Article I - Name

The name of this society shall be Chi Omega Lambda Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Honor Society.

Article II - Purpose

The Purpose of  Chi Omega Lambda Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Honor Society shall be to function as an honor and professional society for students of the molecular life sciences. Its activities shall be designed to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, research accomplishments and outreach activities in the molecular life sciences, as described in the Society Mission Statement:

Mission Statement
The Honor Society exists to recognize outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing careers in the molecular life sciences and to provide a mentoring network to assist in the attainment of their goals. The Society annually recognizes outstanding juniors &  seniors for their scholarly attainment, research accomplishments and outreach activities in the molecular life sciences

Article III - Insignia

Section 1. The official emblem of the Society shall be the three greek initials of the organization. 

Section 2. The colors of the Society shall be navy blue and silver.

Article IV - Membership

Section 1. The membership shall be divided into three classes: undergraduate, graduate, and elected honor roll members. Chi Omega Lambda is a non-discriminating organization that does not consider age, race, color, creed, sex, national origin or sexual preference.

Section 2. Undergraduate members shall be:
a) Undergraduate majors in biochemistry & molecular biology at an institution where an Undergraduate Affiliates Network chapter of Chi Omega Lambda is located.
b) Shall have completed at least one term of the second year of a four-year curriculum or its equivalent.
c) Shall be in good academic standing.

Only regular members may hold the constitutionally specified chapter offices, vote on chapter membership nominations and national questions, and represent the chapter or vote at national conventions.

Section 3. Graduate members shall be either graduate students currently enrolled in a life science at an institution where there is a chapter or faculty members actively serving in the molecular life sciences or people who have received a PhD degree in one of the molecular life sciences. They may participate in the local activities of any chapter except for the holding of constitutionally specified chapter offices and voting on chapter membership and national matters. They may attend district or national conventions, and, upon special designation, represent their original chapter at a national convention. They shall not be eligible for undergraduate awards.

Section 4. Members may be nominated, by local chapters, or the executive committee, for election  to the National Honor Roll, in recognition of significant  research accomplishments and outstanding service.

Section 5. National Honor roll members may wear the official insignia and shall remain members for life unless removed under the provisions of Section 11.

Section 6. Local Chapter Members shall be nominated to the various categories by a committee that includes both regular members and faculty. Election shall be by at least a majority vote of the regular members present at a regular meeting.

Section 7. A regular member transferring from one institution to another shall be automatically eligible for membership in a chapter in her//his new institution unless he does not qualify under the normally prescribed requirements of his new chapter.

Section 8. Each chapter or club shall adopt specific membership requirements which are not in conflict with the requirements outlined in Section 2 and which are meaningful in the specific local situation. It is assumed that local chapters and clubs will require high standards of scientific conduct in their nominees and members. No person shall be refused nomination on any basis other than failure to meet requirements in this constitution or in chapter by-laws.

Section 9. A regular member of a chapter may be removed from chapter membership only for cause by a vote of 3/4 of the entire voting membership. Any such removal must be approved by the chapter advisor (counselor) and is subject to appeal to the National Executive Committee.

Section 10. Stated local membership requirements shall be submitted to the chapter advisor and the District Director for approval. In case of disagreement or conflict between local requirements or local action and this constitution, the matter shall be referred to the National Executive Director for adjudication subject to final appeal to the National Executive Committee.

Section 11. The National Executive Committee shall, from time to time, adopt such by-laws, regulations, and definitions as are necessary to accomplish the equitable and reasonable application of these provisions.

Benefits of Membership:
Upon election to the society new members receive a  free one year  membership to ASBMB, a travel award to attend the next annual meeting of the society, access to the mentoring activities of the Honor Society [all Honor Society members mentor other members], a certificate of membership in the Honor Society and the Society lapel pin.

Article V - Officers

Section 1. The national officers shall be the Executive Director, appointed by the President of the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, a Vice President for each Region (who will be the Undergraduate Affiliates Network Director for that region), and a Director for each District. The President, Vice Presidents, and the last two Past Presidents shall constitute the National Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Director shall lead in all activities of the Society. She/He shall preside at the annual convention and meetings of the Executive Committee and shall perform all other duties customarily associated with the office of the executive director.
 
