Constitution - VHS Student Council

MISSION

"The mission of the Student Council is to provide a voice for the students in the academic settings of VHS. Members act as a Liaison between the students and the School Board."

GOALS

Goal 1...coming soon...
Goal 2...coming soon...
Goal 3...coming soon...

CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

We, the students of Valdez High School, desiring to foster student organization as an instrument toward the furtherance of our education and to provide practical means of securing the conveying a knowledge of democratic processes, do ordain and establish this constitution for the Student Council of Valdez High School.

ARTICLE I – NAME

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

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose of the Valdez High School Student Council is to promote student participation in the government of the school, to further the interest in all recognized activities, and to cooperate in promoting the general welfare of the school.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP, POWERS, DUTIES, AND MEETINGS

SECTION A – MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Student Council shall consist of the student body officers and two representatives elected to the Council from each class (grades 9-12). Additional members may elect themselves to Student Council by submitting to the Executive Board a petition signed by twenty-five Valdez High School students.

SECTION B – POWERS

The powers vested in the Valdez High School Student Council are:

1. To act or speak on behalf of the students of Valdez High School.

2. To approve all extracurricular student activities, with the exception of organized sports

3. To consult and advise the principal on appropriate matters of student interest.

4. To raise, budget, and expend Student Council funds.

SECTION C – DUTIES

The duties of the Valdez High School Student Council are:

1. To meet weekly or at the request of the President

2. To establish such By-Laws as are necessary for proper functioning of the Student Council provided they do not conflict with the provisions of the constitution. By-Laws shall be adopted or suspended by a simple majority vote.

3. To initiate and regulate Student Council elections.

4. To provide for referendum and recall elections.

5. To enact necessary legislation

6. To institute and effect sound financial policies and procedures.

7. To serve on Student Council Committees.

8. To sponsor activities for the Student Body which will accomplish the purpose of the Council as set forth in ARICLE II of the constitution.

9. To represent the students of Valdez High School.

SECTION D – MEETINGS

1. All meetings of Student Council shall be conducted according to basic principles of the parliamentary rules. They are as follows:

a. All Members have equal rights and privileges.

b. Minority Rights (every person’s) are protected. The Majority decides each issue.

c. Each question is fully discussed by the Members.

d. Only one issue is discussed at a time.

e. The meaning of each proposal must be clear to every person before the vote is taken.

f. Duties and powers may be delegated by the Council (for example, to a Committee) but the Council retains the right to make the final decision.

g. It is the responsibility of the Presiding Officer to administer the rules impartially. The President does not vote except in the case of a tie.

2. Two-thirds of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

3. All votes shall be decided by a simple majority of the members present and voting.

4. The Valdez High School Student Body shall meeting upon the call of its President, with the approval of the principal for purpose of considering issues of major importance.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

SECTION A – PRESIDENT

1. Eligibility

Any member of the Student Body who will be a junior or senior during the term of office, who has attended Valdez High School one full school year prior to election, and who is a student in good standing as determined by approval of the faculty, may run for the office of President of the Student Council.

2. Duties

a. To call and preside at all Student Council and Student Body meetings.

b. To represent the Student Body on the School Board and on other occasions as necessary if the School Board Representative Officer is vacant.

c. To vote in the case of tie.

d. To appoint committee chairpersons and members.

e. To open and preside at Student Body assemblies

f. To be an ex-officio member of all standing committees.

SECTION B – VICE-PRESIDENT

1. Eligibility

Any member of the Student Body who has attended Valdez High School one full year prior to election, and who is a student of good standing as determined by approval of the faculty, may run for the office of Vice-President of the Student Council.

2. Duties

a. To assume all the duties of the office of President if the President is absent.

b. To assume the office of the President if it is vacated.

c. To be ex-officio member of all ad hoc committees.

d. To supervise Student Council elections.

e. To serve as chairperson of the Homecoming Committee.

SECTION C – SECRETARY

1. Eligibility

Any member of the Student Body who has at least a 2.0 GPA in English, who has typing skills, who has attended Valdez High School one semester prior to election, and who is a student in good standing as determined by approval of the faculty, may run for office of Secretary of the Student Council.

2. Duties

a. To keep accurate and permanent minutes of all meetings of the Student Council and Student Body.

b. To carry on all necessary correspondence and filing.

c. To type, duplicate, and distribute all minutes before the next meeting of the Student Council.

d. One copy of the Student Council minutes shall be posted on the Student Council bulletin board and website.

