Student Council

Name and Purpose

Section 1: Name

• The name of the organization is Princeton High School Student Council.

Section 2: Purpose

1. To resolve student related issues that are brought to the attention of council.
2. To promote the general welfare through broad representation of the Princeton Students.
3. To act as coordinator for student activities and events.
4. To cooperate with staff and act as a connection between them and the student body.

Membership

Section 1: Members of the Student Council

1. There may be a maximum of thirty-six members within the council at a time, not including the Executive Board. There may also be one representative from the Special Needs Program as well as from the Alternative Secondary School.
2. The Executive Board will consist of five members: President, Vice President, Secretary, School Board Representative, and Parliamentarian.
3. The number of members from each class should be relatively proportioned.

Section 2: Qualifications

1. There is no limit to the number of years a person may serve in the council.
2. Members must abide by MSHSL and District #477’s current policies on chemical, alcohol, and tobacco use.

Duties and Powers of Members

Section 1: Overall Power of the Council

1. To inform the administration, faculty, and students of any proposals to be acted upon.
2. To write new policies for the Council.
3. To enforce these policies.

Section 2: General Power of the Members

1. To take final action on any motion introduced by members of the Council.
2. To carefully consider proposals submitted by council members/student body and grant approval or rejection of these proposals.
3. To have the power of consultation with any necessary authority to put every passed resolution into action.

Section 3: Duties

1. To accept and fulfill all committee assignments.
2. To attend ALL meetings of the Student Council, unless excused.
   
   1. Excused Absences include: illness, family emergency, school tests, etc.
   2. These NEED to be approved by the advisor or a member of the Executive Board.
3. To act in the best interest of the students and school.
4. To place the needs and wants of the student population before the needs and wants of individuals.
5. To be at ALL Student Council sponsored events, unless excused.

Powers and Duties of the Executive Board

Section 1: President

A sophomore or junior at the time of election, who was on the previous council. Keeps the balance between leading the organization and encouraging other officers, members, and interested students to take on leadership responsibilities. He or she must be dedicated to the Council’s success. The president must:

1. Attend All meetings of the Student Council.
2. Prepare and distribute agendas.
3. Vote in case of a tie.
4. Appoint Chairpersons and committee members throughout the year. (This can also be a task taken on by the Executive Board as a whole).
5. Direct the work of the Council.
6. Serves as the official representative of the Council to other organizations.
7. Carries the main responsibility for smooth meetings.

Section 2: Vice President

A sophomore or junior at the time of election who was on the previous council. The job of the V.P. is to help develop a creative and productive council and keep the President in check. The Vice President must:

1. Attend ALL meetings of the Council and run the meetings in the President’s absence.
2. Inform President when unvoiced concerns arise.
3. Work closely with and carry out all duties delegated to them by the President.
4. Coordinates the work of committees and serves as a chairperson of a committee.
5. Works with the President/Secretary in calendar preparation.

Section 3: Secretary

A sophomore or junior at the time of the election who was on the previous council. The secretary must be organized and on top of things as well as:

1. Take notes of the proceedings of all meetings and all business conducted.
2. Keep the Student Council calendar updated.
3. Be responsible for all correspondence.
4. Reports, Files and Answers all correspondence.
5. Maintain a file of original agendas.
6. Maintain a directory of names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of council members.
7. Keep accurate attendance of the members at meetings
8. Keep copies of activity calendars and special events.
9. Keep an accurate balance of the budget.
10. Conduct all class surveys needed throughout the school year.
11. Be a chairperson of a Committee

Section 4: School Board Representative

A freshman, sophomore, or junior at the time of the election who was on the previous council. The School Board Rep. must:

1. Attend ALL school board meetings or find a replacement if they are unable to go.
2. Report to the council relevant school board issues.
3. Be responsible for publishing any unusual meeting dates in the school announcements.
4. Report to the Newspaper, Radio Station, etc. about school events and going-ons.

