School Constitution

Dr. James H. Naylor/CCSU Community School

Student Council Constitution

Preamble

We, the students of Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School, in order to form a more perfect school, establish fairness, insure peace, promote the general harmony of the student body, secure the blessings of democracy to ourselves and those to come, do hereby establish this Constitution for the students of Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School.

Article I
(Name)

Section 1 The name of this organization shall be the Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School Student Council.

Article II
(Purpose)

Section 1 The purpose of this government is to create and organize programs, activities and projects which will foster the social growth and civic development of the student body.

Section 2 This Constitution provides a way for each student to have a say in the decision making process of Student Council.

Section 3 The Student Council shall be the core decision making and policy setting body for Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School and the Citizens In Action program.

Article III
(Membership)

Section 1 Student Council shall consist of the following:
Five (5) elected Executive Officers from the student population. They will also comprise the Principals Advisory Group.

· Two (2) elected representatives from each travel group.

· One (1) alternate representative from each travel group.

Section 2

Article A. All students involved with student council must maintain a cumulative average of 70 or above in all classes. If a student's grade falls below 70 he/she will be given a probation period of up to six weeks as assigned by the Executive Officers and the Student Council Advisor. If at the end of this probation period the student has not raised his/her grades to 70 or above, the executive officers and advisors will determine whether the student will be dropped from student council or if another six week extension will be added to the probation.

Article B. Any representative or alternate may be removed from office for behavior or attitudes which are detrimental to the welfare and best interest of the school as determined by the Executive Officers and its Advisor. A 2/3 vote will determine the issue. Repeated failures to attend meetings; repeated failure to report to the Advisor, and/or repeated failure to carry out the duties assigned to the representative will be considered reasons for removal from office.

Section 3 Students considered for membership shall; regularly attend Student Council meetings, report results of meetings to their travel group, report any concerns or ideas from their travel group to the Executive Officers.

Article IV

(Student Council Officers)

Section 1 The officers of this Student Council shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Student Liaison Officer and Treasurer elected from the 7th and 8th grade classes in the fall of each school year.

Section 2 Duties of Officers:

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Student Council.

The President shall:

a) Uphold the Constitution of the Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School Student Council.
b) Preside at all regular and special meetings.
c) Appoint all committees of the Student Council.
d) Be in charge of direct communication between the council and the administration of the school.
e) Oversee all official Student Council functions.
f) Assume such other duties as are generally associated with this office.
g) Support all Student Council activities.

The Vice President shall:

a) Uphold the Constitution of Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School Student Council.
b) Perform the duties of President in his/her absence.
c) Assist the President in all functions and perform such other duties as are generally associated with this office.
d) Call the roll of attendance at all Student Council meetings.
e) Serve as an honorary member of all Student Government Committees and will assist the Chairperson with the work of the committee. (It will be the responsibility of the Vice-President to see that committees meet and complete assigned tasks.)

f) Support all Student Council activities.

The secretary shall:

a) Uphold the Constitution of Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School Student Council.

b) Prepare the agenda for the next meeting (The agenda for the meetings must be prepared and distributed to the Principal, Student Council Advisor, Student Executive Officers, Committee Chairpersons, and the homeroom representatives three (3) school days prior to the next scheduled meeting, except for emergency meetings when this is impossible.)

c) Keep an accurate record of all the minutes of regular and special meetings of the Student Council.

d) Handle all official correspondence and keep a Student Council file with records of agenda and minutes of all meetings.

e) Support all Student Council activities.

The Treasurer shall:

a) Uphold the Constitution of the Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School Student Council.
b) Receive and disperse all funds pertaining to the Student Government.
c) Keep a record of all financial transactions of the Bankers jobs group and the student government.
d) Submit a financial report at all regular meetings.
e) Submit a complete financial report and audit at the close of each year to the Student Council and to its Advisors.
f) Support all Student Council activities.

The Student Liaison Officer shall:

a) Attend all PTO and regular School Improvement Team meetings.

b) Voice questions and concerns pertaining to the Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School Student Council and student population.

c) Keep minutes of these meetings and report the minutes to the Student Council Executive Officers and to the Student Council Advisor.

d) Support all Student Council activities.

