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Article I: Name
The organization for which this constitution
is written shall be named the North Allegheny Intermediate Student Council.
Article II: Organization
A. The organizations will consist of:
1. Elected officials
a. Officials including: President, 3 Vice Presidents, Recording Secretary, 3 Corresponding Secretaries, Treasurer, and
Publicity Director
b. Representatives including: 10 from each grade unless the amount of candidates from one grade is not sufficient, in that
situation, it will be filled by the other grade
2. Appointed Positions
a. School Board Representative
b. Cabinet Heads consisting of one ninth grade and one tenth grader of every committee unless the advisor and officers agree
on reasonably cause for more then two
3. Application positions
a. Committee Members
4. Advisor and assistant advisor
B. The organization must meet a
minimum of once per month during the school year
C. Faculty advisor(s)
shall be present at every meeting
D. The Executive Board will be
composed of all officers and advisors
Article III: Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be:
A. To develop positive student involvement.
B. To promote good citizenship
C. To
increase school spirit and school pride
D.
To give students a voice in school government elections
E.
To promote a harmonious relationship students, faculty, and administration
F. To further interpret school rules and regulations
G. To provide services to the students, school community
H.
To recognize outstanding students and their achievements
I. To welcome new students and faculty and encourage involvement
J. To promote positive relationships with other schools
K. To represent student ideas to the school board
L. To act as a liaison for students to faculty and administration
Article IV: Functions of Student Council
A. All operations and measures passed by the Student Council must be approved by the advisor(s) and/or principal
B. The Student Council shall work together to carry out the proposals stated in Article III
C. Some areas in which the Student Council may operate are listed below:
1. Develop and adopt by-laws as may be necessary provided the do not conflict with the articles and spirit of the constitution
2. Plan activities to involve the student body and to increase school spirit through pep assemblies, homeroom competition,
assembly programs, etc.
3. Organize support and supervise the elections of all Student Council officers and representatives
4.
Create and supervise committees to do the work they have been authorized to do
5. Consider petitions on activities, and proposals being voted on in councils as submitted by students and/or faculty and
school board
6. Contribute assistance to worth causes in the school and community
7. Establish a student-led committee to meet with principals at least once a month to talk about problems and to promote solutions
8. Organize and support various fundraisers in order to carry out Student Council activities and other proposals
9. Provide a financial base for future Student Councils
Article V: Elections
A. The elections for the president, treasurer, recording secretary, and publicity director shall be held in the spring of
the previous school year
1. The qualifications of the people running for these offices are as follows:
a. The candidate must be a tenth grade student for the coming year
b. The candidate must be able to maintain a 3.0 QPA
c.
The candidate must have previous ninth grade perience in a student council organization
d. The candidate must agree to attend an informational meeting to learn about the job description and responsibilities
e. The candidate must agree to attend Summer Leadership Workshop, and student council will over half of the cost
f. Candidate must agree to schedule a leadership development course
g. Has not had a suspension or three detentions in their freshmen year
h. Has not been on probation in their position with the exception of representatives who do not have a second probation
2. Election Debate of all candidates will take place before elections in an assembly for ninth graders
3.
Election bulletin board of candidates must be in place a week before elections
4.
Elections will take place in homeroom by secret ballot of ninth graders only
5.
Refer to book of rules
B.
Elections for vice-president and corresponding secretary shall be held in the spring of the previous year at the middle schools
1. Nomination papers must be filled out with at least 100 student signatures, all being eighth graders, 4 academic teachers
and handed in prior to the election
2. The qualifications of the people running for these offices are as follows:
a. The candidate must be a ninth grade student for the coming year
b. The candidate must be able to maintain a 3.0 QPA
c. The candidate must have previous experience in a student council organization
d.
The candidate must attend an informational meeting to learn about the job description and responsibilities
e.
The candidate must agree to attend Summer Leadership Workshop, and student council will cover half the cost
f. The candidate must agree to schedule a leadership development course
g. Has not had a suspension or three detentions in the previous school year
3. The students, one for vice-president and one for corresponding secretary, will be elected form all middle schools to serve
in these offices for a trimester alternating with each other
a. 1st trimester: vice-president from Marshall, corresponding secretary from Ingomar
b. 2nd trimester: vice-president from Ingomar, corresponding secretary from Carson
c. 3rd trimester: vice-president from Carson, corresponding secretary from secretary from Marshall
d. All Officers will receive full officer status for the whole year
4. Election speeches will take place before elections in an assembly for eighth graders
5.
Elections will take place in homeroom by secret ballots of eighth graders only
C.
In the fall, ten representatives from ninth grade and ten representatives from tenth grade will be elected
1. A student interested in becoming a representative will obtain an application to be filled out and returned by a designated
time at the required informational meeting.
