The Phi Beta Kappa National Society

The following description of the structure and relationships of the units that make up Phi Beta Kappa is drawn from the website of the National Society at www.pbk.org.

National Office
The national office of the Society was originally located in Williamsburg, VA. In 1954 it moved to Washington, DC where it still resides. The national office is responsible for running the daily operations of the Society, including relations with the chapter and associations, maintaining membership data and the planning and administration or programs that promote the mission of Phi Beta Kappa.

Associations
Phi Beta Kappa associations exist in many areas of the United States and membership is open to anyone elected to Phi Beta Kappa. The associations exist to foster friendship and learning in their communities and they provide a means for members to continue their active affiliation with the Society after graduation. Today there are more than 50 active associations. Members in a particular community usually initiate the formation of a Phi Beta Kappa association with the assistance of the Society's national office.

Chapters
Phi Beta Kappa chapters are granted to the Phi Beta Kappa members of the faculty and administration of the sheltering institution. Currently chapters exist at 270 institutions of higher learning throughout the United States. Over 15,000 new members, usually students in their senior year of undergraduate work, are elected each year. Each chapter elects new members every year, both in the fall and in the spring, and initial ceremonies are usually held at this time. Applications for new chapters are accepted on a triennial basis following a lengthy process of documentation by the Phi Beta Kappa members of the applying institution's faculty and administrative staff. For institutions interested in applying for a chapter, additional information may be obtained from the Society's national office in Washington, D.C.

Council
The legislative body of the Phi Beta Kappa Society is the Council, which convenes every three years to transact business for the Society as a whole. The Council alone has the authority to charter new chapters and delegates to the council represent each chartered chapter and association. The first eight triennial Councils (1883-1904) met at Saratoga Springs in New York. Since then it has been the custom to meet successively in different regions of the country.

Districts
The Council of 1937 organized the chapters and associations into seven geographical districts, each headed by an elected chairperson and secretary. Districts foster communication and cooperation among chapters and associations in their geographical regions and provide for representation on the Senate through the election of district senators. District meetings are held regularly in conjunction with the triennial meetings of the Council. This affords chapter and association representatives an opportunity to discuss matters of common concern. Senate The Senate is the permanent executive body of the Society. It consists of 24 members elected by the Council. The Senate meets twice a year, in June and December. The Senate carries out the policies adopted by the Council and oversees the financial operations of the Society. The officers of the Phi Beta Kappa Society are a President and a Vice President, elected by the Council and a Secretary and Treasurer, elected by the Senate. The Secretary is the executive officer of the Society.