Section 3. The Regional Vice Presidents shall be particularly concerned with the functioning of the Society in her/his region. She/He and the District Directors shall be responsible for the investigation of applications for new chapters and clubs and installation of same. They shall encourage the continuing development of existing chapters and clubs. As a member of the National Executive Committee, the Regional Vice President shall serve as representative of the national headquarters in her/his region.

Section 4. The National Executive Committee, as defined in Section 1 of this article, shall have power to transact urgent society business between conventions including replacements in its own membership if necessary. It shall serve as advisor and consultant to the Executive Director. It shall meet (by telephone conference)  at least once prior to each national convention and may hold interim meetings on the recommendations of the Executive Director.

Section 7. Appointment of the Executive Director and Vice Presidents shall be for a term of five years, renewable as appropriate. They shall be professional molecular life scientists holding the earned doctor's academic degree, and members of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and they shall be, or shall become by this election, graduate members of the Society. Their term of office shall be five years, and they may succeed themselves. They shall assume their duties on September 1.

Section 8. It shall be the duty of the National Executive Committee to determine the boundaries of the geographical regions and to revise them when necessary in order to increase the effectiveness and reduce the problems of national operation. Regional boundaries shall be specified in the by-laws.

Section 9. Each region may be divided into two or more districts. District boundary lines shall be determined by the National Executive Committee and may be changed as necessary to adjust to increases in the number of chapters or shifts in their distribution. On nomination by the Executive Director, the National Executive Committee shall appoint a Director for each district whose term of office shall be for five years coinciding with the terms of office of the members of the National Executive Committee. The Director shall be, or shall become by this appointment, a graduate member of the Society. The Director shall be immediately responsible for the organization and functioning of chapters within his district subject to the general policy of the society and the overall supervision of the Regional Vice President. She/He will be expected to organize a district convention of the chapters within his district as appropriate.

Article VI - Chapters and Clubs

Section 1. Any baccalaureate degree-granting college or university approved by the recognized accrediting association for its region and having one or more academic departments in the physical or biological sciences may apply for a chapter of Chi Omega Lambda.

Section 2. A chapter may be granted to applicants who satisfy the following conditions:
a) There is a curriculum consistent with the recommendations of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  of such quality and quantity that students are recognized as majors in biochemistry and/or molecular biology or some area thereof.
b) Preliminary application steps, as prescribed by the National Executive Committee, have been completed.
c) A Regional Director or her/his representative has recommended favorable action.
d) The National Executive Committee, by vote, has endorsed the visitor's recommendation.

Section 3. Unless in its judgment such action should be delayed for a specified additional time, the National Executive Committee shall direct the recall of a charter if:
a) The college or university has been nonaccredited for two years or more.
b) The chapter or club has not, for a period of two years or more, elected additional regular members.
c) The chapter or club refuses to comply with the requirements of the national constitution.

Section 4. The National Executive Committee shall, as necessary, make specific rulings and interpretations to carry out the intent of this article and the Executive Director shall set up procedures for the application process.

Article VII - Chapter Government

Section 1. Each chapter shall adopt by-laws which set forth the specific policies and practices it deems necessary for the effective functioning of the chapter in the local situation. Each chapter shall have full authority to regulate its local affairs as it sees fit, subject to the restrictions of Section 2 of this article.

Section 2. There shall be no provisions in chapter bylaws which are contrary to this constitution or the national by-laws which derive therefrom. The National Executive Committee shall have the power to annul any local by-laws which it holds to be in violation of the provisions or clear intent of this constitution, but it shall not do so without prior consultation with the chapter concerned. Such consultation shall make clear the objection to the by-law concerned and give the chapter an opportunity to state its reasons regarding the provision as valid.

Section 3. Chapter by-laws and all amendments thereto shall be filed with both the appropriate Regional Vice President and the District Director who shall bring to the attention of the National President any provisions which may violate Section 2 of this article.

Article VIII - Chapter Officers

Section 1. Each chapter shall elect a president, a vice president, and a secretary from among its regular members.

Section 2. The duties of these officers shall be those normally assigned to such offices.

