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ARTICLE V. SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A CHAPTER

Section 1—Revocation of a Charter by the National Office

The national office reserves the right to review and demand correction of any gross violation of either AMSA policy or basic democratic philosophy. In worst case scenarios the national office reserves the right to revoke the charter of any chapter that either refuses to rectify any heinous situation after being notified by the national office or one that has done such damage through the misuse of authority and/or of AMSA’s name that the national office deems it prudent to discontinue association with the chapter. The charter of any chapter may be suspended or revoked by the House of Delegates upon a vote to that effect by at least three-fourths (3/4) of those voting.

Section 2—Revocation of a Charter by an Individual

1.             Any individual may file written charges against any chapter that the accuser feels to have acted in conflict with the letter or intent of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association, or to have failed to comply with all requirements of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association, or with any lawful requirement of the House of Delegates. Such charges shall be signed, dated, and filed with the Executive Director of the Association, who shall submit a copy of said charges to the accused chapter and request of the chapter a written reply. He/she shall so present said charges and the reply to the Board of Trustees at its next meeting.

2.             If the Board of Trustees fails to dismiss said charges, it shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the charges, which time shall be not less than fifteen (15) days, nor more than ninety (90) days, after the serving of such charges. If, following the hearing, the Board of Trustees fails to dismiss the charges, it shall advise the accused chapter of its recommendations, and shall make known its decision in a written resolution signed by the President of the Association at least thirty (30) days prior to the next Annual Meeting of the Association.

3.             At the next Annual Meeting of the Association, the resolution shall be presented to and acted upon by the House of Delegates. Before the voting shall commence, the chapter shall be allowed forty-five (45) minutes to answer charges. Upon suspension or revocation of the charter by a three-fourths vote of the House of Delegates, the delegation of that chapter shall leave the floor of the House of Delegates.

Section 3—Petitioning for a New Charter After Revocation

A chapter whose charter is thus revoked may petition for a new charter as specified in Article IV Section I of the Constitution and Bylaws. Chapters that had their charters revoked may not apply for a new charter for one year after such revocation has occurred.

Section 4—Procedure for Revocation of Chapters with Fewer than Five Members

To remain a chartered chapter of AMSA, a medical, premedical affiliate, or international affiliate chapter must maintain at least five national members in good standing. If a chapter has five or fewer members on January 1st of a calendar year, then the Chapter President and appropriate school administrator of said chapter shall receive a warning from the National Office stating that the chapter charter will be revoked on December 31st. Chapters that do not have at least five members by October 15th shall receive a second notice of probation. If a chapter still does not have at least five members in good standing by December 31st, then the charter of said chapter shall be automatically revoked. (2004)

The Regional Director and Regional Programming Coordinator, International and International Programming Coordinator, or Premedical Trustee and Premedical Regional Directors, shall work with chapters with fewer than five members to expand chapter membership to at least five individuals. (2004)