The Board of Governors is made of nine Alumni Governors, elected for a three year term on a staggered basis to provide continuity. There are other restrictions on who may be elected to assure that no region or chapter may dominate the Board.

 

Governors hold four in-person meetings each year - one of these is at the Convention. The others are held at various locations each quarter - usually in locations with active chapters or affiliates.

 

The Governors elect the President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the Fraternity from among themselves. The President, with the Boards approval, appoints the Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, who may or may not be Governors.  

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This structure reflects the Constitution as amended on April 21, 1968.  The Fraternity has not always been governed this way. During the 19th century as the Fraternity grew throughout the century, it became necessary to establish a central alumni organization to coordinate the activities of the undergraduate units.

 

In 1879 a corporation was formed under a special act of the New York State legislature known as “The Executive Council of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.”  This corporation was disbanded in 1968 with the adoption of a new Constitution by the 136th Convention.​