Constitution of the Hebron High School Student Council

Preamble

We, the students of Hebron High School, in order to promote harmony among the student body and the various inter-school organizations; to maintain a better understanding between students and faculty; to institute a better relationship between this school and all others of this kind; and to raise the standards and ideals of the students themselves, do ordain and establish this constitution for the student council of Hebron High School: To promote activities for the betterment of the school, community, state and country.

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Hebron High School Student Council.

 

Article II: Purpose of the Organization

The purpose of this organization is to be the centralized student government of the Hebron High School which addresses student concerns and forms activities for student involvement. It shall promote among students an understanding of school traditions and foster school spirit.

Article III: Council Structure

The Hebron Student Council shall include the following sections:

a)       Officers

b)       Representatives

c)       Electoral Members

d)       Members at Large

Article IV: Membership

1.        All prospective members to the Student Council shall submit an application to be reviewed by both the Officers and Faculty Advisor (s).

2.        The Electoral council should number no less than 5 members and no more than 15 members from each class.

3.        The members at large should be unlimited with required membership points of 50 in the fall and 25 in the spring.

4.        The decision of the Officers and Faculty Advisor in matters of membership is final and is subject to change only by the principal.

5.        All members must maintain a passing average at all times.

Article V: Election Procedures

1.        Officers:

                                                              a.      Elections of the Student Council Officers shall be sometime in the last nine weeks of the school year.

                                                             b.      The active and electoral members of the Student Council shall elect the Officers of the Student Council and Senior, Junior, and Sophomore Representative.

1.        All prospective representatives shall submit an application to be considered by the Officers and Faculty Advisor.

2.        For the elections, the student council body, divided by class, will vote by ballot. For each class, the prospective Representatives with the five highest vote counts will be elected.

                                                              c.      The Officers, once elected, will be inducted and will take office June 1st.

2.        Freshmen Representatives:

                                                              a.      Freshmen Representative elections shall be held in the beginning of the school year.

                                                             b.      All prospective representatives shall submit an application to be considered by the Officers and Faculty Advisor(s).

                                                              c.      For the elections, the school council body, divided by class, will vote by ballot. For each class, the prospective Representatives with the five highest vote counts will be elected.

3.        Candidates for offices may get their names on the ballot by presenting to the Faculty Advisor a petition signed by not less than 35 students.

                                                              a.      A supporting student may sign only one presidential, one vice-presidential, one secretary and one treasurer petition.

                                                             b.      Petitions must be completed by the Friday prior to the campaign week.

                                                              c.      Campaign speeches will be given before the election, as the schedule permits.

4.        A candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast in order to win.

Article VI: Powers and Duties of the Council: The Credo

1.        To act in an advisory capacity to the Hebron High School administration and faculty.

2.        To strengthen student - faculty relationships.

3.        To provide a means of expression for student opinions and concerns.

4.        To establish communication of ideas between the Council and the school community.

5.        To create resolutions which, in the opinion of the majority of the Student Council, contribute to the general welfare of the school community and present said resolutions to the administration.

6.        To sponsor and govern its committees.

7.        To increase opportunities to develop leadership qualities.

8.        To promote school spirit.                   

9.        To promote an active learning environment.

Article VII: Faculty Advisor

1.  The role of the faculty or advisor(s) should be to the following:

                                                              a.      Approve all applications for membership in the Student Council and shall have the authority to remove any member from office or from the Council after a proper warning has been given to the member.

                                                             b.      Govern the procedure for each election and shall select the time and date for each election, within the guidelines of this Constitution.

                                                              c.      The School Principal and the Faculty Sponsor(s) have the power to override any decision of the Student Council in the best interest of the Student Body of Hebron High School.  The veto power of the Principal and Sponsor is not subject to appeal.

                                                             d.      Facilitate, mediate, and advise the Student Council in its best interest.

Article VIII: Officers

1.        The officers of the Student Council are as follows:

                                                              a.      President

                                                             b.      Vice- President

                                                              c.      Secretary

                                                             d.      Treasurer

                                                              e.      Parliamentarian

                                                               f.      Historian

2.        Qualifications:

                                                              a.      The officers must be sophomores, juniors or seniors the September following their election.

                                                             b.      The President must be a current elected Student Council officer, class officer, or electoral committee member in the school year prior to his/her election. In order to run for Student Council President, the individual must be a current junior during the election process and a senior the following year.

1.        Individuals running for Student Council President must be interviewed by the Sponsor(s) and will be narrowed down to no more than three candidates.

                                                              c.       The Vice- President could be a sophomore or junior during the election and a junior or senior the following year. If the Vice- President is a junior then the following year the will automatically be among the top three candidates for the President position unless the advisor(s) disapprove and/or the candidate does not wish to run for President.

                                                             d.      All candidates must have a grade average no lower than an 80 in regular classes and 70 in advanced classes.

 

3.        The PRESIDENT shall have the authority:

                                                              a.      To call emergency meetings of the Student Council.

                                                             b.      To preside at all Student Council member meetings.

                                                              c.      Be present at the Electoral Committee meetings.

                                                             d.      To periodically give to the Student Council and the school community information concerning

                                                              e.      Student Council and the state of the school and recommend measures of action.

                                                               f.      Veto any action of the Council, provided that he/ she should give his/ her reason in writing and present it to the council prior to the implementation of the action. The council may override the veto of the President of the Council or of the Executive Council by 2/3 vote.

                                                             g.      To oversee duties of the Student Council Officers, Representatives and Committees.

                                                             h.      To address resolutions of issues discussed by the Student Council.

