PREAMBLE
The students and staff of
ARTICLE ONE: NAME AND PURPOSE
This organization shall be known as the Student Council of Brighton High School.
The purpose of the Student Council shall be:
· to serve as a liaison between the student body and the school administration, providing a means for student statement in school affairs;
· to serve as leaders for the student body, sponsoring and organizing social activities and school and community service projects;
· to serve as role models and ambassadors to the community-at-large, representing the highest standards of conduct and character.
ARTICLE TWO – MEMBERSHIP
The Student Council shall consist of an Executive Committee, which shall include the following elected members:
The Student Council President
The Student Council Vice-President
The Student Council Secretary
The Student Council Treasurer
The Student Council Historian
Class Officers shall consist of the following elected members:
The Class President
The Class Vice-President
The Class Secretary
The Class Treasurer
ARTICLE THREE – ELECTIONS
The Student Council President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian shall be elected by the student body. Candidates may seek election through self nomination. Elections will be conducted by secret ballot and candidates must receive 51 percent of the votes cast in order to win the election. Run-off elections between the candidates with the two highest vote tallies will be conducted in the event that no candidate receives 51 percent of the votes cast.
The Class Officers shall be elected by their respective classes. Candidates must be nominated to run for office. Elections will be conducted by secret ballot and a candidate must receive 51 percent of the votes cast in order to win the election. Run-off elections between the candidates with the two highest vote tallies will be conducted in the event that no candidate receives 51 percent of the votes cast.
In the event that a Student Council officer resigns or is removed from office, the officer will be replaced in an election in the manner of following proper chain of command. In this case, the officer leaving the office will be ineligible to run again. In the case of a President (Student Council or Class) being replaced, the Vice President shall take office, allowing the remaining officers to rise in chain of command. A cabinet member will thereby take the lowest ranking officers place and a new cabinet member will be elected.
ARTICLE FOUR – APPOINTMENTS
The Executive Committee shall solicit nominations from the Student Body for Student Council Cabinet Members and shall then appoint Student Cabinet Members in consultation with the Student Council Advisor. Each class shall have at least one cabinet member that has all voting responsibilities.
ARTICLE FIVE: JUDICIAL BOARD REMOVAL FROM STUDENT COUNCIL
Student Council members who miss three meetings during a semester will be referred to the Student Council Judiciary Board. The Judiciary Board shall consist of all class vice presidents as well as the student body vice president and the advisors. The Judiciary Board will meet to hear the student concerning missed meetings.
The Advisors shall also have the authority to remove a member for behavior that tarnishes the reputation of the organization or the school community. Removal may also occur with failure to perform duties and failure to participate in service projects.
ARTICLE SIX: ADVISOR
The Student Council Advisor shall be appointed by the Principal and shall be a teaching member of the faculty.
In egregious circumstances, the Advisor shall have the authority to annul any Student Council decision, Constitutional Amendment, or Bylaw Amendment that is potentially damaging to school order or the school community.
The Advisor shall organize and supervise Student Council Officer Elections and Student Council Representative Appointments.
ARTICLE SEVEN: AMENDMENTS
A Constitutional Amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of the Student Council or by a student petition signed by 25 percent of the Student Body. Once proposed, the Amendment will be voted upon by the Student Body and must receive 51 percent of the votes cast to pass.
A Bylaw Amendment may be proposed by any Student Council member and must receive two-thirds of the votes cast by the Student Council to pass.
SECTION ONE: OFFICER DUTIES
The Student Council President shall preside at all Student Council meetings, represent the Student Council in dealings with the administration, and appoint committees, committee chairs, and project chairs as necessary. The President shall have the authority to request a meeting with the Principal to address important student concerns and shall chair at least one project per semester.
The Student Council Vice President shall assume the President’s duties in the President’s absence and shall chair at least one project per semester.
The Student Council Secretary shall be responsible for keeping minutes at all meetings, for distributing minutes to the Student Council Advisor, Principal, and Vice Principals, and for posting minutes on the Student Council Bulletin Boards or web page. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the Student Council calendar.
The Student Council Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting dues if any, collecting funds from fundraiser endeavors, and maintaining accurate and timely financial records for this organization in consultation with the school Bookkeeper. The Treasurer shall supervise all Student Council fundraisers.
The Student Council Historian shall be responsible for planning and organizing a comprehensive school and community service program for the Student Council. The Historian ensures that the Student Council sponsors at least two school or community service projects per semester. Further, the Historian will keep records of these endeavors.
The Class Presidents shall preside at meetings of their respective classes and shall report to their classes on Student Council activities. The Class Vice Presidents shall preside in the President’s absence, take minutes of class meetings, and report class activities to the Student Council.
SECTION TWO: STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS
The Student Council members, officers and representatives, shall represent
their electorates and the school community to the best of their abilities at
meetings and in dealings with the faculty, administration, and
SECTION THREE: MEETINGS
The Student Council shall meet once every other week as decided by executive council at the beginning of each school year and on any extraordinary occasions (as called by the Student Council President or Advisor). Members unable to attend these meetings will have an opportunity to come to a make up meeting at a set time. Tardiness is not allowed. Any Student Council member who is absent from three meetings in a semester shall be referred to the Student Council Judiciary Committee.
Meetings are open to attendance by interested parties. Spectators must be acknowledged by the Student Council President to address the Student Council.
SECTION FOUR: VOTING
In order to pass an issue through the Student Council, it must be voted upon, and a majority of the voting members must be in favor of it. All elected officers and appointed representatives shall have voting privileges.
In order for a vote to occur it must be called by the Student Council President or by motion (and subsequent seconding) by the Student Council members. A quorum must be present in order to call a vote. Two-thirds of the Student Council members must be present in order for a meeting to have quorum.
For normal business, a simple majority vote is required for approval. For removal of a Student Council member, a four-fifths vote is required.
SECTION FIVE: OFFICER AND REPRESENTATIVE NOMINATIONS
Candidates for Student Council President and Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian must submit a petition with one hundred student signatures with no more than forty signatures coming from one class [In 2002, these positions will require a petition with sixty signatures with thirty signatures coming from each class]. Starting in the Spring of 2006, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher and meet with the recommendation of two teachers and at least one administrator concerning discipline and conduct to be eligible for elections.
Candidates for Student Council and Class Officer positions will be regulated by Election Guidelines established and posted by the Student Council Advisor. All Candidates for Student Council and Class Officer positions will be required to present a campaign speech before their respective electorates through school-wide broadcasts.
SECTION SIX: ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE
For the 2002-2003 academic year, the Student Council Officer Elections will occur during April/May with the term of office to run from election to the end of May. The Student Council Representative Appointments shall occur during May with the term of office to run from appointment to the end the proceeding May.
In subsequent years, the Student Council Officer Elections (except for freshmen) will occur during April with the term of office to run from the beginning of May to the end of the proceeding May. The Student Council Representative Appointments shall occur during May with the term of office to run from appointment to the end of the proceeding May.
The Freshmen Class President and Vice President Elections and the Freshmen Representatives Appointments shall occur in August/September with the term of office to run from election or appointment to the end of May.