SECTION D – TREASURER

1. Eligibility

Any member of the Student Body who has attended Valdez High School one semester prior to election, and who is a student in good standing as determined by approval of the faculty, may run for the office of Treasurer of the Student Council.

2. Duties

a. To keep accurate records of the financial transactions of the Student Council.

b. To prepare monthly financial reports of Student Council transactions for inclusion in the minutes.

c. To serve as chairperson of the Financial Committee.

d. To check the accuracy of his/her records with the office accounts.

e. To assure all bills are paid, all moneys received and accounted for.

f. To write purchase orders requests for the Student Council.

SECTION E – INTRAMURAL COORDINATOR

1. Eligibility

2. Duties

a. To work with the Intramural Advisor and class Intramural Representatives.

b. To give a monthly report to the Student Council of the intramural events and scores.

c. To set up a schedule of events for the year.

d. To attend all intramural events.

e. To post the intramural schedule and update the Intramural bulletin board.

SECTION F – SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

1. Eligibility

2. Duties

a. To represent the Student Body on the School Board and on other occasions.

b. To give a report to the Student Council of happenings at the prior School Board.

SECTION G – CLASS REPRESENTATIVE

1. Eligibility

2. Duties

a. To represent the officer’s class to the Student Council

b. To give a report to the Student Council of happening within the officer’s class when requested by the President.

c. To vote with the School Board whenever a vote is called. However, the officer’s vote does not count toward the actual decision.

SECTION H – TERMS OF OFFICE

Student Council officers will automatically assume office immediately following their election into office and will serve until elections of the following school year.

When an officer is elected to fill a vacancy, he or she will assume that office immediately after the election results are tallied and will serve for the remainder of the school year.

ARTICLE V – ELECTIONS

SECTION A – DATES

Election of Student Council officers will occur in the spring. Student Council representatives will be elected at the discretion of each class.

SECTION B – PROCEDURE

Any member of the Student Body who is eligible to run for office may request to be placed on the ballot after they have received twenty-five (25) student signatures and two faculty recommendations.

The election will be by secret ballot.

All members of the Valdez High School Student Body, grades 9-11, and all students in grade 8 at George H. Gilson Junior High will be eligible to vote.

SECTION C – RECALL

If an officer does not discharge the duties of their office as described in this constitution, the officer may be recalled. A recall election may be called by a vote of the Student Council or by a petition signed by fifty percent of the Valdez High School Student Body. Members of the Student Body who are interested in the position will be given the opportunity to nominate themselves for it. Form this list of candidates; the new officer will be elected.

ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENT PROCEDURE

All amendments must first be proposed to and approved by a two-thirds vote of the Student Council members.

A two-thirds majority vote of the Student Body is then required to amend this document.

ARTICLE VII – ACCEPTANCE

This constitution is hereby accepted by the members of the 1988-1989 Valdez High School Student Council.

This revision of the constitution is hereby accepted by the members of the 2005-2006 Valdez High School Student Council.

BY-LAWS

DUTIES AND DEFINITIONS

1. Executive Board The Executive Board will consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Student Council. They will meet at the call of any member and will be responsible for organizing an agenda for each Council meeting, aiding the work of the Council and the Student Body.

2. Committee Membership Membership in each committee shall consist of a chairperson, Student Council representatives are appointed by the President, and any other members of the Student Body appointed by the chairperson.

3. Standing Committees The Executive Board may appoint new standing committees with a majority approval of the Student Council. These committees will then be entered with full description in the By-Laws.

4. Ad Hoc Committees Ad hoc or temporary, special purpose committees will be created as needed and will report to the Student Council. They may be disbanded when they have served their function at the discretion of the Executive Board.

5. By-Laws Committee The By-Laws Committee will research and construct any constitutional or By-Law amendments.

6. Finance Committee The Finance Committee, chaired by the Student Council Treasurer, will consider any proposed transactions of the Student Council over fifty dollars, and advise other committees on matters of finance and fundraising. Any expense exceeding fifty dollars must be reviewed by the Finance Committee. In case of emergency, the Treasurer may give written consent to the party asking for money.

7. Homecoming Committee The Homecoming Committee will be responsible for preparing and cleaning up the Homecoming game and dance. The committee will disband after the event until the following year.

8. Spirit Promotion Committee The Spirit Promotion Committee will prepare for Spirit Week, and any other such activities approved by the Council to encourage school spirit. The chairman’s duties will include being responsible for promoting Student Council and their activities.

POLICIES

1. Grants and Loans Grants or Loans from the Student Council may be given to any school organization only when a written budget for the requested amount is presented to the Student Council and approved by majority vote.