The National Constitution & Bylaws serve as the governing documents for all members and affiliates of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and should guide all National Policies, regional policies, Chapter Policies, and Alumni Association Policies.

During the Fraternity’s 56th National Convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the National Assembly gathered to vote upon our National Executive Committee for the triennium as well as vote upon any changes or revisions deemed necessary for our governing documents.

The Assembly is made up of the members of the National Executive Committee, the members of the Fraternity’s Council of Province Governors and the members of the Fraternity’s Council of Collegiate Province Representatives, who serve as voting delegates to the National Convention.

During deliberations, the National Assembly voted and made several changes and revisions to the National Constitution & Bylaws. A summary of the most significant changes is highlighted below.

Highlighted Changes

The majority of the revisions concerned edits for consistency, and a rearrangement of content to achieve a more logical organization of the document. In keeping with standard practices for parliamentary procedures, we have added line numbers as well, to aid in citations and future revisions that may be required.

Bylaws, Title II: Article I; Section 1 [II:I;1]
CPR and ACPR eligibility, election, and term.

“The CPR is a collegiate member in good standing of a chapter within the province at the time of his election, and is enrolled as a student at his chapter’s sheltering institution at the time of his election.”

Changes were made concerning the eligibility requirements of Collegiate Province Representatives (CPRs) and Assistant Collegiate Province Representatives (ACPRs), and the beginning of the term of office for CPRs/ACPRs elected in the fall term was specified as December 15. Candidates for these Province offices must now be a) members in good standing of a collegiate chapter within the Province, and b) must be enrolled as a student at the chapter’s sheltering institution at the time of election.

Bylaws, Title I: Article I; Section 2 [I:I;2]
Membership Eligibility

“A man who has been expelled from the Fraternity is not eligible for initiation into any class of membership.”

The delegates addressed an open question on whether members who had been expelled might be “re-initiated,” or initiated as Faculty or Honorary members. The language adopted restricts an expelled member from future membership in the Fraternity:  “A man who has been expelled from the Fraternity is not eligible for initiation into any class of membership.” 

This prohibits an expelled member from being granted probationary, collegiate or honorary membership. It is essential that each chapter, and each member, understand that expulsion is an extreme disciplinary step, which will be permanent if not overturned on appeal by the National Executive Committee. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia does not allow “inactive status,” disaffiliation, or voluntary termination of membership once a Brother has been initiated. (Probationary members may resign probationary membership voluntarily, prior to initiation.)

[See also Title I: Article I; Section 7 [I:I;7] Term of membership.)

Bylaws, Title III: Article IV; Section 1 [III: IV; 1]
Election, installation, and term.

“A chapter elects officers by April 1 of each academic year and installs them by May 1 using the official installation ceremony.”

A change was made concerning the installation date requirement for newly-elected chapter officers. Whereas previously new officers were required to be both elected and installed by April 1 of each academic year, the Bylaws now separate the election and the installation. The chapters are still required to elect officers by April 1, but the deadline to install the officers has been changed to May 1.