To improve relationships between law enforcement officers, departments and agencies, both public and private, in an effort to increase efficiency in processing and suppressing check, credit card and fraud offenses.

The FIAT Constitution and By-Laws are provided here for further information and explanation.
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CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
In order to secure a closer relationship between law enforcement officers, departments, agencies, both public and private, and perfecting more efficient handling, processing and suppressing of check, credit card and forgery offenders, we do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Fraud Investigators Association of Texas
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be “Fraud Investigators Association of Texas.”
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
The membership in the organization shall be open to all law enforcement officers, special agents or persons, the duties of such being the identification and/or prosecution of check, credit card and fraud offenders.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Officers of the Fraud Investigators Association of Texas shall consist of President, 1 st Vice President, 2 nd Vice President, 3 rd Vice President, 4 th Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, a Sergeant-at-Arms and a ten-member Board of Governors.
ARTICLE IV
ELECTION
Section I
Elections shall be held at the annual Fall Seminar
Section 2
Any member in good standing shall be eligible to vote and hold office

Section 3
Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership in attendance.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the organization shall be “Fraud Investigators Association of Texas.”
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Section 1
To improve the methods and procedures in connection with the identification and apprehension of check, credit card and fraud offenders and to promote better communication between law enforcement officers and private industry.
Section 2
To hold annually, not less than one fraud seminar and the holding of regional meeting as designated during the year.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1
The membership in the organization shall be divided into two classes:
a. Law Enforcement Officers regularly employed by the Federal Government, the state, the counties, and the municipalities of their respective states.
b. Special Agents or persons in the employment of private concerns and private industry, the duties of such being identification and prosecution of check, credit card and fraud offenders.

Section 2
No member shall sue the name of the Organization in any way for personal gain, special privilege, favor, or any way that would discredit, shame, or embarrass the Association and its members.
a. The Executive Board on finding a member in violation of any or all of the above; shall notify said member of their findings.
b. Termination of membership for violation(s) of Article III, Section 2, shall be at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Section 3
Membership dues shall be Twenty dollars ($20.00) per annum with dues payable at the Annual Fall Seminar.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1
The Officers of the Association shall be: President, 1 st Vice President, 2 nd Vice President, 3 rd Vice President, 4 th Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, and a ten-member Board of Governors.
Section 2
The Executive Board shall be compromised of all elected officers.
Section 3
All past presidents shall automatically become members of the Executive Advisory Committee, which shall be a permanent committee and are exempt from annual dues. Past presidents are also exempt from all registration fees at FIAT seminars, except those presidents who are gainfully employed.
ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1
The President shall preside at all regular and executive meetings, appoint Sergeant-at-Arms, appoint all committees, and will always chair the Board. All regional meetings will be on his approval.
Section 2
The 1 st Vice President shall assist the President and shall perform all duties of the President in his absence.
Section 3
The 2 nd Vice President shall assist the President and 1 st Vice President and shall perform all the duties of President and 1 st Vice President in their absence.
Section 4
The 3 rd Vice President shall assist the President, 1 st Vice President and the 2 nd Vice President and shall perform the duties of President, 1 st Vice President and 2 nd Vice President in their absence.
Section 5
The 4 th Vice President shall assist the President, 1 st Vice President, 2 nd Vice President and 3 rd Vice President and shall perform the duties of President, 1 st Vice President, 2 nd Vice President and 3 rd Vice President in their absence.
Section 6
The Secretary
a. Answer all communications addressed to him/her or submitted by the President.
b. Maintain all necessary records for the orderly conduct of the business of the Association.
c. Prepare and publish quarterly newsletters.
d. Prepare, maintain, and distribute annual membership rosters of a timely basis.
e. Publish updates to the membership roster, including name, address, applicable date throughout the year by means of the quarterly newsletter.
f. Actively solicit input from the membership to insure a newsletter program.
g. Publish additional newsletters or bulletins as needed to inform the membership of upcoming conferences or other special information of importance to the Association.
h. Publish all pertinent information for the conference in the newsletter immediately preceding the applicable conference.
The Treasurer
a. Collect and disburse all monies in the name of the Association.
b. Maintain applicable financial records of the Association to insure adequate accountability and documentation of all financial business.
c. Prepare and submit a semi-annual financial report to include all receipts and disbursements for approval of the Review and Audit Committee. This report is to be submitted along with all supportive documentation not later than the first day of the applicable Spring of Fall Conference.
d. Assists, as needed, the Host City in all financial matters pertinent to the Spring or Fall Conference.
Section 7
The Board of Governors shall have general charge of all interest of the Association. The Board shall consider and report at each meeting all proposed measures for the benefit of the members and the general welfare of the Association. The Board shall select the location of the meeting, adopt ways and means for the purpose of advancement of the Association and assist in every way to promote the interest of the Association in all matters pertaining to its purpose.
The Host City, prior to holding a seminar, will present, in writing, to the Secretary, an outline of the program and events proposed, registration fees, etc. in the Fall before the Spring seminar. Also, in the Spring before the Fall seminar. For Board consideration, the Host City will then within forty-five (45) days furnish to the Secretary-Treasurer, for the Board's information, a complete list of all contributions, fees, etc. plus all expenses then any remaining monies be placed in the State Fund.
ARTICLE VI
ELECTIONS
Section 1
Prior to elections, the President will appoint a nominating committee of five members.
a. Nominating committee will select a nominee to fill each vacated office.
b. They will make a report at the Annual Fall Seminar at which time the floor will be placed open for additional nominees.
c. Elections will be held at the Annual Fall Seminar with the installation of officers to follow.
Section 2
Only members in good standing shall be eligible to vote and to hold office.
ARTICLE VII
TERMS OF OFFICE
Section 1
President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice President and 4th Vice President shall not serve consecutive terms of office which will run from the Annual Fall Seminar. The Secretary and Treasurer are to be elected by the members at each Fall meeting.
Section 2
The Board of Governors shall be a staggered term of office: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 year.
Section 3
Should an office be vacated for any reason, the vacated position shall be filled by the appointment of a member in good standing by the President and on approval of the Executive Board and said appointee shall serve the unexpired term of that office.
Section 4
Should an officer be found incompetent or derelict in his duties, he shall, at the discretion of the Executive Board, be relieved of his office.
ARTICLE VIII
PROCEDURE
Unless specifically covered by the Constitution and By-laws, all procedures shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE IX
AMMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws must be proposed by the Executive Board and presented at a regular meeting of the Association. Passage of any amendment must be by a majority of members present at the regular meeting of the Association.
ARTICLE III - Section 3 - Revised August 28, 1981 in El Paso, TX.
ARTICLE III - Section 3 - Revised August 23, 1986 in Clear Lake, TX
ARTICLE III - Section 3 - Revised August 28, 1992 in Dallas, TX
ARTICLE I – Revised September 27, 2002 in Dallas, TX
ARTICLE III – Section 3, Revised November 5, 2004 in Austin, TX
CONSTITUTION
BY-LAWS
Article IV, Section 1
Article V, Section 6 & 7
Article VII, Section 1
All of the above revised August 1983, San Antonio, TX