THE
CONSTITUTION FOR STUDENTS OF BISHOP McNAMARA CATHOLIC
HIGH SCHOOL
We, the students of Bishop McNamara Catholic High School in order to insure that each student is given his/her deserved voice in the school government, to maintain better understanding between faculty and students, and to occasion a firmer belief in the democratic process and ideals, do ordain and establish this Constitution, for the student government at Bishop McNamara Catholic High School.
Name of Organization
The name of the organization shall be “The Student Council of Bishop McNamara Catholic High School.”
The Student Council shall have the powers to deal with the following:
a) Provide union between the student body and the administration.
b) Organize and/or promote worthwhile student activities.
c) Investigate grievances of the students and administration.
d) Contribute to the general welfare of the school and students.
e) Serve the administration in an advisory capacity in matters.
f) Promote and back all school clubs, classes and their organizations.
Committees will be volunteered and appointed through the President to investigate worthwhile matters proposed by the recognized Council. Unless otherwise stated, committees will have the final say in matters which they are investigating. Each committee chairman shall be responsible for a brief, written report stating all which that committee has accomplished since the last meeting. This report should include the names of committee members, attendance at meetings, and essential details relative to the committee’s progress. The committee chairman shall give a brief oral report to the Council at each meeting. The written reports are to be submitted to the secretary, who will file them.
Committee decisions which must be approved by the Student Council may be done so by simple majority vote with a quorum of at least ¾ of the Council present.
(Revised August 2003)
The members of the Council will be:
a) Five elected Student Council officers known as the Executive Board of the Student Council.
b) Four Class Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurers.
c) The Student Council moderator
d) Class Representatives (a select number of students to represent their respective classes.)
e) These members will all be known as the recognized Council and will have the power to vote.
A member will be dismissed from the Council for:
a) Failing to fulfill the duties requested of him/her as Class Officer.
b) Absence from three Council meetings a semester without a legitimate excuse. Absence is defined as not being present before roll call is taken. The member must be present for the entire meeting/period unless legitimately excused.
c) Flagrant violations of the school code as defined in the school handbook.
All decisions pertaining to possible expulsion of class officers (except for those stated in section 2-c) will be judged by the members of the Council for failing his/her duties as an officer.
A 3/4 vote by the general Council may determine expulsion of an Executive Board Officer for failing his/her duties as an officer.
In regards to vacated offices:
a) An expelled Executive Board Officer will be replaced immediately by a second election among the members of the Council. Only junior and senior Executive or Class Officers are eligible in such cases. The then vacant class office will be filled according to section 5-b.
b) A vacant position in any class office will be filled immediately by a second election amongst the members of his/her class.
c) In the case that the office of president becomes vacant, the vice president will assume the duties of the vacated office, and be responsible for appointing a new vice president from the current class representatives.
All Student Council members are expected to attend all Student Council activities unless legitimately excused. (See Article III, section 2.)
(Revised 2003)
Regular meetings will be held at the time designated by the Executive Board at the beginning of the school year; emergency meetings may be called by the Executive Board.
Student Council Elections (Executive Board)
Clause 1
a) All such candidates will run separately. There will be no parties
b) The election will commence during the third week in April, or the first week immediately following Easter vacation, whichever comes first.
Clause 2
Candidates for Office
a) Each candidate must submit the following: his/her name, the office he/she is seeking, signed endorsement of twenty-five students, and the signed endorsement of five of his/her current teachers. The said endorsements must be submitted to the Student Council Moderator one week prior to the election.
b) Candidates must have at least a 2.5 GPA to be eligible to seek office.
c) The President of the Student Council must be entering the Senior year and have at least one year prior active membership as an officer in the Council.
d) Any student from any class is eligible to run for Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer, provided one year prior membership.
e) All students in the school may vote.
f) Teachers may vote for executive officers.
Class Elections
Clause 1
a) All candidates will run separately. There will be no parties.
b) Class elections will commence the week following the Student Council elections.
c) Each class officer candidate will follow all the rules listed in Article V; Section 1.
Clause 2
a) Balloting and voting will be conducted by the Student Council Officers.
b) Freshman class elections will be held during the month of September.
The duty of the President shall be to guide and direct the Student Council; to carry out the duties of the Parliamentarian (until the office is filled by an elected official), to carry out the will of the members expressed by a majority vote; to preside at all Council meetings; to enforce the Constitution of the Student Council; and to be an ex-officio member of all committees.
The duties of the Vice-President are the same as those of the President during the absence or disablement of the latter. The Vice-President shall also work closely with the Secretary in the area of public relations, communications, and publicity concerning the Council and its functions. He/She shall also undertake any duties requested or assigned by the Student Council President.
The duties of the Secretary are to keep an account of all the minutes; to take roll; to verify all excuses for inability to attend meetings by any member; to keep the files of all organizational papers on record and to compose and send any necessary letters on behalf of the Council; to keep the Student Council bulletin board posted with current, informative, and interesting printed subject matter.
The duties of the Treasurer are to manage all financial transactions of the Council; to keep an accurate account of all fiscal matter at all times; to be an ex-officio member of all committees dealing with Council funds.
The duties of the
The duties of the moderator(s) are to aid and assist in the smooth operation of the Student Council. The moderator(s) will have the power to veto only those ideas, proposals, or acts which contradict or defy school policies as defined by the School Administration.
All qualified members may have the power to amend, add, or abolish any section(s) or article(s) that they feel essential for the well-being of the school. Any amendment must be approved by a ¾ vote of the verified members. If approved, it will be added to the Student Council Constitution.