Consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Alumni Secretary, Historian/Webmaster, and Member Educator. The Advisory Committee is invited to all Executive Committee meetings and may participate in closed aspects of the Executive Committee meeting. The rest of the Brotherhood is invited to Executive Committee meetings but may be asked to leave during closed aspects.
Parliamentarian and Advisor do not hold a vote in the Committee
Advise and assist the President on Fraternity affairs and fulfill any and all other specific responsibilities mentioned in the Bylaws and other Chapter, university, and
National policies.
Meet as called by the President at least once per month during the regular scholastic annum.
Render all decisions by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of all its members.
Be subject to override by a two-thirds (⅔) majority of all Active Brothers.
The Advisory Committee shall:
Consist of the Parliamentarian, Sergeant at Arms, Publicity Manager, the
MAL, and the Advisor.
Serve as the advisors to the Executive Committee and maintain order in business meetings.
Be chaired by the Advisor.
The Music Committee shall:
Be responsible for promoting the ideal of Music throughout the Brotherhood.
Be chaired by the Music Chair.
Schedule and coordinate performance opportunities at Rutgers University.
Schedule and coordinate performance and musical appreciation opportunities outside Rutgers University at least once per semester.
The Service Committee shall:
Be responsible for promoting the ideal of Service throughout the Brotherhood.
Be chaired by the Service Chair.
Prepare a service plan each semester and keep the attendance record at service functions.
The Brotherhood Committee shall:
Be responsible for promoting the ideal of Brotherhood.
Be chaired by the Brotherhood Chair.
Be responsible for planning a Brotherhood retreat each semester.
Be responsible for planning Brotherhood social activities.
The Music Committee, Service Committee, and Brotherhood Committee will herein be collectively referred to as the Ideals Committees.
The Fundraising Committee shall:
Be responsible for developing and carrying out fundraising activities.
Be chaired by the Treasurer.
Assist the Treasurer in making decisions.
The History and Documents Committee shall:
Be responsible for maintaining and adding to the historical archives.
Be chaired by the Historian/Webmaster.
Update all Mu Beta Psi webpages.
Publish The Scarlet Fanfare once per year.
Scholarship/Annual Report Committee shall:
Be responsible for maintaining Brotherhood academic records and filing
OFSA compliances.
Be co-chaired by the Vice President and the Scholarship Chair.
Be responsible for establishing Fraternity study hours.
Help Brothers find appropriate scholastic aide.
Making sure the Fraternity remains in good standing with OFSA.
The By-Laws committee shall:
Be responsible for maintaining the
By-Laws and all its appendices, and drafting amendments thereof as requested by the Brotherhood.
Be chaired by the Parliamentarian.
Review the
By-Laws at least once a semester and suggest revisions when need be.
Review and suggest potential revisions to all other Chapter policies with the support and input from associate officers/positions/Chairs.
The Rituals Committee shall:
Be responsible for maintaining and revising all New Education procedures.
Be chaired by the Member Educator.
All Active Brothers are obligated to serve on the Committee.
Section 3 — Selection of Ideals Committee and Scholarship Chairs
Ideals and Scholarship Committee chairs are to be selected following the regularly scheduled annual elections. They will be chosen by the incoming Executive Committee based on letters of intent. Ideals and Scholarship committee chairs must be selected by the start of commencement ceremonies.
Executive committee members may not serve as Ideals Committee chairs.
Brothers may submit letters of intent for more than one Ideals or Scholarship Committee chair position; however, no Brother may serve as more than one Ideals or Scholarship Committee Chair.
Should no letters of intent be submitted for an Ideals or Scholarship Committee chair, the Executive committee must select a Brother to fill the vacant position by the start of commencement ceremonies. Should the selected Brother decline their selection, the Vice President will fulfill the duties of the vacant position until such time as a suitable and willing Brother is found to assume the Chair.
Section 4 — Committee Participation by Active Brothers
All Active Brothers are required to serve on any one of the Fundraising, History and Documents, or Scholarship/Annual Report Committee as well as one Ideals Committee.
Brothers are permitted to serve on any standing committee of their choice, except the Executive and Advisory Committee.
To remain Active, a Brother must make significant contributions to their respective committees each semester. It will be the responsibility of the committee chair(s) to inform the Vice President of a Brother’s failure to contribute.
President and Vice President will participate in committees as described in Article Ⅳ, Section 2.
Section 5 — Expulsion and Vacancies of Advisory and Ideal Committee Chairs
Expulsion and Vacancies of Advisory and Ideal Committee Chairs
The Executive Committee may review the performance of an Advisory or Ideals committee chair at its discretion.
