Rules and Regulations:

| Introduction | Prior to Convention |
| Candidate Campaign Material | Candidate Campaign Booth |
| Candidate Caucus |
| Candidate Finalists in the Academic Marketplace |
| Candidate Finalists' Speeches | Election/Polling Process |

Introduction

Five International Officers will be elected during the 90th International Convention:

  1. International President
  2. Division I Vice President
  3. Division II Vice President
  4. Division III Vice President
  5. Division IV Vice President

The International Convention will be held April 3-5, 2008, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One voting delegate will be appointed to represent each chapter in attendance at the International Convention. Each voting delegate will be entitled to one vote in each of the five officer elections. Thus, all voting delegates may vote in all five elections.

A Phi Theta Kappa member may be a candidate for International Office only once (as stated in Chapter I, Section 2B of the Society's International Constitution and Bylaws).

The campaign for International Office is intended to be a fun, educational and rewarding experience for every candidate. To ensure the accomplishment of this goal, several rules and regulations have been established. Any violation may result in a candidate being disqualified from the campaign. Violations should be reported immediately to Director of Programs Jennifer Stanford or to another Headquarters staff member.

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Prior to the International Convention

  1. Many candidates choose to appoint a campaign manager to assist them in preparing for the International Officer Campaign. It is not a Headquarters requirement that each candidate has a campaign manager; however, if one is appointed, he/she must be a provisional or active member of Phi Theta Kappa (enrolled in a two-year college). An alumni member or former International Officer may not serve in this leadership position. Furthermore, a member may only serve once as a campaign manager. It is acceptable, however, for alumni and former International Officers to support the candidate as a member of the campaign team.

  2. It is acceptable for chapter advisors to serve on a candidate's campaign team. However, Regional Coordinators are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED from serving on a campaign team.

  3. Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters strongly discourages mass communication about a member's candidacy prior to the International Convention in order to maintain as much equity, objectivity and fairness in the campaign as possible and to keep campaign costs to a minimum. While it is not encouraged, candidate applicants are NOT prohibited from communicating with members throughout the Society regarding their intentions to run for International Office. This should be interpreted to mean that candidates (or any representative of the candidate) may distribute any campaign materials, letters, e-mail messages, etc. prior to the International Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Although Headquarters does not monitor pre-Convention campaigning, candidates are cautioned to keep campaign costs to a minimum. It's dedication, not dollars, that makes you a strong candidate!

  4. Regional primaries are prohibited. If a region has more than one candidate seeking the same International Office, the region may not hold a contest to determine which one will proceed to the International Convention. According to the Phi Theta Kappa Constitution and Bylaws, Article V, Section 2C, "Any active member of any active chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall be eligible for (inter)national candidacy."

  5. Regions are allowed to feature information about International Officer candidate(s) on their website and/or in their newsletter. Candidates for International Office may give a brief speech at their regional convention as long as each candidate from the region is given equal time.

  6. Any member who is considering a campaign for International Office is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED from attending regional meetings outside his/her region. Traveling to other regions can be costly and it is Headquarters' intention to prevent the campaign from becoming cost-prohibitive. Any candidate applicant who attends another region's meeting may NOT be introduced as a candidate and may NOT give a presentation or speech.

  7. By Wednesday, March 5, 2008, Headquarters will send each candidate applicant a list of all candidate applicants' names and e-mail addresses. Candidates may correspond with one another prior to the International Convention. However, candidates are cautioned to keep communications to a minimum out of respect for all candidates during this very busy time. DO NOT add candidates to a mailing list without their permission.

  8. By Monday, March 17, 2008, Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters will post photos and essays of each candidate applicant on the official Phi Theta Kappa Convention website at http://convention.ptk.org.

  9. Candidates for International Office may NOT be nominated by their Regional Coordinator to serve as Convention Flag Bearers during the Convention's Opening Ceremonies. Candidates are also NOT allowed to serve as Educational Forum or Pre-Conference presenters at the International Convention, and may not perform on stage in a solo or small-group performance.

  10. Phi Theta Kappa reserves the right to extend the application deadline if a race is uncontested.

  11. Candidates may NOT switch offices after the application deadline unless a race is uncontested.

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Rules and Regulations: Candidate Campaign Material

  1. Only ONE distributable information piece may be used by each candidate. No other items may be distributed. The "distributable information piece" may be a brochure, newsletter or flier of any size which will be distributed to delegates at the International Convention. The item should contain the candidate's name, office he/she is seeking, and information about the candidate (e.g., his/her qualifications for International Office, awards received, chapter/regional offices held, etc.). Please use recycled paper for printed matter if possible.

