The General Convention possesses the supreme legislative power of the Fraternity and is comprised principally of undergraduate delegates representing the various chapters. Unlike other fraternities, Beta delegates chart the course and set the policies of the Fraternity, and many feel this is Beta's greatest strength.
Conventions are more than a legislative session.
The Open Constitution of 1879 Fraternities originally were totally secret societies - a characteristic which gave them much of their charm but also attracted opposition and animosity, based principally upon ignorance. To counter this problem, several progressive Betas, led by Major Wyllys C. Ransom, proposed that a new constitution be written, that all of the esoteric material be incorporated in a separate ritual and that the new constitution be open and public. This controversial event, unprecedented and revolutionary in the fraternity world, was approved by the 1877 Convention, which appointed a committee composed of Ransom, Olin Brouse and Amandus Grant to draft the new constitution. Their proposal was approved in 1878 and became effective upon its ratification by the 1879 Convention. This dramatic change has been followed by most other fraternities.