Student Council Constitution

O.D.Shackelford
Student Council Constitution
Revised September 2009

Article I
Name: O.D.Shackelford Chapter of the Junior High Student Council is the official name of this local chapter.

Article II
General Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is to positively lead and represent the student body as well as enhance the school experience. Our goals and events will serve the community and school, promote leadership and enhance school pride.

Article III
Organizational Powers: The activities of the O.D. Shackelford Chapter of the Junior High Student Council shall be subject to district and school policies as well as the approval of the principal. The principal has the right to veto any activity or decision of this chapter. The administration shall appoint an interested sponsor(s) who is responsible for all Student Council activities.

Article IV
Membership: The O.D. Shackelford Junior High Student Council is limited to six 8th grade officers (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, historian and organizational chairperson), three representatives and nine 7th grade representatives.

As leaders of the school, members are required to maintain high academic and citizenship standards. Elected officers and representatives will remain active during the school year by maintaining the academic and citizenship grade requirements needed to be eligible to become a candidate. The Student Council sponsor will check grades at the end of each six weeks period.

If a member’s academic or citizenship grades fall below requirements, then he or she will be suspended from Student Council for six weeks. Suspension means that the student may not participate in any Student Council activities. At the end of this period, if grades improve, then the suspension will be lifted. If academic or citizenship grades fall below requirements a second six weeks, then the student will be removed from Student Council for the rest of the year. The only exception to this concerns the violation of a school rule or civil law during the year. If the student receives a disciplinary consequence of OCS or higher for an infraction on or off campus, during a school-sponsored activity or on any AISD campus, the student will be removed immediately from Student Council. If a student is determined to be in violation or at odds with the general purpose of the Student Council, a conference will be held with the student to determine what further steps need to be taken. If removal from Student Council is warranted, a letter will be sent to the student and the student’s parent/guardian stating reasons and listing steps that were taking prior to removal.

Additionally, if a student chooses to resign from Student Council, he or she may do so by providing written notice to the sponsor(s) with good reason(s) stated.

Article V
Establishment of Elections
Section 1: Eighth Grade Elections – 8th grade officer and representative elections will be held during April or May. The student body will elect six officers and three representative positions. A candidate may not have a grade lower than an 80 in any class or a citizenship grade lower than an A- for the preceding six weeks. In addition, if a student has received an OCS or higher disciplinary consequence during the election year, then the student will not be eligible to run for office.

Election winners will be determined by a majority vote from the student body. A run-off election will be held if a majority of votes is not received. If an elected officer/representative cannot serve in the new school year, the sponsor will fill any open positions with the other officer and/or representative runner-up candidates. Elected winners and appointed runner-up candidates will serve one year.


Section 2: Seventh Grade Elections – 7th grade elections will be held in the fall of the 7th grade year. Each student must submit a letter of intent, signed by the parent or guardian along with a copy of the first progress report or first six weeks report card, whichever is most recent. Students must not have had an academic average of lower than a 70 and must have had a minimum of an A- in conduct in any class for the previous grading period. Candidates may then bring posters for approval to sponsors and hang them in the seventh grade hallways and the science hallway downstairs. Posters may be no larger than 24” by 28”. There will be nine elected representatives, determined by a majority vote of the student body, and they will serve for one school year. If the elected representatives are unable to fulfill their positions for the year, then the sponsor(s) will appoint the runner-up to take that person(s) place.
Students will run for a specific representative position in order to represent a portion of the student body (i.e. band, choir, orchestra, art/speech, AVID, academic, athletics, general and community) and that representative will act as a liaison for that particular group to Student Council.

Section 3: Election Process
Candidates must attend an orientation meeting on an announced date prior to the election. A copy of the filing procedures will be given to each candidate. Attendance is required unless the sponsor prior to the meeting date grants special permission. A Letter of Intent, signed by the candidate and parent or guardian must be submitted to the sponsor before a specified date prior to poster display date. No Letters of Intent will be accepted after the announced date.
Candidates may create five posters no larger than 24” by 28”. Candidates must have prior sponsor approval before displaying posters. No handouts, no food or objects may be passed out to promote the campaign. On the day of the election, candidates are responsible for taking down posters after school.
Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates must present a speech to the student body stating their qualifications of the office for which they are running. A copy of this speech must be submitted to the sponsor for approval by the deadline date and presented exactly as submitted. Otherwise, the candidate will be disqualified from the election.
To run for president and vice president, a student must have served on Student Council the previous school year as a representative and attended meetings regularly with no more than three unexcused absences.

Article VI
Meetings: The officers and sponsor will set the meetings for the year. The President may call special meetings with the approval of the sponsor. The sponsor and/or administrator must be present to open any Student Council meeting. The President will collaborate with the sponsor to determine the meeting agenda. A council member shall be removed from the Council for the remainder of the year after three unexcused absences from meetings. The sponsor will determine what constitutes an unexcused absence.

Article VII
Duties of the Officers:
The President is the official representative of the student body. This person will collaborate with the sponsor to determine meeting agendas and vote on any matter in which the Council is equally divided. The President is responsible for leading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance each morning as well as any school assemblies and outside responsibilities (PTA meetings, dances, peer-group parties, open house, etc.) set by the administration and/or sponsor(s).
The Vice-President will assist the President in achieving the goals of Student Council. This person is responsible for leading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance each morning with the President as well as any school assemblies and outside responsibilities (PTA meetings, dances, peer-group parties, open house, etc.) set by the administration and/or sponsor(s).
The Secretary will record the minutes, take attendance at all meetings, and maintain a file of all agendas, minutes, and other written items.
The Treasurer will assist the sponsor and school secretary in collecting and recording monies collected by the Council.
The Historian will keep a written and pictorial record of all Student Council activities during the year, and is responsible for maintaining the scrapbook.
The Organizational Chairman will coordinate all events, assist the sponsor in making announcements, organize all publicity information, approve any written notices or posters prior to display and coordinate removal of posters.

Duties of Representatives: The 8th grade representatives will assist the sponsor in collecting information, support the 8th grade officers and coordinate the 7th grade representatives, when needed. The 7th grade representatives will support the sponsor as well as the 8th grade officers and representatives.

Article VIII
Ratification of Constitution: The sponsor and principal must approve any proposed changes to the constitution. Then, the proposed changes must be submitted in writing to the members at a regular Student Council meeting. The Council will vote to accept the Constitution at least one meeting later. The revised Constitution must pass by a two-thirds majority vote.