(Note: Dates regarding revisions and amendments can be found at end of this document.)

We, the members of Sigma Lambda Chi, having resolved to form an honor society, do hereby adopt and establish the following Constitution.

This international honor society shall be known as Sigma Lambda Chi.

Sec. 1. The fundamental purpose of Sigma Lambda Chi shall be the recognition of outstanding students in construction.

Sec. 2. Objectives of Sigma Lambda Chi shall include:

a. The rendering of service to the field of construction.

b. The development of good relations between academia, industry, and the public.

c. The recognition of outstanding professionals in construction and allied fields.

Sec. 1.    Non discrimination: Sigma Lambda Chi is based upon the principle of equality of all its members, and does not discriminate against an individual because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.

Sec. 2.  The classes of membership shall be defined as follows:

a.   Active membership shall consist of undergraduate and graduate students, subject to Section 3a.

b.  Faculty membership may be conferred by chapters upon faculty and administrative personnel, subject to Section 3b.

c.   Alumni membership shall automatically follow active membership upon graduation.

d.  Chapter honorary membership may be conferred upon anyone whom the chapter deems to have merited such an honor, providing that they receive three-fourths affirmative vote by secret ballot from the chapter's active and faculty members.

e. International honorary membership may be conferred by a three-fourths affirmative vote of the International Executive Committee upon anyone whom said committee deems to have merited such an honor.  International honorary members shall be installed at an international Convention, or by a specific chapter delegated by the International Executive Committee to do so.

Sec. 3.  Requirements for Membership:

a.  College students pursuing a curriculum in construction may be installed by their local chapter provided that:

(1)  Undergraduate students shall have completed the equivalent of two academic years of study toward their degree, shall have done resident study at the present institution for the preceding six months, and shall have an overall scholastic average in the upper 20 percent of qualified students in their program.

(2)  Graduate and post-baccalaureate students shall have completed the equivalent of one-half of fulltime study toward their graduate degree, shall have done resident study at the present institution for the preceding six months, and shall have an overall scholastic average in the upper 30 percent of qualified graduate students within their program.

(3)  Doctoral students who have finished 50 percent of qualifying coursework shall be eligible for SLC membership at the discretion of the SLC chapter advisor.

(4)  They have participated in one or more extra-curricular activities.

(5)  Their merit is demonstrated through leadership, character, and personality traits that give promise of reflecting credit upon Sigma Lambda Chi.

(6) They have worked in some phase of construction, or its allied fields.

(7)  They have an affirmative vote by secret ballot of three-fourths of the chapter's active members present, quorum required.

b.  Faculty members (unless already a member of Sigma Lambda Chi prior to their faculty status) may be installed by their local chapter as a faculty member provided that:

(1)  They are currently serving on the construction faculty or administrative staff and have had this status for not less than two academic years, or have tenure.  Under extenuating circumstances, the two-year specification can be waived by filing a request to the International Executive Committee.

(2)  They receive three-fourths affirmative vote by secret ballot of the active and faculty membership of the chapter.

Sec. 4.  All members shall strive to fulfill in good faith the objectives of Sigma Lambda Chi and the charge given them at the time of their installation.

Sec. 5.  Resignation: Any member may resign his or her membership in Sigma Lambda Chi by submitting a signed resignation to the Secretary of his or her chapter and to the International Secretary.

Sec. 1. The International Officers shall be President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer. There shall be six Directors, one of whom shall be the last preceding International President.

Sec. 2. Election of International Officers and Directors:

a. The officers and directors shall be members in good standing, properly recorded in the rolls. They shall be nominated in accordance with the following paragraph b and elected at an international Convention; or in lieu thereof, nominated and elected in accordance with paragraph c.

b. A committee consisting of the Past President as Chair, and two current executive committee members, shall be appointed by the President to nominate a slate of officers and directors. The slate of nominees shall be sent to all chapters with the call for the International Convention. Chapters may nominate officers and directors from the floor of the International Convention, providing that a second to the nomination is received, and that the nominee has acknowledged, in writing, his or her willingness to serve.

c. Should an international Convention be constituted with less than one half of the total number of active chapters having representation in attendance, the International President may request a formal mail ballot from all active chapters in good standing. Nominations from the floor of the International Convention shall be added to the nominating committee's slate.

Sec. 3. Elected officers and directors shall serve for two years or until a successor is named, whichever is later.

