Student Council Constitution
CONSTITUTION
Preamble We, the students of Loveland High School, in order to promote a democratic relationship with the student body, faculty, clubs, and special interest groups, do hereby establish this constitution. The Constitution of the Loveland High School Student Council will govern the activities and duties, define policy, and address the concerns of the student body.
Article I - Name Section 1. The name of the organization shall be Loveland High School Student Council.
Article II - General Purposes
The mission of the Loveland High School Student Council as a representative form of government is to develop leadership skills in order to enrich the lives of the LHS community and encourage positive change. The ways to achieve this are as follows:
Section 1. Voice and elicit student opinion and to work for the well-being of the members of the Loveland High School community Section 2. Create opportunities for interaction within the LHS community. Section 3. Promote leadership within the student body. Section 4. Sponsor and organize activities involving the members of Loveland High School in order to promote a more enjoyable atmosphere.
Article III - Powers Invested in the Organization The powers of the Loveland High School Student Council, being allowed by the administration, faculty, and the student body are as follows:
Section 1. Student Council may initiate an all-school or class assembly, activity, or sport if asked by a class and/or club.
Section 2. Student Council will take all appropriate measures needed to voice a student’s concern.
Article IV - Membership Section 1. The Student Council may include up to 44 voting members. There will be 5 officers, 9 seniors, 9 juniors, 9 sophomores, 6 freshmen and may include up to 5 appointed positions.
Section 2. The following are the officer positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Historian.
Section 3. The Student Council may include up to 4 appointed members who were not elected into the Student Council. These appointees will have voting privileges and receive credit for the class. If maximum number of positions are appointed, at least two of the five appointed positions must have had at least 1 full semester of Student Council experience. The Advisor also has two appointments they may extend with the council of the executive officers.
Article V - Elections Section 1. Voting Procedure for Homecoming Royalty:
Clause 3. There are five nominees of each gender from the freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes. There are six nominees of each gender from the senior class. Clause 4. Each class votes for its respective class only in the preliminary voting, and then for their own class and the senior class in the final voting round. Clause 5. Candidates cannot be on court two consecutive years, unless the two consecutive years are between the Junior and Senior years. Clause 6. Candidates will be announced the Friday before Homecoming week after school. Winners for the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes will be announced at that coronation assembly, and the senior winners will be announced during half time of the homecoming game. Clause 7. In the event of a tie during nominations, both candidates will be allowed on the court. In the event of a tie in the final vote, there will be a run-off election between the tying candidates among only the class that the tie is within. Clause 8. Each nominee is able to refuse their nomination for court, and the nominee who holds the next highest amount of votes will take that nominee’s place. Clause 9. An administrator must be present during all homecoming royalty counting.
Clause 1. Clause 2. All candidates must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and must have completed the student council candidate application packet, abiding by its rules. Any candidate who does not have the appropriate GPA at the time of the election may still be eligible for a position should they agree to a contract made by the advisor that obliges them to gain a GPA of at least 2.5 by the end of the current calendar school year. Should the said candidate fail to uphold the contract, the position will be given to the candidate with the next most votes in the same class. Clause 3. Campaign Rules: -Candidates may spend up to $50.00 for an election campaign. -Candidates may distribute as many stickers/fliers (under 3” X 5”) as they wish. -Candidates may display no more than three election posters of normal poster size (24” by 36“). All posters must be hung in designated areas specified by the administration. -No offensive and/or obscene language will be allowed as determined by the adviser. -PA endorsement announcements, KLHS advertising, and usage of the school newspaper will not be allowed. Clause 4. In the event of a tie: -The candidate in the tie with the higher GPA Clause 5. The adviser will be present during all counting of the ballots. Clause 6. Students will only vote for their respective classes. Clause 7. Class officers will be determined based on the number of votes that each receive. The candidate with the most votes will have priority in selecting which position s/he desires. The candidate with the next highest amount of votes will receive the second choice for an officer or representative position. This process willcontinue throughout the four officer positions (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and the five representative positions.
