February 2003

Constitution Directory

I) Mission Statement & Honor Code
II) Membership Requirements
III) Executive Board
IV) Class Officers and Representatives
V) Elections
VI) Sponsors
VII) Amendments and Legislation

Mission Statement

We, the members of the University High School Student Leadership, are committed to addressing the interests and concerns of the Student Body to the best of our ability through excellence and integrity, while nurturing and developing our leadership skills.

Honor Code

Only through mutual trust and understanding can we, the members of the University High School Student Leadership, achieve our full potential and function as a group.

By accepting our office we hereby agree to serve our term with honesty and dignity, and to follow the school regulations set by the academic community. We will speak the truth and trust that others are doing the same. As leaders and role models we will act with decency and respect the ideas and values of others. Our first concern is representation of the student body, but our ultimate concern is the student.

Membership Requirements

Any member of the University High School Student Body may run for and be elected to any Student Leadership office, with two exceptions:

a) The office of Student Body President can only be attained through serving one year as President Elect (unless the current President Elect declines his automatic appointment to the office of President at the end of his term. In this case the office is open to election).
b) Expelled Members (see Grounds for Expulsion, below).

Grounds For Expulsion

1) Poor attendance:
a) Definition: The attendance policy, which shall be determined by the executive board at the beginning of each year, is violated.
b) Procedure: When a member is close to being dropped for attendance problems, an attendance warning must be mailed (sent directly to the offending member's home) by the communications director, before dismissal can be considered. Should the tardy/absent member continue to violate the attendance policy two weeks from the mailing of the letter the member may be dismissed by the Student Body President.

2) Behavior that interferes with normal business:
a) Definition: A Student Leadership member becomes counterproductive to the Student Leadership Mission, or consistently behaves in a hurtful or malicious manner towards others.
b) Procedure: A written warning, mailed directly to the offending member's home, by the communications director, must be sent to alert the offending member that their behavior is unacceptable. After the letter has been received, the problem has not been completely corrected; the problematic member will be immediately dismissed and will not receive credit for the current trimester.

3) Honor Code Violations
a) Definition: The Honor Code is compromised, or school regulations are violated. (Suspension is a violation of school regulations.)
b) Procedure: Should a violation of the Honor Code or school regulations be discovered, two options are available. The member may resign immediately from student council, or argue his or her case in a private meeting with the executive board and sponsors. At the conclusion of this meeting all who are present (including Sponsors, the President, and Board Members) will be able to cast one vote of "stay" or "dismiss." Three votes or more in favor of "dismiss" will count as impeachment. After dismissal the individual does not receive credit for the current trimester or following trimester.

Re-Entry To Student Leadership?
Should a member be expelled, their dismissal is final and they no longer are allowed to hold a position for the duration of the year. Should the member decide to run for office the following year they must complete the assignment below:
(1) List eight specific examples of projects or areas of improvement on which you would like to focus during your term in Student Leadership. For each, state how you plan to feasibly go about achieving these towards realistic and positive goals, while remaining open to the views and opinions of others.
(2) Sign and date both documents. Have the President and President Elect do the same. Return these materials to the Student Leadership sponsor for filing no later than one week before elections are held.

Executive Board Duties

The Executive Board is responsible for the success of the Student Leadership as a whole. They are responsible for: setting meeting times, creating agendas, enforcing the Honor Code, deciding on a system for procedure, and amending the constitution if necessary. One person may hold each Student Body Office. All executive board members must demonstrate integrity, honor, and adhere to school regulations and procedures (found in the student handbook) at all times. Each executive board member is responsible to chair committees, which also entails organizing checklists for their committee. Each member must have accessible means of communication via e-mail, phone, cellphone, etc.

Agendas for meeting must be established ahead of time and posted. Agenda items should be turned in to the secretary 1 week ahead of time for posting. Agendas for the meetings will be posted no later then 1 day before the meeting, in the student council display case. The secretary is responsible for typing and posting the agendas, not creating them.