The Executive Committee must review the performance of an Advisory or Ideals Committee chair upon receipt of a letter submitted to the President, Vice President or Parliamentarian signed by three (3) Brothers
Advisory or Ideals chairs may be removed from office after a performance review by a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Should a vacancy occur in a committee chair position, the position must be filled within one (1) meeting based on letters of intent to the Executive Committee.
Section 6 — Ad-Hoc Committees
Ad-Hoc Committees
Ad-hoc committees may be created at the discretion of the Brotherhood.
Any Brother may serve on any ad-hoc committee.
The executive committee will appoint chairpersons of ad-hoc committees.
The President will supervise the progress of all ad-hoc committees.
Article Ⅵ — Advisor
Section 1
The Brotherhood Advisor will be a designated member of the Rutgers University Community and will serve as a consultant as needed.
Section 2
The Brotherhood Advisor may not be present during a business meeting. The meeting must be adjourned (permanently or temporarily) in order for the Advisor to address the Brotherhood.
At the discretion of the Executive Committee, the advisor may attend meetings if they are an Honorary Brother.
If the Advisor is already a Brother, or has been made a Functional Honorary Brother, they may attend any regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 3
If the Advisor is deemed worthy of the Brotherhood, the process of Honorary Membership may be utilized.
Section 4
The Advisor must have the rank of Assistant Professor or above at Rutgers University.
Section 5
The Chapter may have up to two designated Advisors at one point during the year.
Section 6
The Brotherhood Advisor must be nominated during a business meeting with reasons stated for the nomination. The candidate will be voted on at the following business meeting after discussion has been held. The vote will be case by secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the Active Brotherhood to be accepted.
Article VII — Disciplinary Procedures
Section 1
Disciplinary proceedings may be brought against any Brother by three (3) members of the Fraternity with reasonable grounds for the accusations. These accusations will be brought to the attention of the President, Vice President, or Parliamentarian via a written letter, signed by all three (3) accusing Brothers. The aforementioned officers will then summon the Brothers Court.
Section 2
If the President, Vice President, or Parliamentarian is either an accused or a defendant, the Executive Committee will appoint a member of the Brotherhood to perform the duties of the aforementioned office for the duration of the disciplinary procedure. The officer in question will not participate in the Executive Committee decision. An appointment by the Executive Committee may be overturned by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the Brotherhood, whereupon a new appointment will be made. This new appointment will be subject to the same conditions as the previous appointment.
Section 3 — Brothers Court
Brothers Court
The Brothers Court will handle all necessary disciplinary procedures.
The Brothers court will be chosen by the President, Vice President, and Parliamentarian. Selections will be made to create a committee with as little bias as possible. It is understood that the chosen Brothers will act in a reasonable manner and maintain the confidentiality of the investigation. Failure to do so will result in removal from the Court.
The Brothers Court will be comprised of the President, who will serve as the chair, a Brother of the eldest member-in-training class of which there are at least two (2) Active members, a Brother of the youngest member-in-training class of which there are at least two (2) Active members, and two other Brothers chosen randomly. The members of the committee may not be the defendant(s), accuser(s), Vice President or Parliamentarian. The Vice President and Parliamentarian will serve as advisory members.
The Brothers Court will conduct a confidential investigation to determine the validity of the accusations and to choose an appropriate course of action. The investigation must include separate interviews with both the accuser(s) and the defendant(s). There is no time limit to the investigation, but it is expected to be conducted in an expedient and unbiased manner. Depending on the severity of the accusations, the Court can choose to impose a punishment of their own or to bring the matter to a trial in front of the Brotherhood. Any Court decision will be made by four out of five (4 out of 5) vote. Any decisions of the Brothers court can be overturned by a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of the Brotherhood. A one-week waiting period is required between presentation of the decision of the committee and any discussion as to the manipulation of the decision.
Section 4 — Punishments
Punishment options, listed in increasing severity, include, but are not limited to, the following: apology/reprimand, inactivity, suspension, expulsion.
The Brothers Court has the power to impose all punishments except expulsion. Expulsion can only be imposed if a trial is conducted before the Brotherhood. Heinous violation of the standards of membership will be the only grounds for expulsion.
Section 5 — Trial Procedures
Trial Procedures
The President and Parliamentarian will oversee the trial procedure.
The Recording Secretary will formally read all charges. The Vice President will present the Brotherhood’s case. The defendant will answer in their own defense. The defendant will depart the meeting with the Brotherhood debates.
The Brotherhood will vote by secret ballot. A two-thirds (⅔) majority of those present is necessary to determine the verdict.
If found guilty, the Brothers Court will recommend an appropriate punishment. It requires a two-thirds (⅔) majority to approve the punishment. Expulsion requires a two-thirds (⅔) Brotherhood vote and is not reversible.
The defendant will be brought in to be informed of the Brotherhood’s decision.
Article VIII — Business Meetings
Section 1 — Schedule
A regular meeting of the Brotherhood will be called at least twice per month during the regular academic year.
