administer the business office of the Society. He/she shall be a person of recognized academic qualifications and successful administrative experience.
• Section 2: It shall be the duty of the National Executive Secretary to act as Executive Office to the National Executive Council; to execute the policies of the Council; to conduct all business and correspondence of the Society, except as otherwise specified; to deliver to the National Secretary-Treasurer and secure his receipt for all funds which the National Executive Council shall direct him to deliver; and to disburse to all persons, funds required to the continued operation of the Society. The National Executive secretary shall be responsible for the enrollment of members, the granting of charters, the maintenance of membership files, the issuance of credentials and all similar business of the Society.

ARTICLE VI: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

• Section 1: The National Executive Council shall consist of the National President, the National Vice-President and any additional National Vice-Presidents as may be elected, the National Secretary-Treasurer, the National Executive Secretary, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal and members-at-large, who shall be recognized members of the faulty of institutions in which there are active chapters of Lambda Alpha. All members of the National Executive Council shall share equally in the powers and responsibilities of managing the affairs of the Society.
• Section 2: All business of the National Executive Council shall be conducted by correspondence, except in the event of a meeting convened by the National President, at a time and place as shall be agreed upon by the majority vote of the members of the Council. Members of the Council may vote by proxy on any question.

ARTICLE VII: CHAPTER ORGANIZATION

• Section 1: Collegiate chapters may be established only in colleges, universities or other institutions of higher learning which are on the accredited list of the Association of American Universities or of their Regional Accrediting agency; which are thoroughly prepared to maintain such chapters; which have a sufficient number of trained faculty members and adequate library and other such facilities to offer students training of high quality in Anthropology. Such institutions should offer a bachelor's and/or graduate degree in Anthropology or a combined degree in Sociology-Anthropology. Applications for chapters of Lambda Alpha must have the approval of the administration of the institution and the support of a representative number of faculty in the disciplines of Sociology and Anthropology in the institution seeking a charter.
• Section 2: The charter of a new chapter shall be issued only after the payment of a chapter establishment fee, to be determined by the National Executive Council, and the required membership fees.
• Section 3: Each chapter shall elect its own officers from its active members. These shall include a President, Vice-President and any others as desired to carry out the duties of Secretary and Treasurer. The duties of these officers shall be those customarily assigned to such officers.
• Section 4: Each collegiate chapter shall have a Faculty Sponsor who shall be its certifying officer and who shall maintain responsibility for all chapter funds. All communication with the National Executive Secretary shall be with the chapter Faculty Sponsor.
• Section 5: Each chapter shall prepare a set of by-laws wherein are stated such rules as are necessary for conduction the business of the chapter. The National Constitution and By-Laws shall take precedence over any chapter by-laws and no provision in the by-laws of any chapter shall be contrary to those of the National Constitution.
• Section 6: Within the limits of the National Constitution and By-Laws, each chapter shall have full charge of its program of activities.
• Section 7: All chapters may impose upon their membership any local dues, fees and assessments as they deem desirable for local purposes.
• Section 8: A chapter may be disbanded and its charter revoked only by unanimous vote of the National Executive Council. A chapter may voluntarily surrender its rights and privileges by surrendering its charter to the National Executive Council, through the National Executive Secretary, and by filing written notice of such action.
• Section 9: Each chapter shall make an annual report to the National Executive Secretary concerning its activities, programs and membership during the preceding academic year. This report shall be forwarded to the National Executive Secretary not later than April 1 of that year.
• Section 10: In the event that a chapter does not initiate any new members for a period of two (2) consecutive years, it shall be subject to review by the National Executive Council.

ARTICLE VIII: PUBLICATIONS

• Section 1: The Society shall maintain an official Journal, to be known as the Lambda Alpha Journal of Man, which shall constitute the official organ of the National Collegiate Honor Society for Anthropology, LAMBDA ALPHA.
• Section 2: The National Executive Council shall appoint an Editor-in-Chief of the Journal who shall be an accredited faculty member of an academic institution which maintains a chapter of Lambda Alpha.
• Section 3: The Editor-in-Chief shall have custody of all funds acquired for subscription to the Journal and shall disburse those funds as required for publication and distribution. The subscription costs of the Journal shall be established by the National Executive Council upon the recommendation of the Editor-in-Chief.
• Section 4: It is the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief to see that the Journal is published at regular intervals. The number of issues shall be determined by the Executive Council with the recommendation of the Editor-in-Chief. The Journal shall maintain a high level of academic scholarship.
• Section 5: All articles submitted for publication are subject to review by the editorial staff of the Journal. A minimum of fifty (50%) percent of the space available for publication shall be reserved for student articles and papers. If insufficient student papers are submitted, the Editor-in-Chief shall have the right to accept additional qualified papers and articles from other sources.

ARTICLE IX: BY-LAWS
The National Executive Council shall have the power to make, alter, amend or repeal such by-laws as it may deem necessary for the proper administration of the affairs of the Society. Proper notice must be given to all chapters of any proposed change. In the event that chapters are requested to vote on any matter proposed by the National Executive Council, the time limit on the return of all votes shall be thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing of the proposal from the National Office. In matters of urgency, this time limit may be reduced. Each chapter shall be considered, in these matters, to have one vote. Chapters not returning votes within the prescribed time limit shall be considered as voting affirmatively.