                                                               i.      To be an ex-officio member of all Student Council committees.

                                                               j.      To take immediate action when necessary, subject to approval of the Student Council at the earliest possible date.

                                                              k.      To execute other duties as designated by legislation of the Student Council.

                                                               l.      To be the student representative to Hebron High School PTSA meetings.

b.       The VICE PRESIDENT shall have the authority:

                                                              a.      To preside at all Student Council meetings in the event of the absence of the president.

                                                             b.      Reside over the Electoral Committee meetings.

                                                              c.      To be the student representative to the PTSA in the absence of the president.

                                                             d.      To preside at meetings when the president wishes to take the floor.

                                                              e.      To be responsible of the handling of student issues.

                                                               f.      To form special committees to address specific issues which are subject to the approval of the president.

                                                             g.      To be responsible for the handling of all grievances in accordance with this constitution.

                                                             h.      To be an ex-officio member at all Student Council committee meetings.

                                                               i.      To execute other duties as designated by resolution of the Student Council.

c.        The SECRETARY shall have the authority:

                                                              a.      To keep an accurate record of all meetings.

                                                             b.      To notify all Student Council members of meetings prior to their commencement.

                                                              c.      To be responsible for any correspondences received or sent.

                                                             d.      To process any other information necessary to the function of Student Council.

                                                              e.      To make all minutes and other information readily available to the public.

                                                               f.      To execute other duties as designated by resolution of the Student Council.

 

d.       The TREASURER has the authority:

                                                              a.      To act, with the consent of the Faculty Advisor, as the custodian of the Student Council funds.

                                                             b.      Keep accurate account of all points earned by members of the Student Council.

                                                              c.      To approve and maintain any other financial records.

                                                             d.      To execute other duties as designated by resolution of Student Council.

e.        Parliamentarian

                                                              a.      Provide advice on questions of parliamentary procedures.

                                                             b.      Make the Council members aware of good parliamentary practices.

                                                              c.      Starts the meeting.

f.         Historian

                                                              a.      To create the scrapbook and media presentation.

                                                             b.      To take pictures at all events that promote the Student Council’s credo

                                                              c.      To distribute agendas and/ or any other materials for meetings prior to their commencement.

g.       Collectively, the officers:

                                                              a.      Have the authority to create and/or disband committees.

                                                             b.      Have the authority to appoint Representatives in the event of vacancy.

                                                              c.      Must attend summer convention following their election.

                                                             d.      Must attend any district or regional Student Council meetings throughout the year.

Article IX: Meetings

1.        The order of business shall be the following:

                                                              a.      Call to Order

                                                             b.      Roll Call

                                                              c.      Minutes of the Last Meeting

                                                             d.      Treasurer’s Report

                                                              e.      Secretary’s Report

                                                               f.      Committee Reports

1.        Standing Committees

2.        Special Committees

                                                             g.      Old Business

                                                             h.      New Business

                                                               i.      Advisor’s Report

                                                               j.      Adjournment

2.        All meetings shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order.

3.        The president shall have parliamentary authority.

4.        Club representatives should meet with the Hebron High School Officers to discuss issues relevant to the school community.

5.        The Student Council shall convene twice a month and the Executive Council once a month.

6.        The time and frequency of Officer Meetings shall be at the discretion of the President and faculty advisor(s).

7.        Officers shall attend an Elected Officers Meeting held once a grading period.

8.        Quorums:

                                                              a.      The quorum for Student Council meetings shall be fifty percent of the Assembly, one Representative from each class, and at least three Officers.

                                                             b.      The quorum for Officer Meetings shall be four Officers.

9.        Attendance:

                                                              a.      At the start of all meetings, roll of the members shall be taken.

                                                             b.      An absence from a meeting will only be excused if a note is provided by a teacher, parent, or medical physician and is given to the Council Secretary.

                                                              c.      If a Student Council member has more than three unexcused absences, he or she shall be removed from status as a voting member of Student Council.

Article XI: Committees

1.        The following are the standing committees of the Hebron High School Student Council, Student Council officers heads all committees :

                                                              a.      DASH – Drug, Alcohol, Safety, and Health

                                                             b.      Pride and Patriotism

                                                              c.      Energy and Environment

                                                             d.      Community Service

2.        Student Council Representatives shall assume the roles of committee chairs of special committees not already under the direction of an Officer.

3.        Committees shall be made up of Student Council members, number to vary.

Article XII: Evaluation Procedures

1.        Resignation of Members shall be directed to the Advisors, who must be given at least two weeks notice before the resignation becomes effective.

2.        Grounds for removal from the Student Council shall include, but are not limited to:

a.        Insufficiency in the discharging of one’s duties.

b.       Misuse of one’s position.

c.        Excessive absence. More than 2 unexcused absences by an officer shall result in their removal from office. More than 3 unexcused absences by a member shall result in their removal from voting status.

d.       Failure to accumulate the required points over two grading periods.

3.        Any member of the Student Council in jeopardy of removal must be notified of such in a private manner at least two weeks before the final majority vote among the Officers where it can be recommended that corrective action be taken or that removal is necessary.

4.        Any appeals to the final decision of the Council shall be forwarded to the High School principal.

Article XII: Amendment Procedures

Amendments to this constitution must be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the total Electoral Student Council, the Faculty Advisor, and the High School principal.

 

Amended 8/24/2000-Changed the number of elected representatives from 3 to 5.

Amended 3/8/2001-Changed the election of officers to student council members voting only.

Amended 5/31/2001-Changed point procedures, and unexcused absence penalties.

10/31/06- Updated the Constitution as a whole.