2. A short biography including an explanation of candidate's views and a picture of all candidates will be posted on
the bulletin board prior to the election
3.
Representatives will be required to have at least a 2.5 Q.P.A. If a representative does not meet this standard, he/she will
be put on probation for one month. If at the end of the probation, the average is not up to a 2.5, the representative will
be removed from student council.
4.
Elections will take place in homeroom by secret ballots.
a. Sophomores will vote for tenth grad representatives.
b. Freshman will vote for ninth grade representatives.
Article VI: Selection
A. School Board Representative
1. The candidate will complete an application
2. The candidate will secure two letters of recommendation from teachers.
3. The candidate will be interviewed by an administrator, student council advisor(s) and current school board representative.
4. Selection will be based
on a point system for application, recommendations, and interview and to be done in the spring after regular elections.
5. The candidate must be a tenth grade student for the coming year.
6. The candidate must be able to maintain a 3.0 Q.P.A.
7. The candidate must have precious ninth grade experience in a student council organization.
8. The candidate must attend an informational meeting to learn about the job description and responsibilities.
9. The candidate must agree to attend Summer Leadership Workshop, and student council will cover half the cost.
10. The candidate must agree to schedule a leadership development course.
B. The President's Cabinet
1. The cabinet shall be composed of the committee chair people, (one ninth grader and one tenth grader) per committee, selected
by application from the student body by the Executive Committee.
2. Selections will be made in late spring.
3. The president is in charge of the cabinet.
C. Committees
1. Committees will be determined by the goals set by the Executive Board each year.
2. At the beginning of the 1st semester, applications will be available to the student body for committees.
3. At the beginning of the 2nd semester, applications will be available to the student body for committees who are in the
need of new members.
4.
Committee selections will be made by the cabinet heads based on the needs and goals of the committee
Article VII:
Impeachment Procedure
A. If any elected officer or representative does
not carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to them, they may be impeached. The following are possible reasons
for impeachment.
1. The
attendance policies are as follow:
a. Committee meetings: Only four meetings may be missed in a year and only two may be unexcused
b. Business meetings: Only two unexcused meetings may be missed in a year.
c. Student Council events: No more than two unexcused activities may be missed.
2. Not following officer or representative job descriptions.
3. The student is not maintaining the required Q.P.A.
4. The student’s behavior does not reflect positively towards the school. If the student receives a suspension,
a conference with the Executive Board to discuss the suspension will take place and a decision will be made by advisor(s)
and administration.
5.
A representative may not be on probation twice during the school year.
B. The administration, the Executive Board, or the council may initiate the impeachment process.
C. Officer replacement will be determined and appointed by the Executive Board.
D. Representative replacement will be determined by the Cabinet Heads of that committee, recommending a representative from
their committee members or other Student Council members to fill vacancy. This recommendation must be approved the Executive
Board.
Article VIII: Dismissal Procedure
A. If any student serving
in an appointed position does not carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to them, they may be removed from their
position. The following are possible reasons for dismissal:
1. The attendance policies are as follows:
a. Committee meetings: Only four meetings may be missed in a year and only two may be unexcused.
b. Business Meetings: Only two unexcused meetings may be missed in a year.
c. Student Council events: No more than two unexcused activities may be missed.
2. Not following officer or representative job descriptions.
3. The student is not maintaining the required Q.P.A.
4. The students behavior does not reflect positively towards the school. If the student receives a suspension, a conference
with the Executive Board to discuss the suspension will take place and a decision will be made by advisor(s) and administration.
B. The administration, the Executive Board, or the council may initiate
the dismissal process.
C. Cabinet Head replacement will be determined and
appointed by the Executive Board
D. School Board Representative replacement
will be made by the Executive Board and principal recommendation.
Article IX: Probation Procedure
A. If any Officer or Cabinet Head does not carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to them, they may be put on
probation before impeachment or dismissal. Reasons for probation are:
1. Violation of Attendance Policy.
2. Not following officer or cabinet head job description as concluded by Executive Board.
3. Receiving a maximum of two detentions.
B. If put on Probation the student
must create a plan of action and improvement within a month and a follow up meeting must take place with the advisor(s) to
discuss the status of improvement
Article X: Amendment Procedure
A. Amendments can be proposed in the following ways:
1. by a teacher/administrator
2.
by the Executive Board as a whole
3. by a petition from the majority of the council
4. by a committee appointed by the President
B. The constitution shall
be amended by a 2/3 vote of the council with at least 80% of its members present at a meeting.
Article XI: Ratification
The constitution shall be ratified by a 2.3 vote of the council with at least 80% of its members present at a meeting.
