CHS Student Council Constitution

The name of this organization will be the Robert G. Cole High School Student Council.

Section 1. It will be the purpose of this council to encourage better citizenship and leadership, to teach democratic procedures, to act as a voice for the student body, to provide students with an opportunity to participate in the administration of the activities of the student body, to foster school spirit and cooperation among students, faculty, and community, and to maintain high standards of conduct with references to all school work and extracurricular activities.

Section 2. General aims and objectives will be outlined by the Executive Council at the beginning of the school year and will be recorded for future reference in Secretary’s notes.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. The membership of the Student Council will consist of five officers elected by the student body, and students who choose to earn membership through a work-on point system. One member of the senior, junior, sophomore and freshman class officers must be a member.

Section 2A. To be eligible for Student Council one must be on target for graduation, and have an overall average of 75 or higher, with no “U’s” in conduct or office referrals for the nine weeks. Officer candidates must have an overall average of 80 or higher in addition to no “U’s” in conduct or officer referral during the nine weeks. Student Council members may be removed from the organization for one “U” in conduct, or one office referral during one nine week period. Report cards must be presented to the sponsors every nine weeks. If a member fails a class for one nine weeks he or she will be placed on probation for one grading period. If a student has subsequent failures, he or she may be removed from the Student Council. All members must attend at least 75% of the meetings per nine weeks. If a student fails to maintain eligibility requirements he or she will be put on probation for a nine weeks period. Probation is defined as an increase in the number of points required to maintain membership in the Council. Failure to regain eligibility will result in removal from the Student Council.

Section 2B. Failing to maintain the required number of points will result in suspension for the member for a period of nine weeks. Members on suspension must continue to uphold the eligibility requirements while suspended, including points. A suspended member has no vote and does not count towards a quorum for the duration of the suspension. If a member fails to maintain points during the suspension period, the member may be dismissed. A written appeal may be made by the member and accepted by the Executive Council.

Section 3. The duties of the representatives will be as follows: to represent the interest of the student body in a fail and democratic way; to present before the Student Council any recommendations or problems of the student body; to participate in all Student Council activities; to fulfill to the best of their abilities all committee appointments; and to promote and encourage 100 percent participation of the Cole student body in school activities.

Section 4. Members of the Robert G. Cole student body may choose to become members of the Student Council by fulfilling eligibility requirements for one nine weeks. The Executive Council will validate the point and attendance record and the aspiring member will become a full voting member. Membership will be maintained by maintaining all aforementioned criteria.

Article IV. Officers and their Duties

Section 1. The elected officers of the Student Council will be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Historian. In the event that one of the officers, excluding the President, cannot serve he or she may be replaced by a special election. This election will be held by the Student Council representatives, who will nominate three people to fill the position. The Council will vote on the new officer. A nominee must win by a majority.

Section 2. The office of the President will be filled by a student who is a senior during his or her term of office. He or she must have been a member of the Robert G. Cole Student Council for at least three weeks. If only one candidate has filed for office of president three school days before the filing date then any student fulfilling the above qualifications who will be a junior during his or her term of office may qualify for candidacy.

Section 3. The office of the Vice-President will be filled by a student who is a senior high student during his or her term of office. He or she must have been a member of the Robert G. Cole Student Council for at least three weeks.

Section 4. The office of the Secretary will be filled by a student who is a senior high student during his or her term of office and able to use a word processor.

Section 5. The office of the Treasurer will be filled by a student who is a senior high student during his or her term of office.

Section 6. The office of the Historian will be filled by a student who is a senior high student during his or her term of office and able to use a camera and word processor.

Section 7. The duties of the officers will be as follows:

a. President: The President will preside over meetings; develop agendas for meetings; appoint and discharge committees; see that all representatives carry out their duties; call special meetings, when needed and under advisement of the sponsor; work with the Principal on school related issues; supervise the work of other officers; vote on a measure in the case of a tie; and assume other duties as are generally associated with this office.

b. Vice-President: The Vice-President will be ready to act as president in the absence of the regularly elected president or to fill the office of president if a vacancy occurs; serve as parliamentarian as needed; oversee all committees; assist the president at all meetings; create and maintain sign-in sheets for meetings and other events; compile survey results as needed; and maintain order at all meetings.

c. Secretary: The Secretary will take minutes of all meetings, handle all correspondence, take attendance at all meetings and activities; maintain all point system records; create and provide a monthly report of points sheets to advisor; and post current points for members to view.

d. Treasurer: The Treasurer will handle all finances and tickets; supervise all monetary collections; be responsible for fundraising activities; create a monthly report of the Student Council’s financial status and advise at each meeting; research the feasibility of any project or fundraiser the Council may want to sponsor; complete all paperwork for deposits, cash advances, payment requests and petty cash.

e. Historian The Historian will gather materials for an annual scrapbook; be responsible for completion of the scrapbook; maintain a file of pictures from all activities; take pictures at all activities; keep a display case and electronic board up to date, if available; assist in public relations at various events; coordinate work on other presentations; keep the school, the school news media and website staff informed of Student Council activities; submit stories relating to Student Council to the local Media; and keep the student body aware of activities.

Article V. Powers of the Council

Section 1. All powers of the Student Council are delegated by the school administration; therefore the Principal has the right to revoke any of the powers held by the Student Council.

Section 2. The Council will have the power to enact such legislation necessary to carry out any part of this constitution. Such legislation will, with the approval of the Principal, and facing no veto from any other person having such power, be binding on the student body.

Article VI. Nomination and Election Procedure

Section 1. In the spring, qualified persons as outlined in Article III, Section 2 wishing to run for Student Council may file an application for nomination with the sponsor. A school election will be held, and persons with the majority of votes will win.

Section 2. Students who wish to run for office will also be included in the general representative vote, and persons with the majority of votes will win.