Section 3. These officers should hold office for one year. The time of election and the time for assumption of duties shall be specified in the chapter by-laws.

Section 4. At the same time it elects officers, a chapter shall, if necessary, elect a chapter advisor (counselor) from among the biological or physical  sciences faculty. The advisor shall be, or shall become by this election, a graduate member. An advisor shall serve for a term of not more than five years but may be re-elected. The prospective regular members of a new chapter shall elect the first advisor (counselor) prior to the installation of the chapter.

Section 5. The chapter advisor (counselor) shall assist and advise the chapter and especially its officers in carrying out the chapter programs and aid in developing new policies and programs that contribute to its local effectiveness. She/He shall serve as permanent custodian of chapter records and funds making sure that they are maintained in good order and that each successive group of chapter officers are informed as to their responsibilities. She/He may delegate custodial duties during the academic year but shall check and reclaim all records and funds at the close of each academic year.

Section 6. Chapter officers are responsible for submitting promptly and in correct form such reports as are requested by the national and district officers. Chapter advisors shall review such reports for accuracy prior to submission.
 

Article IX - By-Laws

The National Executive Committee shall, from time to time, adopt such by-laws as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this constitution. It shall be the purpose of the by-laws to state the specific procedures and practices in effect at any given time.

Article X - Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by the National Executive Committee, any national officer or District Director, any chapter advisor, or any regular member in good standing. Any proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Executive Director who shall submit it to the next meeting of the National Executive Committee.

Section 2. If a proposed amendment is approved by the Executive Committee, it shall be submitted by the Executive Director to a poll of the individual chapters. The amendment shall become effective if it is approved by two-thirds of those chapters.

Section 3. A reply period of not less than sixty days nor more than ninety days shall be specified in the request for approval. The ballot shall be declared closed at the end of the specified time. The timing shall be such that any poll will be completed within the same academic year in which it is initiated.

BY-LAWS

By-Law I - Membership Conditions

Section 1. Regular and graduate members become members of Chi Omega Lambda through a chapter and thus have both national and chapter membership. Once initiated, they are:
a) national members for life unless removed for cause in accordance with Article IV, Section 11 of the national constitution and
b) chapter members so long as they remain matriculated students in the chapter's home institution and meet their obligations to the chapter as specified by its by-laws.

Section 2. Members terminate both national and chapter or club membership when they graduate or otherwise terminate their matriculation in the chapter's home institution, unless:
a) they have previously been elected to honor roll membership, or
b) they are absent on approved leave-of-absence which permits their return.
. 

By-Law II - Regions

Section 1. The geographical regions required by Article V of the National Constitution shall be as follows:
a) The Northeastern Region shall consist of the states north of the northern boundaries of Virginia and Kentucky and east of the eastern boundary of Illinois and of Lake Michigan.
b) The Southeastern Region shall consist of all states and parts of states south of the northern boundaries of Virginia and Kentucky and east of the Mississippi River.
c) The Northcentral Region shall consist of the group of states that are bounded on the east by the eastern border of Illinois and by Lake Michigan; on the south by the southern boundaries of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Wyoming; on the west by the western borders of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota; and on the north by the Dominion of Canada.
d) The Southcentral Region Shall consist of the group of states and parts of states that are bounded on the east by the Mississippi River; on the north by the northern boundaries of Arkansas and Oklahoma, on the west by the western boundary of Texas; and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico.
e) The NorthWestern Region shall consist of those states lying west of the eastern boundaries of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.
f) The Overseas Region shall consist of Alaska, Hawaii, and any countries and U.S. territories outside the 48 contiguous  States of the Unitied States

Section 2. When the needs or convenience of an individual chapter will be better served by so doing, the National Executive Committee may transfer that chapter from the geographic region or district in which it is actually located to any contiguous district.

By-Law VI - Jeweler

The National Executive Committee  shall select a jeweler for the Society. Insignia shall be ordered from the jeweler only through the National Office.

By-Law VII - Amendments

Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the National Executive Committee. At least 60 days prior to the meeting at which an amendment is to be acted upon, the exact wording must be circulated to all national officers.

Section 2. Proposed amendments may be submitted for consideration by any chapter or club, any district convention, or any group of ten or more individual regular members.