CONSTITUTION OF THE ATASCOCITA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL As adopted April 2017

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION OF THE ATASCOCITA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL As adopted April 2017 PREAMBLE We, the students of Atascocita High School, in order to help our school achieve the goals of academic excellence, cooperation and understanding among students, leadership training, positive interaction between the students and faculty, service to our school and community, participation of all students in extracurricular activities, and patriotism to our school, state and country, do establish and proclaim this constitution. ARTICLE I NAME AND PURPOSE Section A. This organization shall be known as the Atascocita High School Student Council. Section B. The purpose of the organization shall be: 1. To develop attitudes and practices of good citizenship through a democratic process; 2. To promote cooperation and strengthen the bond between staff, students and community; 3. To create and maintain school interest, school spirit and loyalty; 4. To promote orderly direction of student activities; 5. To provide a forum for student expression. ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP Section A. The Council shall be made up of the following: 1. Executive Board Officers, elected by the student body, to include: President, Vice President of Internal Affairs, Vice President of External Affairs, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter and Parliamentarian; 2. Five Delegates, appointed by the sponsors and Executive Board, to serve as the chairperson of a state committee; 3. Class Officers, elected by cohort members, to include a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian for each grade level, who will: serve as representatives on the Council, and who will be subject to the rules of Council governing membership and member requirements; 4. General membership. Students may become general members of Student Council either by election to an officer position or by working onto the Council by earning points, as outlined in Article II, Section C. Section B. Qualifications for all members are as follows: 1. All students enrolled at Atascocita High School are eligible for membership in Student Council. 2. An active member must pay Council dues and maintain good standing in the organization by attending meetings, earning service points, and participating in Council events. 3. Membership shall be for a period of one school year, defined as the time the student has earned membership status until the end of the current school year. 4. Members must meet the expectations outlined in the Constitution as well as the Student Council Code of Conduct. Failure to meet any of the qualifications for membership outlined in these documents will result in dismissal from the Council for the remainder of the school year. This applies to all officers and members. Section C. Requirements for Gaining Active Member Status Members of Student Council are either elected officers of their class or Executive Board, appointed as delegates by the sponsor, or become members by working for Student Council service points. Members may work their way onto Student Council by: 1. Attending at least 3 general meetings of the Student Council; 2. Paying membership dues for the current school year; 3. Submitting a signed Student Council Code of Conduct;

2 4. Earning a minimum of 10 Student Council service points, recorded and submitted on the Student Council point sheet(s) by the designated monthly deadline; 5. Attending any Student Council events required by the Executive Board or sponsor to gain active member status. 6. Point sheets must be submitted monthly according to deadlines designated by the Executive Board and sponsor. Failure to earn required service points and/or submit point sheets may result in dismissal from Student Council. ARTICLE III EXECUTIVE BOARD AND DELEGATES Section A. The Student Council Executive Board will be composed of the following student members: The President, Vice President of Internal Affairs, Vice President of External Affairs, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and Parliamentarian. These officers may be referred to as the Student Council Executive Board or as Student Body Officers. Section B. Qualifications of Executive Board Officers 1. All officers must meet the qualifications and responsibilities of general Council members, as listed in Article II, and must be Student Council members in good standing at the time of election. Executive Board officers will have additional qualifications and responsibilities. 2. The Student Body President must be a junior in good standing at the time of election and must have a minimum of one year s experience in the Student Council to be qualified. 3. Executive Board officers must maintain a passing grade point average throughout their entire term in office, and each marking period course grade may be no lower than a 70. Students who fail any course during the grading period prior to election, had excessive absences/truancy or who committed a major disciplinary infraction during the school year in which the election takes place, will not be eligible to run for office. 4. All officer candidates and elected officers must pledge to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct, to act in the best interests of their school at all times, to reflect opinions of the students they represent to the best of their ability, to promote school spirit, and to learn to practice effective leadership and good citizenship throughout their term of office. Section C. Qualifications of Delegates 1. All delegates must meet the qualifications and responsibilities of general Council members, as listed in Article II, and must be Student Council members in good standing at the time of appointment. Delegates will have additional responsibilities, assigned by the Executive Board and sponsors. 2. Delegates must maintain a passing grade point average throughout their entire term in office, and each marking period course grade may be no lower than a 70. Students who fail any course during the grading period prior to their appointment, or who committed a major disciplinary infraction during the school year in which the appointment takes place, will not be eligible to serve as a Council delegate. Section D. Election of Student Body Officers 1. Elections for Student Body officers will take place during the spring semester for the upcoming school year. 2. Candidates for Student Body officers must submit their names and intent to run to the sponsors before a specified deadline, set by the Council sponsors and announced to all students. Candidates must attend any and all required meetings to obtain election information. 3. Candidates for Executive Board office must submit 100 signatures of students supporting their candidacy. Each student may only support the candidacy of one person per office. Candidates must also submit all other required paperwork and meet all election qualifications as outlined in the election packet. All deadlines must be strictly followed. 4. After a check of records, candidates will be notified if they are eligible to run for their selected office. Their names will be placed on a ballot in alphabetical order. The Council sponsors will establish the rules and regulations for the election, and this information will be published and made available to the student body in advance of the election.