Section 3 Year End Reports
a) Executive Officers shall compile a final report to be given by the out-going President to the incoming Executive Officers by June 15th. Contained in this report will be the following:

A summary of all activities performed by the general Student council during the course of the past school year.
A report of all financial transactions during the past year.
A list of current expenses that need to be paid by the following Council fund.
A secretarial report, which consists of all the Council agendas and minutes for the past year.
At the last Student Council meeting of the year, a report shall be given to the Student Council by all committee chairpersons.

Article V
(Election of Officers)

Section 1
a) In the fall of each school year, the seventh, and eighth grade students will elect the five Executive Officers for the Student Government.

b) Any student who wishes to put his/her name on any ballot may do so by obtaining names of twenty (20) Dr. James H. Naylor middle school students and three (3) staff members who will sign a petition of endorsement.

c) No student may allow his/her name on the ballot if the student is unwilling to assume the duties of the office being sought.

d) No student may allow his/her name to appear on more than one ballot for the office.

e) Each candidate must give a speech to the student body stating (1) their reasons for running for elected office ,and (2) their plans for the coming year.

Section 2 If any Officer resigns or is removed from the office, the student with the next highest number of votes will assume the duties of the office. If necessary there will be an emergency election at the earliest practical date determined by the Administration.

Article VI
(Meetings)

Section 1 The first meeting shall be held in the fall of each year, as soon as is practical, after Student Council members have been elected.

Section 2 The Student Council shall meet on Monday of every week that school is in session. The officers and advisors may, at their discretion, plan more or less frequent meetings if the amount of business to be transacted seems to warrant such action.

Section 3 Special meetings shall be called by the President upon request of any Council member, any Committee Chairperson, or advisor.

Section 4 Representatives, Committee Chairpersons, and Student Council officers may vote on motions. Alternates attending meetings in place of their representatives may also vote. Those alternates attending, whose representatives are also present, may not vote.

Section 5 A Student Council quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the Council members of the total Student Council and shall be a prerequisite to conducting any formal business.

Article VII
(Amendments)

Section 1 Amendments to this Constitution must be presented to all Council members in printed form at a meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council will be required to amend this document. The vote to amend will take place at the next regular monthly Student Council meeting.

Section 2 Amendments to the By-Laws may be made in the same manner. (Sec. 1)

Article VIII
(Chartering)

Section 1 The Student Council shall have the power to issue charters to clubs and organizations for the purpose of promoting extra-curricular activities, and to prevent the misuse of school facilities.

Section 2 Any school group desiring to organize a club must apply to the Student Council for a charter.

Section 3 At the time of application, the group shall state its goals, and explain the ways of accomplishing them.

Section 4 If the Student Council approves, a charter shall be issued and valid for a maximum of one (1) year.

Section 5 If any club violates their charter or in any way misuses school facilities, the Student Council shall have the power to revoke that club's charter by a majority vote.

Article IX
(Finance)

Section 1 The use of any funds from the Student Council Treasury must be approved by a majority of the general Student Council.

Article X
(Parliamentary Authority)

Section 1 In all matters not specifically expressed in this Constitution, the decision of making the correct interpretation shall be at the discretion of the President of the Student Council.

Article XI
(By-Laws)

1. This document shall become effective upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Student Council.
2. Student Council members shall inform their travel groups of the business and activities carried on in the Council. They shall post the minutes of the previous meeting and the agenda for the next meeting.
3. In any issues, the Council representatives shall vote according to the majority wishes of the travel group he/she represents.
4. Student Council members shall, during meetings, conduct themselves in a manner befitting their position.
5. The oath administered to incoming Executive Officers shall be as follows: I (State Name) do hereby promise to uphold the Constitution of Dr. James H. Naylor Middle School, and will, to the best of my ability, be a good and upstanding student, setting an example for all other students, and treat all my fellow students and our staff with respect, courage and integrity.