LAMBDA CHI ALPHA
PHI THETA ZETA

Did you know that Lambda Chi Alpha has a sophisticated legislation process? Did you also know that every two years, Lambda Chi Alpha’s laws are revised at the General Assembly? Finally, did you know that the majority of people who vote on the laws are undergraduate representatives?

Therefore Lambda Chi Alpha is an organization that is constantly changing and keeping up with the times and the changes are decided by you, the undergraduates of Lambda Chi Alpha.

The Constitution and Statutory Code is Lambda Chi Alpha’s chief document that outlines all the fraternity rules. The words “associate member” and “associate membership” are listed a total of 134 times throughout the document. Below are some key points, taken directly out of the forty-second edition of the Constitution and Statutory Code that outline your rights as an Associate Member:

Definitions.
Associate Members are those students who have been accepted for association by a Chapter but who have not participated in the Initiation Ritual. (Article 4, Section 1(c))

Code 3-10. Executive Committee.
The High Pi, High Alpha, High Tau, and two Collegiate Brothers or Associate Members elected as at-large members in a manner to be defined in the Chapter bylaws shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Chapter shall also elect an alternate member who is authorized to exercise full voting privileges in the absence of any member of the committee, except with reference to the absence of the High Pi or High Alpha. The High Beta shall be an ex-officio member of the committee without a vote unless he has been elected as an at-large or alternate member, or is voting in the absence of the High Alpha.

Code 3-13. Quorum and Voting.
A majority of the Collegiate Brothers and Associate Members of a Chapter shall constitute a quorum, unless a greater number is provided for in the Chapter bylaws. There shall be no voting by proxy. Absentee ballots may be cast only in elections of Chapter officers and on candidates for initiation, and only in the manner provided by the Chapter bylaws.
Code 3-15. Status of Associate Members in Business Meetings.
Associate Members shall attend Chapter business meetings and shall have the right to vote on all matters except (i) on candidates for initiation, (ii) on termination of associate membership, or (iii) on matters concerned with the Initiation Ritual.

Code 4-3. Voting on Prospective Associate Members.
A vote on the association of a man to the Fraternity may be taken at any scheduled meeting, provided a quorum of both the Collegiate Brothers and Associate Members is present. A prospective Associate Member’s name must be proposed by one Collegiate Brother or Associate Member of the Chapter and seconded by another Collegiate Brother or Associate Member. The number of favorable votes necessary to accept a prospective Associate Member shall be determined by the Chapter in its Bylaws provided that no Chapter shall require less than 66 percent favorable vote nor more than 87 percent favorable vote of the Collegiate Brothers and Associate Members present and voting. The Chapter may set a minimum favorable vote as low as 51 percent on association if the institution so requires.

Code 4-4. Scholastic Requirements of Associate Membership and Initiation.
To be eligible for associate membership or initiation, a man must have been granted unconditional admission to the institution, unless he has completed one or more terms of college work in which case he must have achieved during the previous grading period a scholastic average that shall be determined by the Chapter in its Bylaws, but that shall not be less than a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or the all-men’s average (if this information is available), whichever is the lesser, but in any event not less than the scholastic average required for graduation. In no case shall any Chapter be authorized to waive existing college or university requirements for association or initiation. The Grand High Zeta shall be empowered by petition to adjust academic requirements on certain campuses. To be eligible for association or initiation, each prospective Associate Member or candidate shall be required to authorize the college or university to inform the High Sigma whether or not that person’s scholastic average meets the requirements of this section.

Code 4-6. Termination of Associate Membership; Reassociation.

a. Associate Membership may be terminated at any time by a vote of the Collegiate Brothers present and voting, provided the action on such motion lies on the table for one week prior to termination. The number of votes necessary to continue Associate Membership shall be the same as the number required by the Chapter Bylaws to accept a candidate for initiation at the time of the final vote for initiation.
b. Associate Membership shall be terminated automatically if an Associate Member shall have failed for each of two successive semesters or three successive quarters to maintain the scholastic average required for graduation by the institution.
c. Associate Membership shall be terminated automatically after the expiration of 15 calendar months, whether consecutive or not, provided that at least two regular initiations shall have been held during such period. If not more than one regular initiation shall have been held during the 15-month period, the Associate Membership shall be terminated automatically upon the holding of the first regular initiation following the 15-month period of Associate Membership.
d. A former Associate Member may be reassociated only in the manner provided in Code 4-3 of this Statutory Code, provided however that a person whose Associate Membership has been terminated pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) shall not thereafter be reassociated unless authorization therefor is given by the Grand High Zeta.. A former Associate Member who is reassociated shall be subject to all requirements of the Laws of the Fraternity and the Chapter, except that he shall not be required to pay the General Fraternity Associate Member Fee a second time. A former Associate Member who is reassociated must be approved for initiation in the manner prescribed in Code 4-9 of this Statutory Code following his reassociation, notwithstanding the fact that he may have been approved for initiation prior to being disassociated.

Code 4-7. Instruction of Associate Members and Initiates.
Each Chapter shall adopt a definitive program of study on the history, organization, administration, and ideals of Lambda Chi Alpha, minimum requirements for which shall be formulated under the direction of the Grand High Zeta. This course of study shall be provided for the particular benefit of Members.

Code 4-8. Hazing of Associate Members and Initiates.
Hazing Members shall not be permitted at any time, whether on or off Fraternity premises. Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created intentionally to produce physical discomfort or mental discomfort by embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.

Code 6-4. Official Associate Member Pin.
Every Associate Member shall be presented with an Official Associate Member Pin. The Official Associate Member Pin is worn by Associate Members in the same fashion that the Official Badge is worn by Brothers, as provided in Code 6-3(a) of this Statutory Code. It never has a guard, however.