Clause 2. Only seniors of the following school year who have had at least one full year of student council experience are eligible for the position of president. Clause 3. Only upcoming juniors or seniors with one full semester of student council experience will be eligible for the position of vice president. Clause 4. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer are available to upcoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have had one full semester ofstudent council experience. Clause 5. Upcoming sophomores and juniors are eligible for the position of historian. Clause 6. Officer Election Procedure: -The procedure will continue as follows for each of the respective positions: -Nominees have the option to either decline or accept their nomination. -Nominations for positions must be put forth by voting members of the student council. -Candidates will then exit the room and the rest of the council will be given three minutes to support whomever they wish to in a positivemanner. Negative comments about candidates, will not be tolerated. -The candidates will be given one topic to address in an impromptu statement regarding their qualifications for their position to the voting members of the council. The topic will be decided upon by the current seniors in the council and will be different for each position. -The candidates will then re-enter the room and give their statements within the time limit of two minutes for all three prompts. -A preliminary vote will be held if there are more than 2 candidates running. The voting members will vote for two of the candidates, and final vote will be held between the top two candidates following a question and answer period of two minutes per candidate. -This process will repeat for each position in the following order: President Election, Vice Presidential, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian. -The adviser is not to participate in any voting,even in the event of a tie. However, s/he is required to be present during all discussions and ballot counting for input and validation of the procedures. -In the event of a tie: The current executive board at the time of the officer election will have a separate discussion and vote to break the tie. In the event of a tie within the executive board, the officer board will have a separate discussion and vote to break the tie (this procedure is applicable in all other majority votes of the executive board when an alternate is not explicitly provided. Furthermore, in the event of any majority vote by the officer board, all board members must be present). Should a current officer or member of the executive board be running for a position and be one of the candidates to tie, they will not be allowed to participate in the executive or officer board tie- breaking vote. Clause 7. Voting members in officer elections are defined as all current members of student council who meet the following criteria: -They must be present during the voting process (i.e. all discussion and statements) to vote upon that position. -They must have a beating heart during all proceedings in a given position’s voting process. Clause 8. If a candidate eligible for an officer position isunable to attend the election process due to a school related event, or another complication as approved by the officer board, that candidate may still run for the position if a written and signed affirmation of their nomination acceptance is provided. This candidate will, however, waive their rights to the verbal statement session and question and answer period. Section 4. General Election Procedure Clause 1. General Elections will take place during class meetings held per the assembly schedule during 2nd or 6th period. The class meeting will allow all members of that class to vote at one designated time. Clause 2. All students who are unable to vote due to an open second or sixth period, may obtain a ballot in the cafeteria. This does not apply to student council officer elections. Clause 3. All ballots will be kept for six months following each election, along with interview sheets, candidates names, and official final results. Clause 4. A candidate in any election may see the official results and final ranking of their election thirty days after the actual election date, except those votes pertaining to officer elections. Clause 5. A recount will be done only if asked for by a petition signed by 50% of the voters in that election. This petition will only be honored if submitted within one calendar school week of the election in question. There will be no recount unless this condition is met. Clause 6. There will be no revote unless a recount shows sufficient evidence of tampering with votes. Clause 7. Any student desiring an absentee ballot needs to make a written request to the Vice-President of the council 3 days prior to the election day absence. The absence of the student will be validated and the student will be allowed to vote prior to the regularly scheduled election. This does not pertain to officer elections. Clause 8. Results of the election will be posted by the end of school the following school day.
Article VI - Frequency of Meetings Section 1. Regular meetings will be held every Wednesday of Student Council or as scheduled by the President or Advisor. Section 3. All regular meetings will be run by Parliamentary Procedure as manifested in Robert’s Rule of Order. Section 4.
Article VII - Member Duties and Responsibilities Section 1. A student council member is defined as any student attending Loveland High School who has been elected or appointed into Student Council. Section 2. Clause 1. All members will be graded upon the following: -Be present at all required functions. -Help organize yearly student activities as approved by the Student Council. -Contribute positively to the welfare and betterment of one’s committee and the student council as a whole. The President and Vice President must also contribute to the betterment of the council, but are not required to participate in any specific committee. -Student council members are exempt from paying at any Student council endorsed, required function. -All members must maintain a 2.5 GPA at semester’s end to maintain their position. **** -Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian may be in a committee or be a committee head at the discretion of the adviser. Clause 2. Members that are unable to attend Student Council required events or functions reserve the right to excuse their absence with no penalty against them only if the conflict that they cite is school related. If this is the case, the council member must obtain the signatures of the Adviser and one officer confirming the excuse of the absence. This is to be done at least three calendar days prior to the event that they are being excused from. Extenuating circumstances may be reviewed and excused by a discussion of the officer board and a majority vote. The party concerned in this instance must make their conflict known to the officer board at any time before the event or function that the conflict concerns, or no longer than one calendar week after the stated event or function occurs. The party concerned must provide proof of their excuse upon request, the credibility of this to be decided upon by the officer board. Section 3. Standing Committee responsibilities are as follows: -Plan and carry out specified activities and projects. -Communicate with the faculty, community, other clubs, organizations, and schools, to