3 5. Candidates who do not strictly abide by all campaign regulations and procedures are subject to disqualification. 6. After the general election, any vacant positions will be filled either by special election or by appointment by the Council sponsors, as determined by the sponsors and campus administration. Any appointed officer must meet the same qualifications as other candidates and must be a member in good standing of the Student Council at the time of appointment. Section E. Appointment of Delegates 1. Delegate applications will be made available following the election of the Executive Board. Candidates for a Council delegate position must submit a completed application to the Council sponsors before the specified deadline. 2. Delegate applications will be reviewed, and appointed delegates will be notified of their selection by the Executive Board or sponsor prior to the end of the spring semester for the next year. Section F. Duties of the Officers Executive Board officers must fulfill the responsibilities as outlined in this document, as well as any responsibilities or duties as assigned by the Council sponsors. Executive Board officers are expected to attend all Student Council events. The President shall: 1. Serve concurrently as the Student Body President and Student Council President, and serve as the official Student Body representative at all school/district functions; 2. Prepare the agenda for and preside at all meetings in cooperation with the sponsors; 3. Coordinate all communication and activities of the council; 4. Vote in case of a tie; 5. Oversee the submission of Texas Association of Student Councils report forms by the appointed state deadline; 6. Assist officers and delegates in fulfilling the requirements of their appointed committees. The Vice President of Internal Affairs shall: 1. Preside over all meetings and activities in the absence of the President; 2. Maintain the council calendar of events; 3. Communicate with and facilitate collaboration among all campus clubs/organizations; 4. Coordinate social events for the council; 5. Assist assigned delegate in fulfilling requirements of their appointed committee; The Vice President of External Affairs shall: 1. Maintain all committee and project reports and prepare all reports for submission to TASC; 2. Assist a delegate in fulfilling the requirements of their appointed committee. The Secretary shall: 1. Record attendance and keep accurate minutes of all council and Executive Board meetings; 2. Maintain an up-to-date member directory; 3. Maintain a current list of member point opportunities and service projects; 4. Assist assigned delegate in fulfilling the requirements of their appointed committee. The Treasurer shall: 1. Oversee council expenses and revenues; 2. Understand the policies the school has in regard to the use of student finances; 3. Review purchase orders and approve all transactions of the council; 4. Maintain the inventory of the Student Council storage and equipment; 5. Assist assigned delegate in fulfilling the requirements of their appointed committee.

4 The Publicist shall: 1. Promote all student council activities and events via print and online media such as website and social media outlets; 2. Coordinate the maintenance of the Student Council website; 3. Prepare a photographic/video record of all council events; 4. Assist assigned delegate in fulfilling the requirements of their appointed committee. The Parliamentarian shall: 1. Maintain updated record of all council members points; 2. Assist the Secretary in maintaining an up-to-date member directory; 3. Communicate with Treasurer and Secretary on current members status within the organization; 4. Assist assigned delegate in fulfilling the requirements of their appointed committee. Section G. Duties of Delegates A Delegate shall: 1. Plan and coordinate all activities of their respective state committee; 2. Create and maintain the calendar of the committee based on the state report form; 3. Submit all necessary paperwork regarding events; 4. Maintain project and state report forms for submission and submit all project forms by assigned deadlines; 5. Assist the Secretary in validating the sign-in/sign-out sheets for respective committee events; 6. Work with an appointed officer to ensure the efficient function of the committee. ARTICLE IV CLASS OFFICERS Section A. Each grade level shall elect 5 class officers, to include a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian. Class officers will be elected for a term of one school year, and will be expected to remain active members in good standing of the Student Council throughout their term in office. Students who run for class office should expect to serve the student body through Student Council in addition to fulfilling the expectations of their class. Section B. Qualifications of Class Officers 1. All officers must meet the qualifications and responsibilities of general Council members, as listed in Article II, and must be Student Council members in good standing at the time of election. Class officers are expected to attend all major Student Council events. 2. Class officers must be enrolled in the class represented. 3. Class officers are expected to maintain a passing grade point average throughout their entire term in office, and each marking period course grade may be no lower than a 70. Students who fail any course during the grading period prior to election, or who committed a major disciplinary infraction during the school year in which the election takes place, will not be eligible to run for office. 4. All officer candidates and elected class officers must pledge to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct, to act in the best interests of their school at all times, to reflect opinions of the students they represent to the best of their ability, to promote school spirit, and to learn to practice effective leadership and good citizenship throughout their term of office. Section C. Election of Class Officers 1. Elections for class officers will take place during the spring semester for the upcoming school year. 2. Candidates for class office must submit their names and intent to run to the Student Council sponsors before a specified deadline, set by the Council sponsors and announced to all students. Candidates must attend any and all required meetings to obtain election information. 3. Candidates for Executive Board office must submit 75 signatures of students supporting their candidacy. Signatures must be from students enrolled in the class the student intends to represent. Each student may only support the candidacy of one person per office. Candidates must also submit all other required

