Can a chapter's bylaws conflict with the Board of Directors' Statement of Policy?

Can a chapter's bylaws conflict with the Board of Directors' Statement of Policy?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Not specified
• D. They must be aligned

Answer: (B)

Authority in AKPsi governance flows from the top down: the Board of Directors’ Policy sets official rules for all chapters, and local bylaws are meant to operate within that framework. Because the policy expresses the fraternity’s official stance, a chapter’s bylaws must conform to it. If a bylaw would contradict the Policy, it cannot stand as written; the bylaw would need to be amended to align with the policy, or be overridden to the extent of the conflict. In short, bylaws cannot conflict with the Board’s Policy—they must be aligned with it.

Authority in AKPsi governance flows from the top down: the Board of Directors’ Policy sets official rules for all chapters, and local bylaws are meant to operate within that framework. Because the policy expresses the fraternity’s official stance, a chapter’s bylaws must conform to it. If a bylaw would contradict the Policy, it cannot stand as written; the bylaw would need to be amended to align with the policy, or be overridden to the extent of the conflict. In short, bylaws cannot conflict with the Board’s Policy—they must be aligned with it.