The Constitution and Laws of the Philomathesian Society, Middlebury College- April 17th, 1807

Constitution
To establish order, to promote improvement, and useful knowledge and to render serviceable every advantage which may be presented to us; we the members of the Philomathesian Society and Middlebury College have adopted the following.

Article I:Of the Organization of the Society
Section I: The Philomathesian Society shall be composed of such persons only as are members of College.
Section II: Each student upon admittance into the Society shall pay into the treasury thereof such sum not under 25 cents nor over 5 dollars as the Society by law require; and also a sum not less than 25 cents nor over 1 dollar at the Commencement of each succeeding term during his residence in College.
Section III: The Society shall assemble once at least in each week and such meetings shall be on Wednesday at such hour as shall be by law fixed.

Article II: Of Election of Officers and their Duties
Section I: There shall be a President to which office senior sophisters only shall be eligible. It shall be the duty of the President to maintain order in the Society; to put to occasion all questions, motions, to which may arise; to criticize all compositions, and declamations which may be exhibited in the Society. The President may call extra meetings
Section II: There shall be a Vice President to which office junior sophisters only shall be eligible. In the absence of the President the powers and duties of that office shall devolve upon the Vice President.
Section III: There shall be a Secretary to which office senior or junior sophisters only shall be eligible. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a correct journal of the proceedings of the Society; to lay before the judicial committee all instances of negligence, and to do all other business which the Society may direct.
Section IV: There shall be a Librarian to which office senior or junior sophisters only shall be eligible, whose duty shall be prescribed by the laws regulating the Society library.
Section V: There shall be a Treasurer to which office senior or junior sophisters only shall be eligible. And it shall be the duty of the Treasurer to safely keep all money of the Society; to pay out such sum or sums from time to time as the Society shall direct; and at the close of each College term, to lay before the Society a regular statement of all receipts and expenditures for that term. The Treasurer shall be accountable for all money committed to his keeping.
The foregoing officers, except the Librarian, shall be chosen at the last meeting of each College term for the next succeeding term.
Section VI: There shall be a judicial committee consisting of three members to which office senior, junior and sophomore only shall be eligible; ___ one chosen from the Senior class, one chosen from the Junior class, and one chosen from the Sophomore class.
The powers of the Judicial Committee shall extend to all cases in law and equity arising under this Constitution, and the laws of the Society.
Section VII: There shall be a Prudential Committee, to which office seniors, juniors, and sophomores only shall be eligible; ____ one from the Senior class, one from the Junior class, and one from the Sophomore class. It shall be the duty of the Prudential Committee to select books for the Society Library when directed by the Society; to receive or refuse books which may be presented to the Society, and with the Librarian, to make all necessary regulations for preserving the Library, and keeping the same in repair.
The foregoing committees, together with the Librarian, shall be chosen at the last meeting of the Society proceeding every commencement for one year ensuing.
Section VIII: All permanent elections shall be made at the times heretofore mentioned, when no other business shall be done in the Society, except that for which the Constitution makes particular provisions.
Section IX: If from non-acceptance or want of sufficient members in any class to fill the offices appropriated to that class, such office, or offices, if the deficiency happen in the Senior class, shall be filled from the next succeeding class or classes; if in the Junior class, so much of the deficiency as can shall be made up from the Senior class, and the remainder from the next succeeding class; and if the deficiency happen in the Sophomore class, so much of the deficiency as can, shall be filled from the proceeding classes and the remainder from the succeeding classes.
Section X: All permanent elections shall be by ballot and a majority of the whole members present shall be necessary to make a choice.

Article III: Of the powers of the Society
Section I: The Society shall judge of the qualifications of its own members and of persons to be admitted. The Society may determine the rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member or impeach its officers.
Section II: No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of an appropriation made by law.
Section III: Without the concurrence of two thirds of all its members, the Society shall not alter this Constitution.

Article IV: Of Honorary Members- How admitted and their privileges.
Section I: The Society may admit gentlemen of the ______ as honorary members. Such gentlemen when admitted may debate upon any question or motion. Honorary members may hold no office nor have any vote in the Society. They may propose subjects for discussion and advise with respect to the regulations of the Society. Honorary members may draw books from the Library.

Article V: Of the privileges of Ordinary Members, their duties to
Section I: The ordinary members shall have a right to debate upon all questions, motions to which may arise in the Society; to make motions; to propose resolutions, laws, and regulations; and to propose amendments to this Constitution.
Section II: Ordinary members shall abide by this Constitution, and the laws thereunto arising; They shall also yield due obedience and respect to the officers of the Society. No person may divulge the proceedings of the Society, to any but its members.

Article VI: Of Crimes- Punishments
Section I: If any member shall frequently neglect to attend the stated meetings of the Society, without any just cause, he shall be expelled. The rights and privileges of a member may be suspended for refusing to pay term bills, taxes or fines; and if persists he may be expelled. Profane, obscene language shall be punished by reprimand first, and if it be persisted in, by expulsion.

Signed by the Founding Members.