Constitution of
Western Dubuque High School
Student Council

Ratified by the 2016-2017 Student Council on April 25th, 2017

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Western Dubuque High School Student Council.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to: maintain desirable standards of student morale and school pride; develop behavioral evidence of good citizenship, scholarship, leadership, service, and human values; provide a forum for student expression and the exchange of student-faculty views; promote the general welfare of the school; and to develop increased involvement by the student body at all school events.

ARTICLE II

MISSION STATEMENT

The Student Council Mission is to provide activities and recognition for our school body and community; and to make every student feel important, and to have a positive high school experience.

GUIDING PHILOSOPHY

Every Bobcat Matters

ARTICLE III

ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Student council shall consist of the executive council (student council president, vice, secretary, treasurer, and historian). Correspondingly, each class shall select three class officers and six representatives. Persons not successful in running for representative become walk-ons.

Clause 1: Any person running for a student council office who is not elected may fill a vacancy in another office of the same degree. Candidates that have lost a student council office election may only fill student council office vacancies, this echoes in class offices.

Clause 2: Any person who registers for representative must complete fifteen hours of Student Council service before becoming a representative.

Section 2. Membership into the student council is open to any eligible student of Western Dubuque High School except seniors who will be graduating after the first or second trimester of their senior year.

Section 3. Any student wishing to run for a position on the student council must have received a passing grade in all of his or her classes the semester previous to the election. To run for student council executive offices or junior or senior class officers, the candidate must sign-up and take School Leadership Dynamics, in the event they win. They also must have participated in student council in their freshmen and/ or sophomore year. (See Bylaws, Article I for more details on eligibility for office)

Section 4. While on the council, any member who receives a failing grade will be dealt with by the advisor at that time.

Section 5. If a class officer or representative misses a meeting because of an illness, it is the responsibility of the class vice-president to review the meeting proceedings with them before the minutes are read to the student body. If a student council officer is missing because of illness, the student council vice-president will update them on missed information. In the case of a vice-presidential illness, the president will temporarily take over this responsibility.

Section 6. Student council members can be removed from office if, by a formal 2/3 vote of the entire student council, it is felt that they are not performing their specified duties. If it is decided by the council that a member should be removed, the member in question may appeal the decision to the advisor and to the administration, which has the authority to veto the council’s decision.

Section 7. Any member of the student council who misses two council meetings will receive a warning from the president. Missing a third meeting will result in removal from their elected position. Missed meetings may be excused by filling out an excuse form and returning it with the proper signatures as prompted.

Section 8. Upon the creation of a vacancy in the position of president (either student council or class), the vice-president shall assume all duties and responsibilities immediately. The filling of the remaining offices should take place by an election within the student council. Candidates must hold a student council election to fill a vacant officer position. Candidates will be nominated during a general meeting and must achieve a simple majority of the votes to win the position. Class officer vacancies will follow the same pattern, but within each individual class, rather than the entire student council.

Section 9. If found necessary to replace a representative, the elected alternate representative will fill any vacancy that occurs in a representative’s position. The vacancy will be filled by election within the class, similar to the election of class officer vacancies.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1. The officers governing over the student council shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and historian.

Section 2. Each class will elect a president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer.

Section 3. An appointed election committee shall formulate and publicize rules governing elections for the officers and representatives each year. These rules shall adhere to the standards set in the attached bylaws.

ARTICLE V

A. STUDENT COUNCIL EXECUTIVE OFFICER DUTIES

Section 1. Duties of the student council presidents shall be: preside at all council meetings; plan council agendas; appoint all committees; represent the council on all public occasions; serve as the spokesperson for the student body; assist class officers when necessary; maintain an accurate file for future years; and assume such other duties that are generally associated with the office.

Section 2. Duties of the student council vice-president shall be: act as an assistant to the president; assist in preparing meeting agendas; serve as committee coordinator; exercise the power to bring decisions of the president to a council vote if a disagreement occurs because of the specific decision; and perform the duties of the president in his or her absence.

