James B.Conant High School Student Council Constitution

Revised as of discussion on 5/19/05

 Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be James B. Conant High School Student Council, henceforth to be referred to as Student Council.

 Article II - Purpose

The purpose of Student Council shall be to serve the student body of ConantHigh School,voice student opinions to the administration and High School District 211, to train students in leadership, and to aid  other school organizations.

 Article III - Powers Vested in Student Council

Student Council shall have the authority to relay the opinions and needs of the students to the school administration.  Student Council shall be empowered to meet and to raise all funds for its activities. 

 Article IV - Membership

The membership of Student Council shall consist of the General Assembly. Membership in the General Assembly shall be limited to students currently enrolled in ConantHigh School.  Student Council shall not  be empowered to deny membership on the basis of sex, race, creed, or year in school.  See Appendix A for membership requirements.

 Article V - Nomination and Election of Officers

Election of candidates for the executive offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, and Webmaster shall take place during the fourth quarter of the academic year.  Candidates must be active members for at least one year. Voters shall be limited to active members of Student Council. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be installed in the office for which he has run.  In the event that an office remains open, the Executive Board has the authority to appoint a Student Council member to that position. Installation of the next Executive Board shall take place prior to the beginning of the first quarter of the next academic year.

 Article VI - Duties and Responsibilities

Section 1: Student Council

Student Council shall have the responsibility of fulfilling the purpose defined in Article II.

 Section 2: Executive Board

The Executive Board of Student Council shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Webmaster, and the Advisors.  Each office shall serve as an ex-officio member of  every committee of Student Council.  Executive Board members shall uphold the standards of Student Council at school functions, District Area Council, Northeast District of Student Councils, Illinois Association of Student Councils, and the National Association of Student Councils.  Each Executive Board member shall serve as an example of proper behavior for the other Student Council members.  See  Appendix C for Executive Board Responsibilities.

 Section 3: Committee Chairperson(s)

            Chairperson(s) of all committees shall be chosen by the Executive Board.  Chairperson(s) shall submit reports of meetings and attendance records to the Vice President, Newsletter Editor and Membership Secretary.  He shall also call and preside at committee meetings and see that committee goals and purposes are met.

 Section 4: Members

            Members of the General Assembly shall serve on at least one standing committee.  Members shall also fulfill the requirements defined in Appendix  A.

 Article VII - Impeachment

Any officer may be removed from office if he has not fulfilled his duties or has damaged the effectiveness of the reputation of Student Council. Impeachment of an officer requires a petition signed by a  majority of the members of Conant Student Council submitted to the Executive Board. An ad hoc committee shall then be formed to coordinate the impeachment proceedings.  At a special session of the General  Assembly, it shall be decided whether the officer's offenses warrant removal from the office.  A two-thirds majority vote in favor of removal from office of the members present at the session shall be necessary  to remove an officer from office.

 Article VIII - Financial Responsibilities of Members

If any member has committed to Student Council in such a way that Student Council has invested money, the member must either fulfill the commitment or reimburse Student Council for the money lost.  Any member who fails to reimburse Student Council for an unfulfilled commitment shall be placed on suspension pending termination of membership. If the member on suspension is an Executive Board member, the decision of  termination shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly at either a regular meeting or a special session.

 Article IX - Ratification

A three-fourths majority in favor of ratification by the General Assembly in attendance shall be necessary to adopt this constitution of the Student Council.

 Article X - Amendment

A three-fourths majority vote of those in attendance in favor of amendment shall be necessary to amend the constitution.

 By-Laws

 I - Quorum

There shall be no quorum for regular meetings of the General Assembly. The attendance of a simple majority of the General Assembly shall be mandatory for a special session of the Student Council to be held.

 II - Meetings

Regular meetings of the General Assembly shall be held biweekly on a rotating schedule.  Special sessions may be called by a majority of the Executive Board.  Committee meetings shall be held at the  discretion of the committee chairperson(s).

 III - Committees

Section 1: Standing Committees

Standing Committees shall be defined as committees that operate throughout the year.  The standing committees shall be established by the Executive Board prior to the start of the school year.

Section 2: Special Committees

Special Committees shall be defined as committees that operate once every year at a time prescribed by the Executive Board.

Section 3:  Ad Hoc Committees

            Ad Hoc committees may be formed by the Executive Board as the need arises.

 IV - Filling of Vacated Offices

The Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President in the event that the President should vacate his office. In the event that an officer other than the President should vacate his office, a new officer shall be chosen by a simple majority of the General Assembly.  Candidates for vacated offices shall be required to fulfill the same requirements as those of candidates running in the regular elections.

 V - Rules of Order

All meetings of the General Assembly shall be run according to Parliamentary Procedure. 

  VI - Removal of Officers

Any elected officer may be removed from office by the advisors if he has not fulfilled his duties or has damaged the effectiveness or reputation of Student Council.

 VII - Amendment of By-Laws

The By-Laws of the constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Assembly in attendance.

 Appendix A

 Point Requirements for Student Council Members

 1.     Each member is required to have 15 points per quarter.

2.     Members are put on probation if they do not get the required 15 points.

3.     The cut-off for probation is seven points.

4.     All points must be made up each quarter. 

5.     No Student Council member can be on probation two quarters in a row.

6.     Student Council members must be in attendance at both Homecoming and Turnabout set-ups.

7.     Each member not in attendance must submit a written excuse for advisor approval.

8.     Each Student Council member must join a standing committee and attend a majority of its meetings.

 Appendix B

 Criteria for Student Council Officer Candidates:

 1.     Candidates must presently have and maintain during their tenure in office at least a 2.0 unweighted grade point average.

2.     Candidates may not hold another office nor participate in any extra-curricular activity which conflicts with their role in Student Council.

3.     Candidates must be available to work on Student Council activities after school.

4.     The President and Vice President must be a junior or a senior during the school year in which they will serve.

5.     The Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, and Webmaster must be a sophomore, a junior, or a senior during the school year in which they will serve.

6.     All candidates must be active members of the Student Council General Assembly for one year prior to the year that they will serve.

7.     Candidates must be enrolled in Student Council study hall first hour the year in which they will serve.

8.     All candidates must give a two-to-three minute speech at the General Assembly meeting prior to election.

9.     Candidates must familiarize themselves with the Student Council Constitution.

10.  The criteria contract must be signed by both the candidate and his parent.

11.  Candidates must have two teacher signatures in order to run for an office.

12.  Candidates must schedule an individual conference meeting with the advisors prior to the election.

13.  All candidates must submit a statement of purpose prior to election.

 Appendix C

 Executive Board Responsibilities

 1.     At least one Executive Board member must be present at every after school meeting.

2.     Every officer must be a member of at least one standing committee.

3.     Officers must be present at each dance set-up.

4.     Each officer is expected to be in attendance at all major Student Council functions.

5.      The Executive Board will be required to meet occasionally during the summer to plan for the upcoming school year.

      6.   The Executive Board is responsible for maintaining and organizing the equipment and supplies of the Student Council office.

Designed and Maintained by Adam Wright
Revised: 10/18/07