Section 5: Parliamentarian

A freshman, sophomore, or junior at the time of the election who was on the previous council. The Parliamentarian must:

1. Ensure all procedures are done in way of the Princeton High School Student Council Constitution.
2. Ensure all members are fulfilling all duties placed by the Constitution.
3. Submit member reviews for all Executive Board members each trimester.
4. Keep the Council notified of any suggestions brought forth by the Student Body.
5. Maintain and be responsible for the Suggestion Box.
6. Accept misc. duties assigned to them by the Executive Board.

Section 6: Executive Board

The Executive Board will consist of five members: President, Vice President, Secretary, School Board Representative, and Parliamentarian. They must:

1. Meet every other week, dates and times set by Board with the advisor.
2. Perform interviews with each member in the council.
3. Have the power to review membership and dismiss members in a 3/5 vote.
4. Carry out all duties delegated to the Executive Board by the council.

Elections

Section 1: Time and Frequency

1. All representatives will be interviewed and chosen during the first week of May. They will hold office for one year, the year to coincide with the school year.
2. The election of Executive Board officers will be in March of the previous year to their term.

Section 2: Applying

1. Any interested candidate will be given an application packet. Packets will be given 3 weeks before the interviews.
2. A schedule of deadlines must be included in the packet.
3. Any student wanting to be in the next year’s Council must go through an interview with the next year’s Executive Board and previous year’s presidents.

Section 3: Members

1. All students who completed their application packet will go through an interview process regardless of the number of candidates per class.
2. If there are only six applicants in a single class, membership will be offered to all candidates who completed their application and attended their interview.

Section 4: Class President

Class President is any senior that wants the spot that was on the previous council. If more than one run for the position, elections will be held like Executive Board elections. If no one runs for the position, it is automatically given to the Student Council President. Class President’s jobs include:

1. Leading their class in the Pledge of Allegiance at graduation.
2. Be a leader of class representatives.
3. Help coordinate the ordering of class t-shirts or appoint someone to do so.
4. Help lead any class meetings held throughout the school year.
5. Other duties as they arise…

Section 5: Executive Board

1. The Executive Board will be elected from the previous council in March.
2. These elections are before the choosing of next year’s members.
3. The elected Executive Board has a reserved spot in the next year’s council.
4. The incoming President, Vice President, and Secretary will go to the State Student Council Conference held in April of the current year. (Other Executive Board Members may also attend if they choose and there is enough funding)
5. The Process for Executive Board Elections goes as follows:
   
   1. The President will read the duties of each office.
   2. Open-Nominations—a second is required for all office positions.
   3. Each member can run for any two offices.
   4. Students have the right to withdraw their name from the nomination.
   5. Each office is elected by secret ballot which is then counted by the advisor.
   6. Rank order for election goes as: President and Vice President, Secretary, School Board Rep. and Parliamentarian.

Meetings

Section 1: Time

1. General Meetings will be held at the same time each week when most convenient to the council.
2. Special meetings may be called by the President when necessary.
3. Committee Meetings may be called by the Chairperson of that committee.

Section 2: Meetings

1. Order of meetings will be as follows:
   
   1. Call to Order
   2. Go over agenda
   3. Presidents’ report
   4. Secretary report
   5. School Board report
   6. Advisors report
   7. Standing committee reports
   8. Special committee reports
   9. Old business
   10. New business
   11. Announcements and Adjourn
2. The number of votes to pass a motion will be a simple majority

Membership Requirements

Section 1: Meeting Attendance

Attendance Policy: If you have two unexcused absences from Student Council meetings or activities in one trimester, you will immediately be asked to give up your membership on the Council. Two unexcused tardies count towards one unexcused absence. Someone that is late to a meeting is considered tardy if they are 10 or more minutes late.

Section 2: Responsibility of Committee Chairpersons

1. Chairpersons will report the progress of the committee to the Council during the appropriate time of the meeting.
2. Chairpersons will rate their member’s performance on a point system of 0-3.
   
   1. 0 Points- Little or no attendance and/ or contribution.
   2. 1 Point- Attendance but no contribution.
   3. 2 Points- Attendance and contribution but lacked some duties.
   4. 3 Points- Excellent participation and fulfilled all duties.
3. Committee point system worksheet is to be handed in to the Advisor.
   
