Constitution of the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council

Article I: Name

This organization shall be known as the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council.

Article II: Mission

The mission of the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council shall be:

A.      To increase the public's awareness and improve their perception of honors programs in higher education in Maryland

B.      To provide a forum for sharing information about honors programs

C.      To increase the public and private fiscal commitment to honors programs and projects

D.     To provide students with greater opportunities for intercollegiate honors program activities

E.      To collaborate and cooperate with regional and national organizations which have similar goals

Article III: Membership

Membership in the Council shall consist of institutionalmembership and individual membership.

A.      Institutional membership is available to any accredited post­secondary institution, to educational foundations and to state and federal agencies. An institutional membership entitles the institution to one vote on Council business during the year of paid membership
B.   Faculty, students, administrators, and other interested persons are eligible for individual membership. Each individual member is entitled to one vote on Council business during the year of paid membership.
C.      Institutions or persons residing outside the geographical boundaries of Maryland may become members upon payment of dues to the
Council.  Membership is not restricted geographically.

Article IV: Voting                

Each individual member and the authorized representative of each institutional member shall be entitled to one vote in each transaction of the Council. Voting on Council business occurs in person at the annual meeting.

Article V: Quorum              

A quorum shall consist of those members present at a meeting announced to the membership not fewer than ten business days in advance of the meeting.

Article VI: Officers

The officers of the Council shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

A.      The President shall (1) serve as chief executive officer of MCHC for a term of two years or until a successor is elected; (2) be elected at the annual meeting; (3) call for and preside over the meetings of the Council; (4) appoint committees; (5) serve as liaison officer with other honors organizations; and (6) serve at least one year as immediate past president on the executive board.
B.      The Vice President shall (1) be elected at the annual meeting and hold office for a term of two years or until a successor is elected; (2) preside over the Council in the absence of the president; (3) coordinate on behalf of the Executive Board with the organizer of the annual conference; and (4) perform such other duties as assigned by the president.
C.      The Secretary shall (1) be elected at the annual meeting and hold office for a term of two years or until a successor is
elected; (2) ensure that minutes of official meetings are taken, submitted for approval, and kept; and (3) perform such duties incidental to the conduct of the office as may be required.
D.     The Treasurer shall (1) be elected at the annual meeting and hold office for a term of two years or until a successor is
elected; (2) collect dues, disburse funds, maintain financial records; (3) perform such duties incidental to the conduct of the office as may be required.

Article VII: The Executive Board

The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the Council, the immediate past president for at least one year, and at least three at-large members with one-year terms. At least two members of the Board will be students who, for their term, are members of an honors program that is an institutional member of the Council. Members of the Executive Board must be in good standing. Since students may hold full membership on the Council, they may serve as officers of the Council.

Article VIII: Meetings

The Council shall hold an annual meeting at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee. Other meetings may be called by the president by majority agreement of the Executive Committee or if requested in writing by ten percent of the membership. Each meeting must be announced to the membership not fewer than ten business days in advance of the meeting.

Article IX: Amendments

Any amendment to the constitution shall be presented in writing to the membership thirty days before the meeting and voted on at the annual meeting. An amendment to the constitution shall be effective immediately upon enactment.

Article X: Ratification

Ratification of the constitution shall be by simple majority of those present and voting at the first annual business meeting of the Council.

Article XI: Dues and Voting Rights

The dues schedule shall be set by the Executive Board.  Only those individual members whose dues are paid by the time of the annual meeting are entitled to a vote in the business of the Council. Failure to pay dues on time does not restrict individuals from participation in the activities of the annual meeting. Any member whose dues are in arrears for two consecutive years shall be dropped from the rolls.     

Article XII: Net Earnings

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of Section 501(c) (3) purposes.

No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal Income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code contributions to corresponding section of any future Federal tax code.

Article XIII.   Dissolution of this Organization

Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the Federal government, or to a state or local government, for public purpose.

Revised March 4, 2016