Definitions:

Convention — The supreme legislative body of the Fraternity. It is a biennial event, and the National Council determines where it will be held.

At Convention, members elect national officers, determine National Constitution and Statues changes, and make recommendations on the policies and operation of the Fraternity. Although anyone from a chapter is welcome to attend, only two voting delegates per chapter are allowed—one from the Resident and one from the Graduate Councils.

National Council — Serves as the Fraternity's legislative body when the National Convention is not in session. The National Council has primary fiduciary responsibility for a variety of strategic and policy issues, including, but not limited to, planning, budgeting and committee functions.

The National Council is comprised of 14 voting members: National President, National Vice President, the Immediate Past National President, six Graduate National Councilors, three Undergraduate National Councilors and two Phi Kappa Tau Foundation representatives. All councilors but the Foundation representatives are elected to their positions at Convention.

The National Vice President serves as a member of the Council for six years: two years as VP followed by two years as National President (pending ratification) and two years as Immediate Past National President.

Graduate National Councilors serve six-year terms. Undergraduate National Councilors serve two-year terms.

Fraternity Committees — Volunteers serve on committees that keep Fraternity operations up-to-date and running smoothly. Committees generally focus on one aspect of Phi Kappa Tau, such as awards, Borradaile Challenge or technology.

Domain Directors — Volunteers appointed by the CEO to serve as national officers in a specific geographic area. Phi Kappa Tau chapters are grouped into 36 domains—three to five chapters each.

Domain Directors oversee chapter operations and represent undergraduates and alumni at the local level.

Graduate Councils — All alumni members of a specific chapter.

House Corporations — Chapters that have a house, and even some that don’t but once did or will, count on local volunteers to oversee the financial, physical and safety aspects of the residence.   

Board of Governors — Volunteers—chapter alumni, faculty members, parents and/or local leaders—who oversee a chapter, and specifically help with scholarship, finance, policy and goal-setting. The BOG’s primary goal is to see the chapter thrive and become as successful as possible.

Resident Councils — All undergraduate members of a specific chapter.

Coordinating Council — The leadership of the National Council, Foundation and CEO that serves as the standard planning committee for the Fraternity. The Coordinating Council reviews reports from the joint Fraternity/Foundation committees and makes recommendations to the respective boards.  

The Coordinating Council is composed of three representatives from both the National Council and the Foundation Board.

CEO and Fraternity Executive Offices Staff — The Chief Executive Officer executes the National Council’s plan and serves as a mediator between the Council and Foundation Board. The Fraternity Executive Offices staff assists with implementing said plan.

Foundation Board — An elected and appointed group of volunteers that governs the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization. As the legal entity of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, the board serves as the legal custodian with fiduciary responsibility for all Foundation assets. The board also determines the programmatic aims of the Foundation, assuring the Foundation fulfills its purpose, and approves the recipients of grants and scholarships.

Executive Director and Foundation Executive Offices Staff — The executive director executes the Foundation Board of Trustees’ plan, and the Foundation Executive Offices staff assists with implanting said plan.