Section 3. Duties of the student council secretary shall be: keep a neat and accurate record of all council proceedings; take minutes at all official meetings of the student council; be responsible for getting minutes typed and distributed; maintain an accurate record of all student council correspondence; and be present at all student council meetings.

Section 4. Duties of the student council treasurer shall be: work with the administration in determining budgetary procedures; maintain an accurate record of all student council and class funds; and present a current budget record at all meetings.

Section 5. Duties of the student council historian shall be: post notices of student council events around the school and in the community; report on the results of student council events to the school and community; and maintain the student council website and social media accounts with information regarding the organization and current events of the student council.

B. CLASS OFFICER DUTIES

Section 6. Duties of the class presidents shall be: preside at all class meetings; plan agendas for class meetings; represent the class on all public occasions; maintain accurate class files for the future years; act as a correspondence link between class and elected officers of the student council; assume such other duties as are generally associated with the office.

Section 7. Duties of the class vice-presidents shall be: act as an assistant to the president; be available at all times for consolation or performance of duties of the president in his or her absence; serve as a correspondence link between elected officers of the student council and class representatives.

Section 8. Duties of the class secretary-treasurer shall be: take minutes at all class meetings; keep a neat and accurate record of all class proceedings; handle class correspondence; and maintain an accurate record of class funds.

C. CLASS REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

Section 9. Duties of the class representatives shall be: attend student council meetings when specified; report to the student body on council proceedings; bring to the council the suggestions and complaints of the members of the student body; and work with class officers.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Committees formed over the year shall: have a member of the student council approved by the advisor as chairman, consist of student council members and any interested members of the student body; carry out all duties delegated to it; be prepared to give a report at student council meetings; and submit a written report of activities at the end of the year.

Section 2. Committee chairman shall be responsible for setting up and directing all committee meetings.

Section 3. The student council vice-president shall oversee the activities of the committees, and aid committee chairman in their duties.

ARTICLE VII

ADVISORS

Section 1. The principal will select a faculty advisor for student council.

Section 2. The selected advisor must have at least four years of experience in Western Dubuque High School, and have adequate time to devote to the student council and its activities. The advisor must attend all council meetings, supervise council activities, and act as an aid to the student council through his or her experience and wisdom.

Section 3. The advisor will have a term of one year, but may serve any number of consecutive terms.

Section 4. The student council advisor may be removed from his or her position if it is felt, by the majority of the student council, that he or she is not fulfilling their duties. The administration may veto this vote.

Section 5. The student council advisor may resign from his or her position if the council is given adequate time to find a replacement.

ARTICLE VIII

NEEDED VOTE

All motions or proposals before the council will be considered approved when agreed to by a simple majority vote of the council provided a quorum exists.

ARTICLE IX

POWER AND AUTHORITY

Section 1. All powers of the student council are delegated to it by the school faculty and administration. Therefore, they have the right to veto any act of the student council.

Section 2. Any power not specifically mentioned in the works of this constitution is left to the interpretation of the student council and administration.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT PROCEDURES

Any member of the student body, faculty, or administration at any regular meeting of the entire student council may amend the constitution by a two-thirds vote.

BYLAWS OF WESTERN DUBUQUE STUDENT COUNCIL

ARTICLE I

ELECTION AND NOMINATION PROCEDURES

Section 1. Student council elections will be held in the spring of the year before the graduating seniors are dismissed for all grades except for freshmen. The freshmen class will hold their election in the fall of the following year.

Section 2. There shall be three elections that take place. The first shall be juniors and seniors interested in running for student council executive positions. Following that will be class officer elections. Lastly, an election for class representatives will be held. Any person who is found to be unsuccessful in one race may choose to run for another office in a lower election.

Section 3. Student council executive positions are as follows: student council president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and historian.

Section 4. Anyone wishing to run for student council president must be a senior in the year in which they would serve. The vice-president must be a senior or a junior. The secretary or historian must be a senior or a junior. The treasurer must be a senior.

