Section 1:

Each candidate for membership shall be selected to a designated chapter of Rho Kappa.

Section 2:

Candidates for membership must have been in attendance at the high school in which the chapter resides for the equivalent of one semester prior to being considered. If special or unique circumstances merit, the high school administration may waive the semester requirement, providing a letter of explanation to the National Advisory Council.

Section 3:

Candidates for membership must have completed two core courses in the field of social studies and be prepared to complete at least three core courses. The minimum grade point average for these courses is an unweighted 3.00 or the numerical equivalent

Section 4:

The candidate's overall cumulative high school GPA shall be a minimum of 3.00 or the numerical equivalent. . Individual chapters may choose to increase the GPA requirements for their chapter but may not decrease them.

Section 5:

Candidates achieving the minimal GPA requirements may be invited to apply for membership into Rho Kappa. The application process will require candidates to show participation in activities that demonstrate civic engagement in school or community and their desire and aspiration to be a member of the organization. Applicants must have a letter of recommendation from a current faculty member.

Section 6:

The method of selection of eligible students and their election to the organization shall be determined by the faculty sponsor, the faculty selection committee, and the chapter's high school administration. The candidates must meet the GPA, and social studies course completion requirements and the application requirements listed in Section 5, but all other methods of selecting candidates shall be left up to the individual chapters.

Section 7:

Any members whose social studies grades drop below the chapter's minimum GPA requirement for two consecutive semesters shall be dismissed from Rho Kappa. Such members may reapply to the organization and can be readmitted when those requirements are met but the candidate is subject to selection from the faculty selection committee again.

Section 8:

A description of the selection procedures and the local chapter criteria shall be widely available in a timely fashion to all the school's administration, faculty, students, parents, and community members.

Section 9:

The National Rho Kappa Advisory Council shall not review the judgment of the faculty selection committee regarding the selection of individual members to the local chapters.