promote positive public relations. -Organize each event appropriately and keep accurate evaluations and event folders for the following years. Section 4. The executive board is made up of the student council officer board and all current committee heads. Clause 1. The officer board, voting members including the current President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian, with verbal input from the advisor will decide and make emergency decisions for the Student Council, and determine disciplinary actions. Clause 2. Officer duties are defined as follows and are subject to change and revision at any time by a 2/3 majority vote by voting members of the student council (all current student council members present at the time of discussion and voting procedure): -Create and head ad hoc committees. -Correspond with faculty, community, other -clubs, organizations, and schools. -Run all elections that are Council sponsored with the Advisor. -Become a temporary committee as needed to plan events such as but not limited to the selection of freshman for council. -Fulfill all stated duties and responsibilities as given to each position, or be subject to impeachment by a two thirds majority vote by student council voting members. Clause 3. The PRESIDENT runs regular and executive board meetings, monitors officers, arranges student exchanges, trains all members on the appropriated use of supplies and materials, and has the power to veto over any item passed by the Council. This veto may be overridden by a 2/3 vote by the council at the meeting where the veto occurred and/or at the next regular meeting. Clause 4. The VICE-PRESIDENT serves as parliamentarian during all regular meetings, serves in the place of the President in his or her absence, orders and maintains all supplies, and heads the LHS Inter Club Council. The Vice- President succeeds the President in the case of a vacancy or fatality even if the Vice- President is a junior at the time of vacancy. Clause 5. The SECRETARY takes daily attendance, writes the agendas, assists the Advisor with quarter grades, keeps the official files organized, types the minutes, assists in organizing all retreats, and handles the official paperwork of the Council. Clause 6. The TREASURER corresponds with the bookkeeper’s office, keeps all of the Council’s running account balances, keeps all financial records, co-signs purchase orders, oversees all fund raisers, teaches all members of the council all of the appropriate handling and mailing of all financial documents, and is financial advisor to the entire Student Council. Clause 7. The HISTORIAN maintains records of all events in the form of photographic imagery and audio/visual media. The historian is also responsible for the senior recognition media (senior movie and slide slow). S/he is also responsible for the senior scrapbook. Section 4. The Advisor’s duties must include but are not limited to the following: -S/he cannot vote but can interject opinion and advise the Council during any meeting. -May nominate members from the student body for appointment. -Act as a messenger between administration, faculty, and the student council. -Act as a consultant to the council.
Article VIII - Rules of Conduct
Section 1. A student’s behavior in all classes must reflect leadership, including but not limited to attendance, appropriate behavior in and out of school, taking the CSAP, and supporting Loveland High Schooll. Any report from a faculty member or breach of leadership like behavior will result in a hearing with the officer board and consequences will depend on the severity of the act and can range from a behavioral/conduct warning to a vote for removal from council. Subsequent reports of bad behavior will be discussed by the officer board and a penalty will be decided upon by a majority vote within the officer board. Section 2. Any member who is proven to be using drugs and/or alcohol at any time will be immediately removed from any Student Council position for the duration of their current term in council, but will be allowed to run for future terms. This will apply at all times, not just during the calendar school year. Section 3. Any member who violates any city, state, or national law, excluding transportation violations, will be subject to penalization as determined by the officer board with a discussion and majority vote. Section 4. All members can be brought before the Council at any time and removed from a position with a 2/3 majority vote or by a unanimous vote of the executive board voting members if they are not fulfilling their duties and responsibilities as a member.
Article IX - Position Vacancies Section 1. The position of Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Historian will be filled by an in- Council vote if the runner-up in the election itself does not want, or is unfit for the position as decided by a 2/3 vote of the executive board. Section 2. Representative vacancies may only be filled if the vacancy in that class causes the number of positions in that class to drop below the required level of nine members in the Senior, Junior, and Sophomore grades and six in the Freshman grade. The officer board with nominations put forth by the adviser will fill these vacancies by students falling into the following specifications: -By the alternate in the election itself if he or she is fit for the position as determined by a majority vote of the officer board. -By a member of the student body worthy of the position as determined by the officer board. Section 3. All vacancies must be filled by members of the class in which the vacancy occurs.
Article X - Lettering Section 1. In order to letter in Student Council, members must meet four of the following five requirements: -Must be enrolled in Student Council for the full year. -Must have an average grade of “B” or better in each semester of involvement. -Must have attended at least 80% of all Student Council sponsored events during their involvement. -Must have no more than two unexcused absences per semester in Student Council. -Must have no outstanding monetary fees due to the council including but not limited to retreat fees and gift fees.
Article XI- Ratification
Section 1. The constitution, once initially passed, is a permanent establishment within the current and future councils.
Section 2. The method of ratification for the constitution will be as follows:
Article XII - Amending the Constitution Section 1.This Constitution may be amended at any meeting provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing at the last meeting and members of Student Council have discussed the amendment. A 2/3 majority vote is required to adopt the amendment. The Secretary is responsible for the drafting of and official changing of the amendment on the Constitution.
Amendments Amendment I: Student Council Representative Elections will take place on Thursday of the second complete calendar week of March. If this week is the week of Spring Break than the election will take place on Thursday of the first complete calendar week of March. Amendment II: Points that are not related to attendance of an event (e.g. Advertising, and Cafeteria Sign-ups) do not need to be passed two weeks before the task is to be done, as long as the points are passed two weeks before the events that they are related to. Amendment III: All members must maintain a 2.5 GPA at semester’s end to maintain their position for the remainder of the year.
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