   1. Special Committees- Worksheet is to be handed in after the event has passed.
   2. Standing Committees- One Worksheet will be turned in every trimester.
4. Chairperson should plan meeting dates if necessary and make sure all committee members are aware of the meeting. A short list of what was accomplished should be given to the advisor

Section 3: Member Reviews

1. Members must earn at least a 2 on committee reports or they must attend a review with the Executive Board.

Section 4: Early Meeting Departure

1. A member is required to remain in all meetings until adjournment. Failing to do so will result in an unexcused tardy unless a note was brought to the attention of the Presidents and Advisor and was approved.

Removal from Student Council Membership and/or Executive Board

Records will be kept to evaluate each member’s participation and determine when a member should be removed from the Council. Records are kept by the Vice-President.

1. Unkempt Duties by members that can result in removal include, but are not limited to: attendance, committee participation, overall participation etc.

Procedure of removal

1. Evaluations will be reviewed by the Executive Board and Advisor at the end of each trimester/ event.
2. If a member is found not fulfilling his/her duties, he/she may be dismissed from the Council with a 3/5 Executive Board vote.
3. The Executive Board will meet with the member for dismissal.
4. Members removed from the Council will not be eligible to be on the Council the following year.

Unkempt duties of Officers: Procedure of Removal

1. The officer will be consulted by the other Executive Board members.
2. At that meeting a trial time will be set and if no change occurs over that time, the Executive Board will meet without the officer in question present. If the officer receives a ¾ vote they will be removed from office.
3. If a 2/4 vote is obtained, at the next general meeting the entire council will vote (with the officer not present) by a ¾ majority to remove the officer and inform him/her of the decision. The officer will remain a member of the general council.
4. If the removed officer is the President, the Vice-President will move up and a new Vice-President will be elected.

Filling Vacant spots on the Council

General Council positions that become vacant will not be filled unless a class loses more than half of their original representation.

1. Students removed from the Student Council will not be allowed to reapply for vacancy or the following year.
2. The Vacancy will be offered to previous people who applied but were not accepted into the Council.
3. If there are no other people that applied. Or they decline; applications will be made available to all students in the class of vacancy.
4. Members of the grade where the vacancy has occurred will vote on the new member.

Membership Dismissal by Insubordination or Rebellion

Section 1: Definition of Insubordination and Rebellion

1. Insubordination: Purposeful acts of defiance and/or resistance toward any authoritative figure associated with the Princeton High School Student Council, Including but not limited to: Chairpersons, Executive Board Members, Advisors, Staff, Administration, or School Board Members.
2. Rebellion: Any rebellious, disobedient, and/or mutinous act toward any Princeton High School or Student Council constituents, including: Student Council events/activities, an attempt to take over an Executive Board position, an attempt to take over the entire Executive Board, and/or disregarding the Student Council Constitution and its rules.

Section 2: Procedure for Member dismissal

1. The Executive Board will review the member’s involvement in all Student Council activities.
2. The Executive Board should try to interrogate any witnesses or accomplices to the act(s).
3. The Executive Board will meet with the accused member for a thorough interrogation.
4. The Executive Board will discuss the evidence and perform a formal trial.
5. The Executive Board will meet with the member to announce their ruling.

Section 3: Procedure for Officer Dismissal

1. The Executive Board will review the officer’s involvement in all Student Council activities, without the accused officer.
2. The Executive Board should try to interrogate any witnesses or accomplices to the act.
3. The Executive Board should meet with the accused officer for a thorough interrogation.
4. The Executive Board should discuss the evidence and perform a formal trial.
5. The Executive Board vote is passed in a ¾ vote, if a tie occurs, the entire council votes.
6. The Executive Board will meet with the officer to announce the Council’s ruling.

Section 4: Probation

1. If the Executive Board dismissal vote is 3/5 or under, the member/officer will automatically be placed under probation for at least 4 weeks.
2. If the member violates their probation by any act deemed unconstitutional by the Executive Board, the member will be removed from the Council.
3. Any member removed from the council will be ineligible to apply for next year’s council.

