Triangle's Constitution and Bylaws establish various procedures to allow the membership to initiate and make changes. This document summarizes the options available.
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.
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.
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.
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 50 members of Triangle, representing four or more Triangle chapters.
Upon receipt of such a petition, Council will publish in Triangle Review an opinion poll with the text of the petition and inviting all members to respond with their approval or disapproval. If at least 10% of Triangle's living members respond within 6 months after publication and if 2/3 of the respondents support the petition, the proposal is submitted to the chapters.
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.
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 delinquent organization.
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:
Proposal
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.
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 50 members of Triangle, representing four or more Triangle chapters.
Upon receipt of such a petition, Council will publish in Triangle Review an opinion poll with the text of the petition and inviting all members to respond with their approval or disapproval. If at least 10% of Triangle's living members respond within 6 months after publication and if 2/3 of the respondents support the petition, the proposal is submitted to the chapters.
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.
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 delinquent organization.
Amendments to Fraternity Regulations require a majority vote by National Council.