Sec. 4. There shall be no salaried officers. Members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred while on Society business approved by the International Executive Committee.

Sec. 1. It shall be the duty of the International President to:

a. Preside at the International Convention and the International Executive Committee meetings.

b. Communicate matters pertaining to the welfare of the international organization to the membership.

c. Appoint special committees not otherwise designated.

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the International Vice President to assume the duties of the International President in his absence, and to chair committees as directed by the President.

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the International Secretary-Treasurer to:

a. Keep a record of the proceedings of the International Convention and of the International Executive Committee meetings, and to report to each active chapter the action taken at those meetings.

b. Direct the activities of the International Executive Director. Annually audit the International Manager's financial records. Present a financial report to the chapters at least annually, coinciding with the International Convention, either directly or through the International President.

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the International Directors to perform duties as prescribed by the International Executive Committee.

Sec. 1. An International Executive Director shall be appointed by the International Executive Committee to serve until removed by that committee. The location of the office of the International Executive Director is considered to be the Executive Office of the International Society.

Sec. 2. The duties of the International Executive Director shall be:

a. To maintain a record of the actions of the Society at large: the reported addresses, installation dates, and deaths of members, and other data received from the chapters.

b. To receive all funds of the Society; to keep permanent records thereof; to make such disbursements as the International Executive Committee shall direct through the International Secretary-Treasurer; and to report same to the International Secretary-Treasurer.

c. To have charge of the purchase, storage, and distribution of all jewelry, certificates, membership cards, etc., for each chapter. To purchase office supplies as necessary.

d. Prior to each International Convention, to make all International Society financial records available to the International Secretary-Treasurer for audit.

e. To publish a newsletter to all chapters at least once a year.

Sec. 3. The International Executive Director shall be bonded.

Sec. 1. The International Executive Committee shall be composed of nine members. They shall be the three current elected Officers and the six current Directors.

Sec. 2. The International Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the society between International Conventions and shall have the power to act upon all matters of interest to the society. Such action shall remain effective unless rescinded by the International Convention.

Sec. 3. At any regular or special meeting of the International Executive Committee that requires presence of members, there shall exist a quorum of at least five members in order for action to become effective. Effective decisions require five affirmative votes from those members present.

Sec. 4. Effective decisions may be made by the International Executive Committee by means of mail ballot, provided that a majority vote of all nine members is received.

Sec. 5. There shall be regular meetings of the International Executive Committee just prior to, and following, each International Convention. Special meetings may be called by the International President who shall determine the time and place for such.

Sec. 6. Vacancies on the International Executive Committee shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Committee members.

Sec. 7. The International Executive Committee shall have the power to initiate action for the removal of International Officers and Directors. Removal shall be by due process and made final on three-fourths affirmative vote of the chapters reporting, within a stipulated time. Chapters may petition the International Executive Committee or move at an international Convention for the removal of an international Officer or Director.

Sec. 1. The supreme authority of the society shall be vested in the International Convention composed of the International Officers and Directors, and one delegate from each chapter in good standing.

Sec. 2. For the purpose of conducting business, a quorum shall be defined as one half of the official representatives which may compose the International Convention.

Sec. 3. Each International Officer and Director, and each chapter's delegate at the International Convention shall have one vote. A chapter's delegate must be a member of the chapter. If an elected chapter delegate is not in attendance at an international Convention, the International President may select a faculty member of the chapter, who is at the International Convention, to be the chapter delegate.

Sec. 4. An affirmative majority vote shall be necessary to pass a measure, unless a higher vote is required elsewhere.

Sec. 5. The International Convention shall be held annually at a place and date determined by the International Executive Committee.

Sec. 6. The order of business at the International Convention shall be determined by the International Executive Committee.

Sec. 7. The International Convention shall have the power to establish a charter fee and a minimum fee for each new member.

Sec. 1. A chapter of Sigma Lambda Chi may be established, maintained, or reactivated only in colleges and universities that are accredited by the appropriate international or regional accrediting agency, and that grant the baccalaureate or higher degree in construction.

a. An active chapter in good standing shall be one which holds elections to membership at least annually, has elected officers, and provides an annual report to the International Executive Director.

b. A chapter may be declared inactive by the International Executive Committee if it fails to hold installations and submit a report to the International Executive Director during a one-year period. A chapter shall be declared inactive if it fails to hold elections and submit a report during a two-year period. 

c. A chapter which has not held elections for five consecutive years may be dropped from the list of active and inactive chapters by a three-fourths affirmative vote of the delegates at an international convention.

