[emb021]

Hmm. I can only answer regarding APO. Our National Bylaws are on-line if you are interesting in seeing that they say.

APO has a National Convention every 2 years, on even years. Our National Officers (Pres, Veep, 6 Program Directors, and 11 Regional Directors) get elected there. Other national-level people are appointed.

Chapters comprise the largest group of votes. While alumni have some vote, its very small (12 regional alumni voting reps vs 350 chapters, each with 2 voting delegates. National offices have votes, but that adds, oh, another dozen or so).

"Question(s): Can anyone run for national elctive office in your fraternity/sorority? Do they have to be nominated?"

Any Brother in good standing can run for office. Several people will many times will 'announce their candidacy' prior to our National Convention. There is a deadline for them to submit biographical information that can be sent out to chapters prior. We do form a nominating committee, but the purpose of such is just to ensure a complete slate of candidates. Additional candidates can (and are) nominated from the floor.

"Do candidates campaign? How? Do they have campaign funds and committees, and how do they function?"

The only campaigning I've seen is posters/fliers & buttons. There are no 'campaign funds', other then to pay for those items. Candidates do come around to the regional groups to speak about themselves and answer questions of the actives.

"What are the venues in which candidates give speeches or officially articulate their platform?"

We have 11 Regions. Several regions come together to hear the candidates speak. This allows the candidate to give speeches AND answer questions.

"If they "politic" at convention, how do they go about doing it?"
What I said above.

"What are salitent structural dynamics and how do they work (ie, are there traditional voting blocs on some organizational level,eg, state, regional,etc)?"

Hmmm. Not really. A region or section may be behind a candidate from that region/section, unless that person isn't liked there.

Hope this helps.