ARTICLE I. Name and Object

Section 1. Name
The official name of the Chapter is The Society of Sigma Xi, University of Minnesota Chapter.

Section 2. Parent Society
This Chapter is a local affiliate chartered with SIGMA XI, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY. This Society is an honor society whose motto is “Companions in Zealous Research”, from the Greek, Spoudon Xunones (Spoudon Xynones). This Society is a tax-exempt scientific society, founded at Cornell University in 1886, which is presently incorporated in Connecticut and North Carolina with Headquarters at Research Triangle Park, NC.

Section 3. Object
The object of the Society, and of this Chapter, is to encourage original investigation in science, pure and applied. The fields of activity of the Society, and the Chapter, are the pure and applied natural sciences. In general, these include the physical sciences, the life and agricultural sciences, the medical sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

ARTICLE II. Activities of the Chapter.
Activities appropriate to the fulfillment of the object of Sigma Xi include: the election to membership and associate membership in the Society of students, faculty members, and investigators within the University of Minnesota community and others who meet the requirements for membership set forth in Article II, Section 3 A and B of the Society's Constitution; the maintenance of companionship among the membership in various fields of science through an annual meeting and the encouragement of scientific research through other means, such as the presentation of awards for excellence in research.

ARTICLE III. Membership

Section 1. Members
The membership of the Chapter, subject to the requirements of Article IV, Section 1 of the Society's Constitution, shall consist of the active Members and the active Associate Members who present satisfactory credentials showing election to membership in the Society or who request affiliation with the Chapter and who are accepted by the Chapter.

Section 2. Criteria for Membership
Criteria for admission to membership shall be as specified in the Society Bylaws (Bylaw II, section 2). Election or promotion to full membership must be evidenced by noteworthy achievement in research as specified by Article II, Section 3A of the Society's Constitution. Election to associate membership requires demonstration of research aptitude as specified in Article II, Section 3B of the Society's Constitution.

Section 3. Nomination Procedures
Each nomination for election as a Member or an Associate Member shall: (i) be made in writing, (ii) present full evidence of the eligibility of the nominee, and (iii) be signed by at least two active Members of the Chapter as nominator and seconder. Such written nomination shall be sent to the Chair of the Committee on Nominations who shall, in turn, deliver it to the Executive Committee for its consideration.

Section 4. Consideration of Nominees
(i) The Executive Committee shall carefully consider and vote on all nominations that have been duly received, and shall approve the election/promotion of those candidates for full membership or associate membership who meet the criteria set forth by the Society.
(ii) The Executive Committee shall periodically review the roster of Associate Members with the view of possible promotion to full membership. Also, an Associate Member may submit to the Secretary evidence of eligibility for promotion to full membership.

Section 5. Election to Membership
An affirmative vote of at least three members of the Executive Committee shall be necessary for election or promotion.

Section 6. Initiation of New Members
Members-elect and Associate Members-elect shall be informed of the aims and objectives of the Society. They shall be admitted to membership after they agree to follow the Constitution of the Society and the Bylaws of the Chapter and assent to the following Pledge:
"Do you hereby pledge yourself in accordance with the purposes and objectives of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, to encourage original investigations in science, to foster companionship and cooperation among scientists, to maintain honor, integrity and honesty in all scientific activities, and to assume the other continuing responsibilities of membership?"
Communication of assent to the pledge shall be made in writing to the President or Secretary of the Chapter. Members-elect and Associate Members-elect who attend a regular initiation shall be asked to repeat their assent publicly.