Sec. 4. Names of Chapters: Chapters shall be designated by succeeding letters of the Greek alphabet and as designated by the International Executive Committee.

Sec. 5. Chapter constitutions and by-laws shall not conflict with the International Constitution, and shall be submitted for review and approval by the International Executive Committee.

Sec. 6. Chapter Officers:

a. Chapter officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and any other officers the chapter shall deem necessary. The duties of the officers shall be stipulated in the Chapter Constitution.

b. Chapter officers shall be elected by secret ballot and shall serve in the same office not more than one year.

c. The Chapter Executive Committee shall consist of the chapter officers, the President serving as chair.

Sec. 7. Chapter Advisors:  Each chapter shall have a chapter advisor, duly accepted by the active chapter members and faculty members, to serve until a replacement is accepted. The chapter advisor shall have been installed as a member of the Society. The duties of the chapter advisor shall include:

a. Representing the chapter to the administration as required by the academic institution.

b. Rendering counsel to the chapter regarding qualifications of prospective members, expediting reports and correspondence, and keeping records of chapter business.

c. Serving as custodian of the installation manual and regalia.

d. Maintaining the line of communication between the chapter and the international organization.

e. Providing chapter continuity during periods of academic inactivity.

Sec. 8. Chapter Meetings:

a. Meetings of the chapter may be called by the Chapter President as deemed necessary.

b. A quorum shall consist of one half of the active members of the chapter. If there shall be less than a quorum present, those present may either adjourn or act on the matters before it, subject to ratification at the next meeting which constitutes a quorum.

c. Effective decisions shall require an affirmative vote by a majority of the active members present, unless a higher vote is required elsewhere.

Sec. 9. New Members:

a. Qualified students (see Article III for qualifications) who are invited to be Candidates, shall attend an orientation meeting to learn the purpose of the society and the obligations of its members. After an evaluation period, they shall be elected to membership by three-fourths affirmative vote by secret ballot of the chapter's active members present, quorum required.

b. Candidates shall not be mistreated at any time.

c. Each Candidate member, prior to installation, shall pay to the chapter a membership installation fee, such fee to be in accordance with the current schedule established by the International Convention.

d. Installation of active and faculty members shall be according to the official ritual, approved by the International Executive Committee. Installation of honorary members may be by administration of the official short form of the ritual.

Sec. 10. Chapters shall have the power to suspend or terminate any of its members for just cause after due process. Suspension or termination shall require a three-fourths affirmative vote by secret ballot of the chapter's active members present, quorum required.

Sec. 11. Chapters shall have the power to set reasonable dues and to levy assessments when necessary for their operations. Dues and assessments affect only active members.

Sec. 12. A permanent record of active, alumni, faculty, and honorary members of each chapter shall be kept on file in the archives of the chapter. A duplicate record for each member shall be sent to the International Office.

Sec. 13. Chapters shall submit an annual report to the International Secretary-Treasurer annually by the date specified.   The format shall be determined by the International Secretary-Treasurer.

Sec. 14. Chapters may elect their delegate to the International Convention. If an elected chapter delegate is not in attendance at an international Convention, the International President may select a faculty member of the chapter, who is at the International Convention, to be the chapter delegate.

Robert's Rules of Order shall apply in all parliamentary situations not herein specified.

Amendments to the International Constitution shall be ratified by a three-fourths affirmative vote of the International Convention or a three-fourths affirmative vote of the active chapters in good standing in a mail ballot.

Dates regarding revisions and amendments:
Established 1949. Various revisions and amendments over the years.
Revised April 15, 1967.
Revised April 16, 1970.
Revised April 21, 1977.
Revised April 21, 1983.
Amended December 14, 1990. 
The word National amended to International as per Exec. Comm. Vote, Nov. 1994. 
Amended May 1997.  
Amended and Notation added May 1999.  
Amended April 7, 2001.  
Amended April 13, 2002. 
Amended April 12, 2003.
Amended April 9, 2004.
Amended April 8, 2005.
Amended April 5, 2008.

[Note from Intl. Office:  
Words in italic indicate changes approved by the 2008 International Convention, April 5, 2008.]