NAISC By - Laws
Article I: Duties & Responsibilities of Elected Officials
A. Officers
1. The President
shall:
a. Lead and direct the council
b. Write goals with Executive Board for the council for the year.
c. Represent the school at official school, community, and Student Council functions and activities.
d. Supervise and officiate at all Student Council activities.
e. Prepare agendas in advance and preside over all business meetings.
f. Meet regularly with advisor(s), administration, and Executive Board.
g. Select cabinet heads for each committee.
h. Represent Student Council at Activity Council.
i. Have the option to represent another committee at Activity Council.
j. Train newly elected officers.
k. Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
l. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
2. The Vice-President shall:
a. Be the official replacement in the absence or removal of the president and assist president as needed
b. Be the official parliamentarian.
c. Be responsible for representative training.
d. Be responsible for checking representative service records.
e. Handle all registrations to Student Council conferences.
f. Act as an officer to specific committee and represent that committee on Activity Council.
g. Train the incoming Vice-President.
h. Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
i. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
j. Perform other duties as may be assigned
3. The Recording Secretary shall:
a.
Take accurate minutes at Executive Board meetings, business meetings, and Activity Council meetings and see that they are
distributed within a week of the meeting.
b. Set up all Student Council files.
c. Set up and collect all committee notebooks.
d. Act as an officer to a specific committee and represent that committee on Activity Council.
e. Train the incoming Recording Secretary.
f. Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
g. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
h. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
i. Purchase office supplies for the SAO
4. The Corresponding Secretary shall:
a. Draft necessary letters.
b. Maintain the council scrapbook of all activities.
c. Send all thank you notes.
d. Make up passes for all business meetings and distribute them.
e. Take attendance at all Student Council meetings and functions and inform absent members in writing or consequences.
f. Act as an officer to a specific committee and represent that committee on Activity Council.
g. Train the incoming Corresponding Secretary.
h. Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
i. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
j. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
k. Execute terms of attendance policy.
5. The Treasurer shall:
a. Prepare and maintain a budget.
b. Maintain an up-to-date financial record of the council’s activities using Student Council ledger.
c. Provide the council with regular, accurate financial reports at business meetings and in January to each committee.
d. Carry out all deposits and payments of expenses within three school days.
e. Meet and work with the principal’s bookkeeper on financial records.
f. Prepare, check, and count all money from student council events.
g. Act as an officer to a specific committee and represent that committee on Activity Council.
h. Train the incoming Treasurer.
i. Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
j. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
k. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
6. The Publicity Director shall:
a. Draft daily announcements about Student Council functions.
b. Be a liaison for the school newspaper.
c. Maintain the Student Council website throughout the year.
d. Communicate activities through posters, flyers, bulletin boards, etc.
e. Post a monthly Student Council activities calendar.
f. Post a monthly Activity Council calendar.
g. Act as an officer to a specific committee and represent that committee on Activity Council.
h. Train the incoming Publicity Director.
i. Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
j. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
k. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
l.
Print out all pictures form Student Council events.
7. The Representative shall:
a. Report to all Council meetings and participate in the legislative process.
b. Be a liaison between Student Council and students and their ideas and concerns.
c. Serve on a committee as assigned by the President as an active, planning member.
d. be required to keep a monthly service record according to this process:
e. Student Council Representatives will be evaluated on their performance and participation by means of a checklist.
f. The officer in charge of the representatives and checklist will be the Vice-President.
g. Representatives must have a set number of activities to be involved in each month. This will be determined by the Executive
Board at the beginning and during the month.
h. If a representative does not meet the required number of activities for any month, he/she will be put on probation for
one month. If a representative shows outstanding effort during a certain month, he/she will be recognized by Student Council.
i. The Vice-President should notify anyone being placed on probation in written form.
j. I f a member does not meet the set number of activities the following month; he/she will be removed from his/her position.
k. Only one probation period per member is allowed.
l. In addition to being placed on probation, a member not meeting the required activities for any month will have to make
up for neglect of his/her duties by having a higher number of activities for the following month. This will be determined
by adding the number of activities missed to the next month’s set number of activities total. This will be the total
needed to be met in order to stay on Student Council.
m. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
n. Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
o. Attend Student Council conferences if the opportunity is available to learn more about Student Council and gain new ideas.
p. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
Article II: Duties & Responsibilities of Appointed Officials
A. The School Board Representative shall:
1. Bring concerns of all students to the board by attending all meetings deemed necessary by the board.
2. Communicate with students in our school to find out student needs and concerns.
3. Communicate decisions of the board to all students though publications and other methods.
4. Act as a liaison with the Principal’s Advisory committee.
5. Be an active member of Activity Council representing student leader concerns to the board.
6. Communicate concerns of students to administration prior to raising them at board meetings.
7. Be responsible for monthly reports at Student Council and Activity Council meetings.
8. Perform other duties as may be assigned.
B. The Cabinet Head shall:
1. Write committee goals
for the year.