Section 5. Students wishing to run for a position on the student council or a class office will use the method of self-nomination with support petitions. The person officially becomes a candidate for student council or class office when he or she submits a petition with signatures from the following people:

21 Students

2 Teachers

1 Administrator

Section 6. Students wishing to run for a student council executive position, which includes student body officers, senior and junior class officers, and sophomore president, must also complete the above requirements and have at least one year of student council experience.

Section 7. Class officer positions will be held by position. Persons in the same class, running for the same position will compete for the most votes. The highest vote earner will win the office. Persons unsuccessful in office are eligible to run for class representative.

Section 8. Class representative elections will be held on a class-by-class basis, with the six highest vote earners in each class earning the position of representative. Persons unsuccessful in office become a walk-on, and can work to become a full member by completing 15 documented service hours.

Section 9. Rules concerning election dates, campaigning, speech giving, balloting, and other election procedures shall be under the direction of the election committee.

AMENDMENT I

Ratified by the 1998-1999 Student Council on October 12th, 1998

Amended by the 2016-2017 Student Council on April 25th, 2017

The following awards will be presented to students on behalf of Student Council:

PAT MURPHY MEMORIAL AWARD

1. Each year a student from the junior class shall be selected as the recipient of this award.

2. Criteria for selection: this individual shall possess and display the qualities of good citizenship, cooperation, and friendliness.

3. Method of selection: Nominations shall be taken during history classes on May 4th. Each student nominee shall be voted on and the student will be selected.

4. A plaque shall be purchased to remain on display in the building. Each year the name of the student selected shall be inscribed on the plaque.

5. The selected shall be announced annually at the Academic Awards Assembly.

ROB LUENSMANN, BECKY DREES, AND SHAWN SCHMITT MEMORIAL AWARDS

1. Each year a student from the senior class will be selected as the recipient of one of these awards by the senior class.

2. Criteria for selection:

Luensmann: Nominee should display the qualities of dedication, determination, and be actively involved in athletics and activities.

Drees: Nominee should exemplifies the spirit of life by supporting others and having fun in a positive manner.

Schmitt: Nominee should have a love for music and aspire towards the positives in life.

3. Method of selection: Nominations shall be taken during English classes in April. Seniors are to vote.

4. A plaque shall be purchased to remain on display in the building. Each year the name of the student selected shall be inscribed on the plaque.

5. The selected student shall be announced annually at the Academic Awards Assembly.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE GUIDE

THE RULES

1. All members have equal rights and privileges.

2. Every person’s rights are protected. The majority decides each issue.

3. Each question is fully discussed by the members.

4. Only one issue may be discussed at a time.

5. The meaning of each item must be clear to every person before the vote is taken. When there is no further discussion, the group votes.

6. The group may delegate duties and powers, but it keeps the right to make the final decision.

7. It is the responsibility of the presiding officer to apply the rules fairly. The president does not vote, except in the case of a tie.

HOW GROUPS DECIDE

1. All decisions are reached through motions – statements given to the group for consideration, discussion, and voting.

2. Any member may “make a motion”. It must be “seconded” to show that at least two members are interested in the proposal.

3. Members who wish to discuss the motion ask for “recognition from the chair”. They discuss the fact of the proposal, not the personalities and motives of the proposers. No person who has spoken may speak again until everyone who wishes to speak has had a turn unless they are addressed with a question.

4. When there are no further questions or statements, the chairperson of the group calls for a vote.

VOTING MAY BE:

1. Voice vote – easy and fast – the vote is clearly one way or the other

2. Show of hands – gives an exact count, quickly.

3. Roll call – keeps a record or how each member votes

4. Ballot – ensures secrecy

VOTING IS DECIDED BY:

1. Majority – at least one more than half the total votes cast

2. Popularity – the most votes cast

3. Two-Thirds vote – at least 2/3 of the votes cast

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