CONSTITUTION
of the
Preamble
To coordinate all areas of student life at St. Thomas High School through student government, we, the student body, do hereby establish this constitution.
Article I
The Student Council
Section 1
The Student Council shall organize all areas of student life. The Principal of St. Thomas High School delegates the council its power. It shall act as a mediator between the faculty, administration, and students. It holds safe the power to interpret this constitution. Student Council shall have the power to do whatever is deemed necessary to fulfill this constitution and its bylaws.
Section 2
The Student Council shall consist of at least the following members: The Student Body President, the Student Body Vice President, Secretary, Parliamentarian, Sergeant-at-Arms, Treasurer, Head of Committees, Public Relations Director, Webmaster, Student Relations Director, seven Senior Representatives, seven Junior Representatives, seven Sophomore Representatives, seven Freshmen Representatives, and one moderator.
Article II
The Executive Branch
Section 1
The Student Body President shall preside over Student Council and must be a senior with a minimum cumulative GPA of 90 in the year which he will serve as President. His chief function shall be to organize and coordinate all council activities. The President calls all meetings and presides over them, except for those which have been petitioned for by members. The President is to organize an agenda for each meeting. The president may veto any legislation passed by council. A two-thirds majority is needed to override the veto.
Section 2
The Student Body Vice President shall fulfill the duties of the President if the President is no longer able to do so. In this event, he shall choose his own successor with the approval of a majority of council. He may introduce motions and has the power of seven votes to represent the freshmen prior to their election and installation, at which time he relinquishes this power. He shall serve as chairman of all election committees including those which may arise in the event of a vacancy of council.
Section 3
The Secretary shall keep records of all council proceedings and must be able to provide copies of meeting minutes within forty-eight hours after the close of the meeting. A copy of these minutes is to be placed on file in the council archives for future reference. He shall revise the constitution with any amendments approved by the council. At the end of the year he shall submit a copy of the records to the council. The Secretary also monitors the activities of the Public Relations Director and the Webmaster. He is also responsible for creating and printing meeting agendas and any other documents that need to be distributed to council members. With the Public Relations Director, he is responsible for the creation of a monthly council events calendar to be posted to keep the school informed. He may use the school’s logos and monograms on student council documents as a means of formality, so long as he follows the directions for usage of those brands located at http://www.sths.org/brand. The Secretary is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Section 4
The Treasurer is to keep records of all funds of the council. He must be present and / or ultimately be responsible for revenue producing events. The Treasurer is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Section 5
The Sergeant-at-Arms is to keep order at all council proceedings and may, at the request of the President, remove anyone from the chambers of council. The Sergeant-at-Arms is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Section 6
The Parliamentarian is to advise the presiding officer on points of parliamentary law and must also give similar advice to the council upon request. He shall use as reference the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. The Parliamentarian is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Section 7
The Public Relations Director is responsible for heading up members of council in production of a monthly council newsletter to be distributed to the student body. He also takes pictures at student activities and relays these pictures to the Webmaster for posting on the council website. The Public Relations Director is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Section 8
The Webmaster holds the responsibility to consistently maintain, update, and improve the council website. He must also provide records (video, pictures, audio) of every council event. The Webmaster is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Section 9
The Student Relations Director shall act as a mediator in the St. Thomas community and an ambassador to our sister schools and other entities. Specifically, he shall be responsible for informing the Executive Branch of any student concerns and resolving them. Further, he shall ensure our sister schools participation in any appropriate council activities. The Student Relations Director is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Section 10
The Head of Committees shall have oversight of, and be responsible for, each committee’s effective operation. He shall have the authority in conjunction with the President to take any steps necessary to ensure the success of each committee. The Head of Committees is not a voting member of council and may not introduce motions. He is appointed by the President and is subject to approval by a majority of council.
Article III
Representatives
Section 1
A representative cannot miss two meetings in a row or three all year, unless excused by the President. In order to be excused from a meeting, a representative must submit a written notice to the President stating the reason for his absences. Unexcused absences will necessitate unseating.
Section 2
The following conditions must be present for there to be an official meeting of council:
- A majority of the council must be present.
- At least one representative from each class must be present
- The President or Vice President must be present
Section 3
The representatives-elect shall take office on the day on which Commencement Exercises are held for the current senior class. They shall hold office until their own Commencement Exercises, unless they have been unseated due to conditions stated in this constitution.
Article IV
Meetings
Section 1
The Student Council shall meet a minimum of two times each month.
Section 2
The President or the faculty moderator may call special meetings of the council when a need arises. Two days notice shall be given to the representatives when such a meeting is called.
Section 3
The members of council may call for a meeting by petition. In order for such a meeting to be called, a majority of the council members formally petition the Student Body President. The President has forty-eight hours in which to act upon the petition.
Article V
Election of Members
Section 1
The election of class representatives is done by their fellow peers. The elections are held in the spring of the preceding year, no later than two weeks after the presidential elections. Students who intend to seek an elective position must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 80, be in good standing with teachers and students, and registered for the following academic year. The election of the freshmen representatives shall be held in the fall of the following academic year.
Section 2
The President and Vice President shall be elected in the spring before class representatives are elected.
Article VI
Committees
Section 1
At any time, the President, with the consent of two-thirds of the council, may create a committee. This committee shall serve as a branch of the council, and its concerns shall be directed at a specific problem reform, or function that has an impact on the student body.
Section 2
At least one committee member shall be a Student Council member.
Section 3
The chairman may appoint whomever he wishes as his assistants, and these aides may come from outside council. Any student may serve on these committees.
Section 4
At any time a committee may be dissolved with a simple majority vote of council.
Article VII
Voting Procedure
Section 1
The voting members of the Student Council are free to determine their own internal voting system.
Article VIII
Faculty Moderator
Section 1
The faculty moderator of the Student Council can neither introduce motions nor vote. He is appointed by the Principal to provide whatever assistance is necessary to smooth workmanship of the council. He has the last consideration on all matters and members.
Article IX
Removal from Office
Section 1
A representative of the Student Council should be a man of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. Any member of the council may be removed from office if he has unexcused absences from two meetings in a row or three all year. A representative may also be dismissed from the council for excessive misconduct, including but not limited to defiance of any school authority, disrespect to any faculty member, possession of tobacco or alcohol, cheating, and / or stealing. A council member may be considered for dismissal for violations of the student handbook. The dismissal from the council must be approved by the President and the faculty moderator. A two-thirds majority of the council may override their decision.
Article X
By-Laws
Section 1
Corresponding by-laws will govern day-to-day operations of the council. These may be adapted or amended by a two-thirds majority of the council.
Section 2
The by-laws will be presented to the council for ratification upon adoption of this constitution.
Article XI
Amendments
Section 1
The Student Council has the power to amend this constitution. The amendment must be presented at least one meeting before it is to be voted on. A two-thirds vote of the council is necessary to approve the proposed amendment.