2.
Select a committee of ninth and tenth graders who meet the qualifications.
3. Lead and supervise their respective committees and see that they run smoothly and efficiently to accomplish projects and
goals.
4. Prepare and carry
out a yearly calendar of events.
5. Devise a budget based on plans and stick to it.
6. Regularly meet with the officer assigned to the committee.
7. Attend business meetings and provide the council with regular reports of their activities.
8. Keep a committee notebook of all activities and forms.
9. Keep agendas and minutes of all committee meetings in notebook for reference.
10. Evaluate all projects and keep a written record of evaluation in committee notebooks.
11. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
12.
Encourage student and staff participation in all Student Council events.
13. Participate in the Legislative process at business meetings.
14. Perform other duties that may be assigned.
C. Committee Member shall:
1. Report and participate
in all committee meetings.
2. Attend all Student Council sponsored events.
3. Encourage student participation in all Student Council events.
4. Perform jobs assigned by cabinet heads.
Article III: General Purpose of Committees
A. Special Committees
1.
Special Committees may be appointed by the president at any time to perform a specified task.
2. The constitution review committee is an example of a Special Committee.
B. Standing Committees
1. Standing Committees are reviewed every year by the Executive Board based on the goals of the Board.
2. Additional Standing Committees may be added based on goals.
3.
The following are Standing Committees on Student Council:
a. Dance Committee plans and holds all school dances. It creates fun and exciting themes for the dances. Semi-Formal is also
planned by this committee.
b. Principle’s Advisory Committee is the link between the administration and the student body. It is an advisory
body composed of students who address student concerns. These concerns are discussed and solutions are sought during monthly
meetings with the principal.
c. Publicity Committee makes poster, announcements, videos, and sells tickets for all Student Council events.
d. School Pride Committee organizes events which boost pride in our school, our teams, and in all school activities.
e. School Relations Committee deals with the communication and morale among the members of Student Council. It also communicated
with other Student Councils.
f.
Service Committee implements projects to help those in need throughout our community.
g. School Spirit Committee plans projects to boost spirit in the school for the various teams within the school.
h. Staff Appreciation Committee works to enhance student-teacher/staff relationships by acknowledging the staff within the
school.
i. Student Recognition Committee gathers and organizes articles, holds breakfasts for students to recognize student accomplishments,
and selects a student of the month.
j.
Tiger Promotion Committee supports the athletes of the school by attending games, posting rosters, and making posters which
hold team information.
k. Ways and Means Committee handles fundraising for Student Council. It plans three fund-raisers along with the magazine campaign.
l. Welcome Committee welcomes all new students to the school. It also acknowledges student birthdays.
Article
IV: Procedure for Filling Vacancies
A. Officers
1. Replacing an impeached officer is a difficult task
2.
When deciding a course of action, four factors must be considered:
a. What would be least disruptive for the Executive Board.
b. What would be least disruptive for the council.
c. What would be least disruptive for the position.
d. The time of year.
3.
Suggestions:
a. The position is filled by officer(s) on the Executive Board.
b. The position is filled by an outstanding Cabinet Head.
c. The position is filled by an individual who ran for the same position and lost.
B. Representatives
1. When
deciding a course of action, the option least disruptive for the committee must be taken.
2. Suggestions:
a. The position is filled by an individual on the committee, who is selected by the Cabinet Head.
b. The position is filled by an individual who lost in the representative election.
c. (last choice) The position is filled by a member of the student body; preferably form one of the leadership classes.
C. School Board Representative
1.
The replacement of the School Board Representative is governed by the constitution
D. Cabinet Head
1. When
deciding a course of action, the option lest disruptive for the committee must be taken.
2. Suggestions:
a. The position is filled by a representative of the same grade form the committee.
b. The officer working on the committee takes control.
Article V: Election Campaign Rules
A. Candidates may not slander other candidates.
B. Candidates may not give
away “gimmicks” that may litter the building.
C. Candidates may not deface or destroy other candidate’s posters.
D.
Poster
1. No
more than 25 computer generated 8.5”X11” posters.
2. There is no limit on large posters which are made by hand.
3. Posters may not be hung on wooden or painted surfaces.
4.
Posters may not cover other candidate’s signs.
Article VI: Amendment Procedure
A. Amendments can be proposed in the following ways:
1. by a teacher/administrator
2. by the Executive Board as a whole
3. by a petition from the majority of the council
4. by a committee appointed by the President
B. The by-laws shall be amended
by a 2/3 vote of the council with at least 80% of its members present at a business meeting.
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