Updates/Changes to our Governing Documents

Constitution and Ritual

Changing the Triangle Constitution or Ritual is a two-part process. First, the change is proposed before a Triangle body (National Convention or National Council) or presented to the membership via referendum. If the proposal is approved by that body, it is distributed to the chapters for a ratification vote.

A. Proposal

1. Amendments to the Constitution and Ritual may be proposed in Convention. If a proposed amendment receives a 3/4 approval vote, it is submitted to the chapters.
2. National Council will consider any amendment that is proposed by a member of Triangle. If the proposal receives the favorable vote of National Council, it is submitted to the chapters.
3. An amendment may be proposed via a written petition submitted to National Council and requesting a referendum vote. The petition must be signed by at least 200 members of Triangle, representing 25% or more of the active Triangle chapters. Upon receipt of such a petition, it is submitted to the chapters.

B. Chapter Vote

A proposal approved by one of the above methods is submitted to the chapters for a vote. The proposal is enacted if it is approved by 3/4 of the active organizations and 3/4 of the alumni organizations of the chapters. (Example: If there are 32 chapters, 24 active orgs and 24 alumni orgs must vote in favor.) Each vote by an active organization must be 2/3 approval. Each vote by an alumni organization must be majority approval.

No proposed amendment may be submitted to the chapters between April 1 and September 1.

Once announced, organizations will have 60 days to vote. If an active or alumni organization fails to vote within sixty days, National Council has the power to cast a vote in place of the organization.

Bylaws and Graduation Ceremony

The amendment process for the National Bylaws and the Graduation Ceremony is similar to that for the Constitution and Ritual, with the addition that a proposal adopted by Convention or one unanimously adopted by National Council is enacted immediately and not subject to a chapter vote.

• Amendments to the Graduation Ceremony and the Bylaws may be proposed in Convention. If a proposed amendment receives a 3/4 approval vote, it is enacted immediately.
• National Council will consider any amendment that is proposed by a member of Triangle. If the proposal receives the unanimous favorable vote of National Council, it is enacted immediately.
• The Bylaws and Graduation Ceremony may also be amended using the two-part process given for the Constitution and Ritual:

A.  Proposal

1. National Council will consider any amendment that is proposed by a member of Triangle. If the proposal receives a majority favorable vote of National Council, it is submitted to the chapters.

2. An amendment may be proposed via a written petition submitted to National Council and requesting a referendum vote. The petition must be signed by at least 200 members of Triangle, representing 25% or more of the active Triangle chapters. Upon receipt of such a petition, the proposal is submitted to the chapters.

B.  Chapter Vote

A proposal approved by one of the above methods is submitted to the chapters for a vote. The proposal is enacted if it is approved by 3/4 of the active organizations and 3/4 of the alumni organizations of the chapters. (Example: If there are 36 chapters, 27 active orgs and 27 alumni orgs must vote in favor.)

Each vote by an active organization must be by 2/3 approval. Each vote by an alumni organization must be majority approval. No proposed amendment may be submitted to the chapters between April 1 and September 1. Once announced, organizations will have 60 days to vote. If an active or alumni organization fails to vote within sixty days, National Council has the power to cast a vote in place of the organization.

Submit Your Legislative Proposal Here

If you have legislation you would like to propose, please complete the form below and submit to the National Council. Council will review and do the necessary research on the viability and impact of the proposal. Only then can a proposal be approved for inclusion on the Convention agenda.

Submissions must be received by February 15, to provide time to review the proposal and, if appropriate, create the proper legislative language for the document/s affected and publicize to all active and alumni chapters for consideration at Convention.