Special or emergency meetings may be called by the President when deemed necessary.
Meetings will be called at a time and place specified by the President with at least five (5) days notice, unless the meeting is an emergency or needed to discuss any other pressing matters.
Section 2 — Parliamentary Procedure
Parliamentary Procedure
If there are less than fifty (50) Active Fraternity members in a year, quorum is fifty percent plus one (50% + 1). If the Active membership is greater than fifty (50), then quorum will be twenty-six (26) members or twenty-five percent plus one (25% + 1), whichever is greater. A quorum rule may be set aside by the President for extreme monetary appropriations only, with the approval of two-thirds (⅔) majority of Active Brothers at a meeting.
Active Brothers may not vote if they arrive after officers’ reports have been completed.
Non-members may attend only with prior approval of the presiding officer.
Order of business and all other procedures not covered in this article will be decided in accordance with the forms laid down in
Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition. In the case of a question as to procedure, the Brotherhood Parliamentarian will be consulted. The Parliamentarian will base their judgment on their interpretation of Robert’s Rules of Order. Their judgment will not conflict with Robert’s Rules of Order. Their judgment will then be final. Robert’s Rules of Order may be temporarily suspended if there is a definite need to do so. This is done either by two-thirds (⅔) majority or in times of emergency, by the President. Upon suspension, final parliamentary authority and judgment rests with the Parliamentarian.
Article IⅩ — Budget and Finances
Section 1 — Budget
A budget of anticipated revenues and expenditures must be drafted by the Treasurer prior to the beginning of the upcoming semester. Estimates for the budget will be determined on the basis of monies allocated to the previous budget, an underestimation of expected revenue, an overestimation of expected expenditures. If expenditures exceed revenue, the Treasurer must draft a revised budget.
The budget for the Fall Semester will commence on the first day of the Fall semester and will end on the last day of winter break. The budget for the Spring semester will commence on the first day of the Spring Semester and end on the last day of the scholastic annum.
Monies will be appropriated to each Committee and/or Executive Committee member as determined by the Treasurer.
The budget is required to be presented to the Brotherhood at the first meeting of the forthcoming semester. The budget will be voted on at the first meeting following its presentation. A vote of two-thirds (⅔) will be required for ratification. If the budget is not ratified by the Brotherhood, the Treasurer must draft a new budget. The modified budget must be presented to the Brotherhood by the next meeting.
If a committee chair/officer expects to exceed their own appropriated budget, the Treasurer will attempt to compensate within the budget each semester. If it is not possible, a vote of two-thirds (⅔) will be required for that committee chair/officer to draw upon the general account to make up the difference.
If the Brotherhood is expected to exceed the budget during the semester, it will be the responsibility of the Treasurer to plan for revenue enhancement.
The fiscal year begins on April 1st and ends on March 31st.
Section 2 — Dues and Member-in-Training Fees
Dues and member-in-training fees will be voted on concurrently with the budget, requiring two-thirds (⅔) vote.
Dues and member-in-training fees will be based on the expected number of Active Brothers and members-in-training for the current semester. If the actual number of Active Brothers and members-in-training is less than the expected, the Treasurer will recalculate dues and member-in-training fees.
Any Brother that completes a Dues contract will be responsible for the entire amount of Dues.
If a Brother goes Inactive after one-third (⅓) of the meetings have passed that has completed a dues contract they will be responsible to pay the entire amount for dues.
Any Brother that goes inactive on or after the second meeting of the semester will be responsible for National Dues.
Section 3 — Use of Funds
The officers of President and Treasurer will be the only authorized people to withdraw funds.
All funds will be kept in a bank account or other money management software, approved by the National Organization, under the name Mu Beta Psi- Pi Chapter. All tangible cash will be stored in the Treasurer Cash Box and deposited into an account as soon as possible.
Unlawful misuse or abuse of Brotherhood funds will be grounds for expulsion.
Article X — Maintenance and Ratification of these By-Laws
Section 1
These are defined statutes that are necessary and proper for implementing the requirements set forth in the
Constitution and/or that are not prohibited in the Constitution.
Section 2
The Parliamentarian will be permitted to make changes to the
By-Laws in order to correct grammatical and typographical errors, so long as the changes do not alter the underlying meaning of this document.
Section 3
All proposed amendments will be directed toward the By-Laws Committee where they will be reviewed and clarified for presentation to the Brotherhood.
Section 4
The amendment must be submitted in writing at a Brotherhood meeting in order to give notice of the proposed amendment at least one (1) week prior to a vote. The amendment requires a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of the Active Brotherhood for ratification. The amendment will take effect immediately.
These By-laws were adopted on October 7th, 2007.
The last revision of this document was approved on April 24th, 2022.