5 paperwork and meet all election qualifications as outlined in the election packet. All deadlines must be strictly followed. 4. After a check of records, candidates will be notified if they are eligible to run for their selected office. Their names will be placed on a ballot in alphabetical order. The Council sponsors will establish the rules and regulations for the election, and this information will be published and made available to the student body in advance of the election. 5. Candidates who do not strictly abide by all campaign regulations and procedures are subject to disqualification. 6. After the general election, any vacant positions will be filled either by special election or by appointment by the Council sponsors, as determined by the sponsors and campus administration. Any appointed officer must meet the same qualifications as other candidates and must be a member in good standing of the Student Council at the time of appointment. Section D. Duties of Class Officers Class Officers shall: 1. Fulfill all duties and responsibilities of a Student Council member, including attending Council events; 2. Represent the interests of their class to the Student Council sponsors and Executive Board; 3. Plan and coordinate fundraising efforts for their class, in cooperation with the staff sponsor(s) and administration; 4. Plan and coordinate class events, in cooperation with the staff sponsor(s) and administration. ARTICLE V ELECTIONS Section A. Rules Specific procedure and rules of the elections will be designated by the Executive Board prior to each election with sufficient notice that all may have the opportunity to participate. A special election may be called to fill any vacancy, which occurs under the discretion of the Executive Board, sponsor(s), or administration, or positions may be filled by appointment by the Council sponsors, as determined by the sponsors and campus administration. Only students who will be returning to Atascocita High School the following year will be allowed to vote on incoming officers. Section B. Intent to Run Students wishing to run for office must meet the officer expectations as laid out in the election packet. Sponsor(s) reserve the right to adjust running requirements as needed with approval of the Executive Board. See Articles III and IV for specific qualifications. ARTICLE VI REMOVAL OF OFFICE Section A. An officer, delegate or representative can be removed from office for actions which are detrimental to the welfare and best interest of the school, for failure to meet the academic or conduct requirements as outlined in this document or the Student Council Code of Conduct, or at the discretion of the sponsor(s) with principal approval. Section B. The Executive Board will be required to adhere to UIL No Pass, No Play guidelines. If a Board member fails one or more courses during a grading period, he/she may be placed on probation. Any additional failing grades during a following grading period shall result in removal from office. Section C. A probationary status may be applied before removal of an officer at the discretion of the sponsor. An officer may be placed on probation or removed from office for any of the following reasons: Failure to attend the Fall or Spring D7 Conventions without prior approval from the sponsor(s); Failure to attend the Summer Leadership Workshop; Failure to attend meetings (both Executive and General) as required by the sponsor(s); Assignment to ISS; More than two Thursday/Saturday classes; Any act of academic dishonesty (i.e. plagiarism or cheating);

6 Failure to attend mandatory events as determined by the Executive Board. ARTICLE VII TIME AND PLACE OF MEETINGS Section A. The Council shall meet when the Executive Board and sponsors designate, and as often as the council requires. Section B. Each member of the Council in good standing shall have one vote on official Council business. Section C. The Executive Board shall prior to each general meeting and as the sponsor requests. The Executive Board shall propose, plan, discuss, and vote on items to be presented to the entire Council. All actions of the Board must be approved by a majority vote of the entire Council except when it is not possible for the entire Council to meet. In these instances, with the approval of the sponsor, the Executive Board may act as the Council. ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS Section A. Amendments may be proposed for this Constitution by two-third vote of the Executive Board. Section B. Ratification requires three-fourths vote of the entire council. ARTICLE IX POWERS AND LIMITATIONS Section A. The Student Council shall have the power to: 1. Make and enforce all rules necessary for the betterment of the school within the power of the council; 2. Help supervise and promote the development of the extra-curricular activities of the school; 3. Recommend and appoint necessary committees for the school; 4. Promote respect for the school, its faculty and private property; 5. Investigate and report on matters affecting or related to student body. Section B. The power of veto on all matters shall go to campus administration. ARTICLE X RATIFICATION This Constitution shall become effective immediately after ratification of a three-fourths vote of the Student Council.