Section 5: Right to an Appeal

1. Any member or officer dismissed due to insubordination or probation has the right to appeal the guilty ruling.
2. To utilize the appeal process the member must write an appeal to the Council that includes:
   
   1. Concrete and specific reasons that the Executive Board’s ruling is not supported by the evidence.
   2. Factual and specific reasons that support that the Executive Board’s ruling was inappropriate and/or unconstitutional.
   3. Any other information that was not considered by the Executive Board in the ruling.
   4. Any other important information that should be taken into consideration.

Section 6: The Appeal Process

1. The appeal letter should be read and discussed by the advisor and Executive Board.
2. A thorough investigation of the claims made in the letter should be made by the Executive Board.
3. The Executive Board must approve of the appeal in a majority vote.
4. The appeal letter should be read to the Council and discussed accordingly.
5. The appeal must be approved by the Council in a ¾ vote.
6. If all these steps are met the member will be reinstated into the Council.

committees

Section 1: Standing Committees

1. Standing Committees will be chosen by the Executive Board and approved by the Council at the first official meeting of the school year.
2. Standing Committees must meet once a month. Additional meetings may be called by the committee chairperson.
3. Attendance must be taken at each committees meeting outside the general meeting and attendance must be reported to the Secretary
4. Committee updates will be given by the chairs of each committee at Student Council meetings.
5. Every Student Council member will serve on a standing committee except the President.
6. The standing Committees include:
   1. Lunch and School Improvement: This committee meets with the head cook and food service occasionally to make suggestions and helps make the school better by coming up with ideas to promote school spirit and help school days run smoother.
   2. Staff Relations: This committee works on activities related to the staff, such as staff workroom organizations, staff birthday recognition, staff appreciation, American Education week etc.
   3. Directed Study: This committee helps organize school wide activities through directed studies. These contests and activities enhance school spirit and involvement.
   4. Let’s Bond: This committee is in charge of planning events for the members of Student Council to bond and grow as a team. They must accomplish at least 3 bonding activities over the year.
   5. Advertising: This committee is in charge of all posters and advertisements hung around the school/ town. This is a Standing Committee and a Special Committee.
7. Historian: This is a committee of one-two people that are in charge of taking pictures at Student Council events and presenting them in a scrapbook for future reference. These people may also serve on another Standing Committee.

Section 2: Special Committees

1. Special Committees will be formed as needed.
2. Special Committees will meet as needed.
3. Attendance will be taken by the Chairperson of the committee and will be reported to the Secretary
4. Minutes will be recorded and given to the President and Advisor.
5. Special Committees may include: The beginning of School activities, Homecoming, Snow Days, dance committees, charity and fundraising committees.
6. After the completion of the event, the committee chair will fill out a committee report. These will be turned into the Advisor no later than one week after the event has passed.

Amendments, Ratification, and By-Laws

Section 1: Amendments

• Amendments must be passed by a ¾ Executive Board Majority prior to a council vote. Amendments are then passed by a 2/3 council majority.

Section 2: Ratification

• To ratify the constitution, the Executive Board must approve, by a ¾ majority, the ratification prior to a Council vote. The Constitution will then be ratified by a 2/3 council majority.

Section 3: Bylaws

• By-Laws are added by a simple council majority.

Additions

Membership Responsibilities

• The officers of the organization are not the only ones who have responsibilities. Each member is a vital part of the organization and has an obligation to take an active and informed part in the proceedings of the organization’s meetings.

A Good Member

• Shows respect for other members by being on time and bringing necessary equipment to the meetings.
• Accepts the responsibility of sharing in the business at hand when a meeting conveys and understands that participation is essential.
• Tries to get other members to express their ideas for the benefit of all, even if it means less time for presenting personal ideas.
• Gives constant, active attention to the group’s activity during the meetings.
• Earns the right to give constructive criticism freely by accepting it honestly.

A Poor Member

• Breaks the spirit of a meeting by always arriving late and unprepared.
• Lets everyone else do the work and is content to let others do it.
• Fails to understand the active role that a good member must play.
• Does not listen to others or is impatient and belittling.
• Ignores others by sitting apart from the group or forming whisper groups with neighbors.
• Has a fuzzy idea of purposes but thinks that just being there is sufficient.
• Undermines the group and its objectives with petty criticism.
• Accepts responsibilities, committee posts, etc…, but forgets to complete the assignment.