    Each candidate is required to provide a sketch or rough draft of his/her distributable information piece for approval along with the Candidate Application Packet. The Candidate Application Packet MUST BE RECEIVED at Headquarters by February 22, 2008. A final draft of the information piece must be submitted for final approval no later then March 19, 2008. DO NOT PRINT mass quantities of your campaign information piece until you have received FINAL approval from Headquarters.

  2. Candidates are prohibited from using quotations or statements of endorsement from Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters staff members, current International Officers, Regional Coordinators, the Board of Directors or Alumni Advisory Council representatives in their campaign materials, including their campaign booths in the Academic Marketplace.

    While it is acceptable to include photos of Regional Coordinators in their campaign materials, candidates may NOT use photos or images of Headquarters staff members, current International Officers, the Board of Directors or Alumni Advisory Council representatives in any of their campaign materials, including the campaign booth.

  3. Do NOT use copyrighted images or slogans in your campaign materials. Use only original material for your campaign. The Phi Theta Kappa Convention logo is copyrighted and should NOT be used by candidates in any of their campaign materials. It is acceptable to use the Phi Theta Kappa Key, Crest and Seal.

  4. In an effort to make the campaign process less commercial and more professional, please note that an attachment to the "distributable information piece" is NOT ALLOWED. Candidates may not distribute "theme oriented" pieces such as buttons, edible items, rulers, pencils, key chains, stamps, etc.

    By limiting each candidate to the use of only one distributable information piece, it is the goal of Headquarters to keep campaign costs to a minimal amount. This rule is intended to instill a greater sense of equality into the campaign process and to encourage more members from chapters with financial constraints to run for International Office.

  5. The information piece may only be distributed INSIDE the Academic Marketplace when the candidate booth is manned. When the campaign booth is unmanned, the campaign information piece SHOULD NOT be left in a stack that may be picked up by delegates. The information piece must be secured to the table if left on display while the booth is unmanned.

    Approximately 1,200 - 1,500 copies of the campaign information piece should be sufficient.

  6. Candidates and/or campaign workers may NOT distribute materials OUTSIDE the Marketplace at any time. On Saturday, campaign material may be distributed ONLY from the candidate's table inside the Marketplace.

  7. No campaign promotional materials are allowed to be posted on hotel or convention center property (walls, doors, ceilings, pillars, windows, light poles, etc.).

    This policy is strictly enforced to reduce the possibility of liability ramifications resulting from damage to hotel/convention center property. Please note this policy includes the restriction of ALL types of wall posters since these would greatly detract from the aesthetic appearance of the hotel and convention center.

  8. T-shirts and/or campaign costumes worn by the candidate and/or campaign workers are acceptable. However, no more than 20 campaign workers may wear campaign costumes. This includes campaign buttons, decals, t-shirts, hats, etc. Campaign workers may begin to wear costumes upon arrival at Convention.

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Rules and Regulations: Candidate Campaign Booth

  1. Each candidate will be given one 6-foot table to serve as the campaign booth, and candidates may add any booth decorations in good taste. Decoration of the campaign booth is left to the imagination and discretion of the candidates, but displays behind the booth may not be higher than 8 feet tall. The table height is 30 inches. The depth of the booth cannot exceed 6 feet. Please note that balloons are not allowed.

  2. Campaign booths need not be elaborate. One table and tablecloth are supplied by Headquarters. All other supplies must be provided by the candidate. Remember, it is dedication, not dollars, that makes a winner!

  3. Due to rigid union regulations and fire codes, table spaces will not be equipped with electrical outlets. Candidates are prohibited from using electrically or battery operated devices in their campaign table spaces. However, it is acceptable for battery-operated devices to be used as part of the campaign costume as long as it does not create excessive noise.

  4. Booth spaces will be assigned alphabetically by last name within offices sought (i.e., all presidential candidate booths will be located in the same section. A presidential candidate whose last name begins with "A" would be assigned the first space in the row of presidential candidate booths, and so forth...). In previous years, candidates have been successful regardless of their booth location. Candidates with last names from A to Z have been elected.

  5. Candidates must respect the booth spaces of other candidates. Do not campaign in front of other candidates' booths.

  6. No campaign materials are allowed to be posted on the hotel and convention center property inside or outside the Academic Marketplace. However, a candidate is allowed to bring corkboards, easels or other surfaces on which they can post campaign materials behind his/her booth.

  7. Individual candidates may NOT offer any form of "door prizes" or food items at their campaign tables. Only one pre-approved distributable information piece may be given away.