Executive Board Offices

Student Body President: The Student Body President is the highest-ranking member of the Student Leadership, and should be the ultimate role model at all times. The Student Body President reserves the right to amend the duties and roles of the Executive Board at any time with only the consent of the member with whom the decision would directly affect. It is the duty of the Student Body President to create an agenda (with the help of the Executive Board and Sponsors if needed) for each meeting, to run all General and Executive Board meetings, to represent student needs, and to put the duties of President in high priority. The president is also responsible for overseeing the Executive Board, assigning Executive Board duties, overseeing the calendar of events, overseeing all committees, and evaluating the Executive Board. They are also to oversee resource allocation at all times.

Student Body Vice-President: The primary objectives of the Student Body Vice-President are to support the Student Body President at all times, and develop a strong understanding of current Student Leadership engagements. To accomplish this, they must work hand in hand with the president. In the absence of the Student Body President, the Student Body Vice-President accepts the full duties and responsibilities of the Student Body President. The Vice-President is responsible for member evaluations, and will act as the Faculty/Administration liaison.

Student Body President Elect: The Student Body President Elect must note the successes and failures of their current Student Body President and Student Leadership as a whole in preparation for their term as Student Body President. It is the duty of the President Elect to plan for the future of Student Leadership, in part by listening to ideas for the future, and practice organizational and work skills. The President Elect is responsible for Dave Noblitt Day and all related events. They are also responsible for setting two-year goal for the mission of student council (which is to be done working closely with the president.)

Student Body Secretary: The Secretary must take minutes and keep attendance records at all Student Leadership and Executive Board meetings. These records and minutes are to be kept for future reference. They are also responsible for keeping a calendar of schedules absences, and notifying the appropriate people. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Student Leadership Secretary will also act as Treasurer and record financial transactions.

Student Body Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for the approving and recording of all financial transactions. They must maintain an appropriate accounting system at all times. The President and Sponsors must agree upon the approval system for these transactions ahead of time. They are also responsible for setting specific budgets, and keeping track of the budgets. In the absence of the Student Body Secretary, the treasurer will take over their duties.

Communications Director: The Communications Director is responsible for submitting Student Leadership articles to appropriate publications (student council articles in the Bulldog News and other newsletters), maintaining a system to collect and present student concerns, and advertising for Student Leadership events. They are also to maintain communication between the faculty, administration, and students in a timely fashion.

Historian: The Historian is to keep photographic and written records of the impact, success, and failures of Student Leadership events. Unlike the Secretary, who records actual decisions and minutes, the Historian is to analyze current and past events and keep photographic records to help the Executive Board make sound decisions. The records must be an on going reviewable document kept throughout the year, preferably in digital format.

Class Officers/Representatives Duties

The Class Officers and Representatives are to follow the agendas created by the Student Leadership Executive Board in addition to their normal duties. Senior Class officers are in charge of graduation, senior banquet and class reunions. Junior Class officers are in charge of Prom and Prom Spirit Week. Sophomore Class officers are in charge of the Morp and the Afterprom Party. All Class Officers are in charge of monitoring and maintaining their class treasury, running class meetings, and communicating their class' needs to the Student Leadership. One person may occupy each class office with the exception of representatives.

Class/Representatives Offices

Class President: The Class President is responsible for the success of their class as a whole. The President is the highest-ranking class officer. The President must run all class meetings, create an agenda, and make goals, which reflect the best interest of his or her class. The President should put the well being of his or her class in high priority.

Class Vice-President: The primary objective of the Vice-President is to support the President at all times and develop a strong understanding of current class activities and engagements. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President accepts the full duties and responsibilities of the President.

Class Secretary: The Secretary must take minutes and keep attendance records of all class and class officer meetings. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Secretary will also take on the responsibilities of the Class Treasurer.

Class Treasurer: The Class Treasurer is responsible for the approving and recording of all financial transactions. The current class board and the Class Sponsors must agree upon the approval system for these transactions before meetings begin. In the absence of the Student Body Secretary, the treasurer will take over his or her duties.

Representatives: Student Leadership Representatives are responsible for the composition of policy, and for representing the concerns and opinions of the Student. Each class can have up to 4 Representatives. Class representative are also responsible for assisting in the success of the day-to-day operations of student council.