ARTICLE IV. Organization of the Chapter

Section 1. 0fficers
A. Designation:
The officers of the chapter shall be President, President-elect, Past-president, Secretary, and Treasurer.
B. Election of Officers:
(i) Nominations. The Secretary shall solicit from the membership nominations for offices to be filled. The Executive Committee shall present annually a slate of candidates to the Chapter membership. Traditionally, candidates for President-elect are sought from the Minneapolis or the St. Paul campus, in alternate years.
(ii) Elections: Candidates shall be elected to the offices for which they stand by a simple majority vote at the annual meeting or of mail (paper or electronic) ballots returned after distribution to the membership.
(iii) Terms of Office: The President-elect is elected to a three-year term, serving consecutive one-year terms as President-elect, President, and immediate Past-president. The President-elect may succeed to this office no sooner than three years beyond the expiration of his/her elected term. The Secretary and Treasurer are each elected to one-year terms. The Secretary and Treasurer may succeed themselves.
(iv) Duties:
(a) President: The President shall preside over Chapter activities and respond on behalf of the Chapter to nonroutine requests, inquiries, or opportunities from Headquarters or the Board of Directors. In addition, the President, or his/her representative, shall serve as the Chapter delegate to the Society's Annual Assembly of Delegates.
(b) President-elect: In the absence of the President, the President-elect assumes the responsibilities of president. In addition, the President-elect shall serve as chair of one or two of the standing committees, upon appointment by the Executive Committee.
(c) Past-president: The immediate Past-president shall serve as chair of one or two of the standing committees, upon appointment by the Executive Committee.
(d) Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for maintaining the regular flow of information to and from other officers, the membership of the Chapter, and Headquarters. The Secretary will prepare and submit an Annual Report to the Sigma Xi central office as per their specifications. In addition, the Secretary is responsible for informing Headquarters annually of the Chapter's officers for the forthcoming year and of the Chapter's delegate(s) to the Annual Assembly of Delegates; for submitting membership certificate order forms, fees, and data cards for individuals being initiated or promoted; and for ordering supplies needed by the Chapter to conduct its business.
(e) Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for the financial activities of the Chapter. The Treasurer will maintain accurate and current records of the Chapter's accounts and financial transactions, deposit revenues received into appropriate Chapter accounts, issue and sign checks to meet obligations incurred by the Chapter in conducting its business, transfer funds between Chapter's accounts, and submit to the Executive Committee a financial report at least once each year.

C. Vacancies:
Vacancies in elected offices shall be filled as outlined in the Society Bylaws (Bylaw III, Section 3D).

Section 2. The Executive Committee
A. Membership
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Chapter.

B. Duties and Limitations
(i) Powers: The Executive Committee shall have the power to act for the Chapter with respect to matters not excluded in subsection (iii) below.
(ii) Duties and Responsibilities: The Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the Chapter's activities in meeting the objectives of Sigma Xi. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: (a) reviewing nominations for membership and associate membership in the Society, (b) submitting to the membership annually a slate of candidates for Chapter offices, (c) selecting among nominees for Chapter awards, and (d) planning and conducting an annual meeting.
(iii) Limitations: The Executive Committee shall not have the power to: (a) elect or remove officers; (b) act in contravention of policies established by the Society; (c) authorize the sale or other disposition of all or any substantial portion of the assets of the Chapter; or (d) create and authorize new policy in contravention to the policies, aims, and goals of the Society.
(iv) Meetings: The Executive Committee shall meet no less than twice each year.
(v) Record of Actions: A record shall be kept of the minutes of Executive Committee meetings and of formal actions taken by the Executive Committee. A report of Executive Committee actions shall be made at the Chapter's annual meeting or as may be required from time to time.
(vi) Quorum: Three officers shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Committees
A. Standing committees:
All standing committees shall consist of a chair (the President-elect or Past-president) plus at least two other Chapter members.
(i) Committee on Nominations. The Committee on Nominations shall review the credentials of all candidates for membership or associate membership in the Society and for election to the Executive Committee.
(ii) Committee on Awards: The Committee on Awards shall review nominations for all Chapter awards and prizes to recognize promise or achievement by undergraduate and graduate students. Nominations for the Chapter's Distinguished Service Medal shall be reviewed by an ad hoc committee, consisting of the current President and the last five Chapter presidents, which shall forward its recommendation to the Executive Committee.
(iii) Committee on Programs: It shall be the duty of this Committee to attend to all matters pertaining to the Chapter's Annual Meetings, including date, location, and program. In addition, this Committee shall consider and promote other activities that relate directly to the missions of the Society.

B. Ad Hoc Committees
The Executive Committee may create, from time to time, ad hoc operating committees as it deems appropriate to meet the objectives of the Chapter and the Society. Appointment to these committees shall be made by the President after ratification by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V. Finances

Section 1. Dues and Fees.
General dues and fees are as set forth in the Society's Bylaws (Bylaw IV, Sections 1A, 1B, and 1C). Chapter dues are set by recommendation of the Executive Committee with approval by a simple majority of the Chapter membership. Such dues shall be collected by the Treasurer of the Society on behalf of and for distribution to the Chapter.

Section 2. Expenses
The proper expenses of the chapter shall include, but are not limited to, the following: operating expenses in relation to mailings to the membership, expenses associated with the Chapter's annual meeting, authorized travel expenses of appointed delegates attending an Assembly of Delegates, and awards.

Section 3. Fiscal Year
The Chapter's fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30.

ARTICLE VI. Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended or revised at any annual meeting or by a mail ballot (paper or electronic) of the Chapter membership. Amendments to the Bylaws are approved if supported by an affirmative vote of the majority of members participating in the annual meeting or responding to the mail ballot.

[Revised April 1998; For current review by membership]