The Phi Beta Kappa Society has been in operation for more than 200 years. The organization is one of the leading academic honor societies in the United States. It celebrates and advocates excellence in science and liberal arts. The Phi Beta Kappa Society has over 50,000 members. The organization publishes The Key Reporter and The American Scholar. It gives the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award for contributions in the field of scholarly studies. In addition, the Phi Beta Kappa Society recognizes books with the Christian Gauss Award. The organization provides various membership opportunities. It operates Fellows Lectureship and Couper Scholar programs.