Executive Board Elections

Running For Office:
To run for an Executive Board office the following must be completed-
a) A Petition Signed by 25 members of the candidate's graduating class and 25 students currently enrolled in UHS from other graduating classes, and turned in to the Student Leadership Sponsors no later then 3 days before elections are to take place.
b) A speech must be given addressing the entire UHS Student Body.
*Elections must take place at least one week before all other elections. Defeated Executive Board candidates may run in the Class or Senator Elections.

Class Board Elections

Running For Office:
To run for a Class Office the following must be completed-
a) A Petition Signed by 25 members of the candidate's graduating class, and turned in to the Student Leadership Sponsor no later then 2 days before elections are to take place.
b) A speech must be given addressing the entire UHS Student Body.
*Elections must take place at least one week before Representative Elections. Defeated Class Officer candidates may run for the position of Representative.

Representatives Elections

Running For Office:
To run for Representative Office the following must be completed-
a) A Petition Signed by 25 members of the UHS Student Body, and turned in to the Student Leadership Sponsor no later then 2 days before elections are to take place.
b) A speech must be given addressing the entire UHS Student Body.
*Elections must take place at least one week after all other Student Leadership elections are held.

Election Procedure

a) The outgoing (retiring) Executive Board members are in charge of running elections.
b) Only pre-approved candidates who have secured a place on the ballot may run. No last minute "volunteers" or "pencil ins" are allowed.
c) Ballots are to be made in advance, distributed during the election meeting, and collected by the retiring Executive Board members. These members are to deliver the ballots to the Student Leadership sponsors immediately to be tallied.
d) Election results must be posted the day of the election.
e) In the event of a tie, an election redo will be in order (involving only the tied candidates).
f) The candidate with the most votes wins. All voting members are allowed one vote for each office.
g) Unopposed candidates must receive a 51%+ vote in their favor to attain office.
h) On all ballets, there will be an obstain box for each office.

Student Leadership Sponsors

Any respected faculty or community member who is committed to (and highly interested in) both students and Student Government organizations may be an official Student Leadership Sponsor. The Sponsors must serve as advisors to the Student Leadership, acting as the primary link between the Student Leadership and the faculty. The Sponsors must be present at all regularly scheduled general and Executive Board meetings to ensure that they are well informed.

Cooperation between the Student Leadership Sponsors and the Executive Board is critical. The sponsors should do their best to act as advisors, and the Executive Board Members will take responsibility for their decisions and actions.

Class Sponsors

At the beginning of each year, each faculty member is assigned to be the sponsor of a class. These class sponsors must serve as advisors to the Class Executive Board and representatives, assisting them as needed. The Class Sponsors must be present at all class meetings, and any Board or Representative meeting as deemed necessary.

Cooperation between the Class Sponsors and the Class Board is critical. The sponsors should do their best to act as advisors and offer support, but the Class Executive Board Members must take responsibility for their decisions and actions.

Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated at any time by the Student Body President, Student Leadership Sponsors, or Petition.

A petition must be signed by at least one of the following and presented to use the petition method:
a) 3 Executive Board Members
b) 15 Student Leadership Members

After an amendment has been proposed, all Student Leadership Members must have an equal and complete opportunity to present their respective ideas. The entire Student Leadership will then vote on the amendment through silent ballot. A 3/4 (or higher) vote is required to pass an amendment, presuming that 80% (or higher) of the Student Leadership be present for voting. If less then 80% of the Student Leadership is present, the vote must be delayed.

Legislation

Legislation may be initiated at any time by the Executive Board, Sponsors, or by a member of Student Leadership. After someone proposes legislation, it will be put on the agenda for discussion at the soonest possible time.
*All Student Leadership Members must have an equal and complete opportunity to present their respective ideas during this discussion.

After discussion is completed, the legislation will be voted on by all present at the meeting. A 2/3 (or greater) vote is needed to pass the legislation, requiring that at least half of the Student Leadership be present. The Student Body President will decide which type of vote is most appropriate.

Should no scheduled meeting exist to discuss the legislation at hand (and an emergency meeting cannot be called), the Executive Board reserves the right to vote on the legislation themselves. At least four members of the board must be present, with 80% or higher vote required to pass the legislation.