CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE ONE

Name and Scope

Section One

The name of the organization shall be: The Society of Professional Journalists, University of Tennessee Chapter.

Section Two

The term "Journalism" is defined: The direction of the editorial policy of, the editing of the preparation of news and editorial content of newspapers, magazines, press or syndicate services, professional or business publications, ra dio and television; and the teaching of journalism so defined.

ARTICLE TWO

Purpose

Section One

The purpose of the organization shall be: To associate student journalists of talent, truth and energy into a more intimately organized unit of good fellowship and to assist the members in acquiring the noblest principles of journali sm and to cooperate with them in this field; and to advance the standards of journalism by fostering a higher ethical code, thus increasing its value as a democratic institution.

ARTICLE THREE

Membership

Section One

Members shall be:

(a) Undergraduate or graduate students in good standing at the University of Tennessee who are interested in journalism as defined in Article One, Section Two.

(b) No students shall be admitted into the Society until stating their interest at the time in journalism as defined in Article One, Section Two as their life's profession.

Section Two

Membership is open to students meeting requirements as defined in Article Three, Section One regardless of race, gender, disability, religion, or national origin.

ARTICLE FOUR

Offices and Elections

Section One

The chapter shall have as officers a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a public relations officer and a treasurer.

Section Two

Officers shall be full-time students at the University of Tennessee.

Section Three

Officers shall be elected during the month of March each year and shall take office at the beginning of the fall semester.

Section Four

A majority vote of the membership is required for election.

Section Five

Officers shall serve for a one-year term.

Section Six

An officer must be in good academic standing, as defined by the University of Tennessee, at the time of election or appointment and during his/her term of office.

Section Seven

A member shall be ruled ineligible if said member is on disciplinary probation for violating any Student Standards of Conduct as defined by the University of Tennessee.

Section Eight

Vacancy in any office, except that of president, shall be filled by the remaining officers. Should a vacancy occur in the office of the president, the vice-president shall serve as acting president, until a new president shall be elected. The vice-president shall not serve as acting president for longer than one month.

ARTICLE FIVE

Officer Duties

Section One

The president shall be the chief executive of the chapter. The president shall have charge of the relations of the chapter with other chapters and in addition shall have the usual powers and duties of a president in accordance with the spirit of the chapter constitution. The president shall have authority to require a report from any officer of the organization at any time. The president is authorized to appoint and assign duties to committees, which the president deems necessary. The president shall be in charge of notifying officers and members of meetings, schedule changes or any other update as needed.

Section Two

The vice-president shall be the advisor to the president on matters of visiting speakers. The vice-president shall be in charge of the speaker committee.

Section Three

The secretary shall act as secretary during any chapter and officer meetings. The secretary shall keep a member list, a speaker list and minutes of the meetings for future reference. The secretary shall prepare the yearly report and shall submit the report to the fellow officers for approval.

Section Four

The treasurer shall be responsible for an accounting of all receipts and disbursements, assets and liabilities and shall report to the president, the members, or the meetings when requested. The treasurer shall be in charge of the fu ndraising committee. Disbursement of funds must be approved by a majority of the officers prior to the actual spending.

Section Five

The public relations officer shall manage the chapter's webpage. The public relations officer shall have the usual duties of a public relations officer in accordance with the spirit of the chapter constitution.

Section Six

Any duties not covered by Article Five, Section One through Section Five, shall be done by either the president or shall be assigned by the president to an office.

ARTICLE SIX

Meeting Frequency

Section One

Meetings shall be held every two weeks during the spring and fall semesters.

Section Two

There shall be no less than nine meetings a year.

ARTICLE SEVEN

Advisor

Section One

The advisor must be a full-time faculty of staff member of the University of Tennessee.

Section Two

The advisor is responsible to verify through the office of Student Conduct that the officers are not on disciplinary probation and are in good academic standing, as defined by the University of Tennessee.

ARTICLE EIGHT

Finance

Section One

National membership fees payable at the time of or before initiation shall be $35. Chapter fees payable at the time of or before initiation shall be $10. These fees shall include membership for one year and a one-year subscription to "The Quill."

Section Two

The initiate's name shall not be entered upon the rolls of the Society until entire payment has been received, and a person not so recorded is not a member of the Society.

Section Three

All monies collected shall be paid into the chapter treasury with complete information indicating the source from which they were received and the general purpose for which they are to be used.

Section Four

In the event of the dissolution of the chapter all monies remaining in the chapter treasury shall be given to the Legal Defense Fund of the Society of Professional Journalists.