  8. To avoid overcrowding, candidates and campaign team members are not allowed to campaign at the entrances to the Academic Marketplace.

  9. Candidates are responsible for removing decorations and materials from their campaign tables and for cleaning their assigned table spaces. All candidates' booth spaces must be cleared on Friday, April 4.

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Rules and Regulations: Candidate Caucus

  1. The Candidate Caucus provides candidates an opportunity to be interviewed one-on-one by the Society's Executive Director, Rod A. Risley. Questions are not revealed before the interview, and may address everything from the candidate's personal and professional goals to opinions on Phi Theta Kappa issues. Questions may also pertain to the candidate's application.

  2. Each candidate will be allowed to spend approximately four minutes on camera answering questions posed by Mr. Risley. Candidates should consider wearing "stage" make-up to enhance their appearance on camera due to the bright lighting required for the videotaping.

  3. The caucus session will be videotaped and broadcast in special viewing areas in the Pennsylvania Convention Center beginning Thursday, April 3. You may view the 2007 Candidate Caucus at www.ptk.org/directories/intofficers.htm.

  4. Candidates will wait in a holding area and be escorted into the taping room one at a time. A candidate's campaign manager may also attend the videotaping.

  5. Absolutely no "props" will be permitted during caucus appearances.

  6. Notecards are not allowed during the caucus.

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Rules and Regulations: Conversations with the Candidate Finalists in the Academic Marketplace

  1. Candidate Finalists are required to campaign a final time on Saturday, April 5, at special tables set up in the Academic Marketplace. This will provide a final one-on-one campaign opportunity.

  2. Each candidate finalist will be assigned a draped table, two chairs and a sign with his/her name on it. Only the candidate finalist and his/her campaign manager may be stationed at the table.

  3. Table displays are not permitted; however, a candidate may distribute remaining copies of his/her information piece.

  4. All distributable information items must be completely removed by 11:30 am on Saturday. Neither Phi Theta Kappa nor the convention center will be responsible for items left in the Academic Marketplace after that time.

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Rules and Regulations: Candidate Finalists' Speeches - the Honors Study Topic Speech

  1. The top ten candidates from Friday's election (two from each officer race) shall become "candidate finalists" and will present speeches on the 2008-2010 Honors Study Topic, "The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges,and Consequences."

  2. The candidate finalists' speeches will be presented during the Fourth General Session on Saturday, April 5.

  3. This speech MUST NOT be presented as a "campaign speech." Instead it should be presented as an opportunity to speak on the current Honors Study Topic. When preparing their Honors Study Topic speeches, candidates should refer to the 2008-10 Honors Study Topic Guide, which will be mailed to all candidate applicants in early March.

  4. It is expected the content of the speech will be the work of the candidate; however, each candidate is encouraged to seek assistance from fellow members, advisors, and instructors in preparing for the Honors Study Topic speech.

  5. All Honors Study Topic speeches are limited to THREE minutes and are strictly timed; time begins with the candidate's first utterance. After two minutes and thirty seconds, a candidate will be given a signal that only thirty seconds remain. Candidates will not be allowed to continue after three minutes. Candidates should remember to allow for audience reactions (applause, laughter, etc.) when practicing the timing of their speeches.

  6. Props brought on stage by the candidate only may be used in giving speeches; however, additional audio/visual equipment such as PowerPoint, videos, or sound equipment is prohibited. A microphone and podium will be provided.

  7. Each current International Officer will introduce the candidates for his or her respective office by name, chapter, college, city and state. Speeches begin with Division I Vice Presidential candidates and conclude with International Presidential candidates.

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Rules and Regulations: Election/Polling Process

  1. The first election takes place on Friday, April 4. The top two candidates in each race are announced at the end of the Third General Session on Friday evening. The run-off election is held on Saturday, April 5.

  2. Voting delegates cast a vote in each of the five International Officer races. Only active members of active chapters may serve as voting delegates at the International Convention. Neither alumni members nor chapter advisors may serve as a voting delegate for the chapter.

  3. Campaigning is not permitted during the polling process. Candidates are not permitted to be within 100 feet of the entrance to the polls during the hours of polling. The only exception to this rule is if the candidate is the ONLY member representative of the chapter at the International Convention and is therefore serving as the chapter's voting delegate.

  4. The vote-counting process is monitored by at least one non-partisan Society constituent (e.g., an alumnus) AND at least one person who is NOT affiliated with Phi Theta Kappa.

  5. Election results are posted on Phi Theta Kappa's website (www.ptk.org) one week following the International Convention.

If you have any questions regarding the campaign rules, please contact Jennifer Stanford at 601.984.3532.

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