CONSTITUTION OF THE ST. MARY MAGDALENE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

STUDENT COUNCIL

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School Student Council, in order to instill American ideals and promote democratic principals of government in the youth of today, to develop loyal student citizenship, to cultivate trustworthy leadership, to promote worthy school activities, to provide a forum for discussion between the administration and student body and to aid the faculty in furthering the policies, customs, traditions, and religious values of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School, do organize ourselves under the following constitution.

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is as follows:

A.  To represent students in the exchange of ideas with the school administration.

B.  To encourage cooperation and promote a better understanding between students,

      faculty and administration.

C.  To encourage the practice of good citizenship and democratic values.

D.  To develop a high standard of leadership and scholarship among students.

E.  To improve school spirit by encouraging participation in school activities, and

      upholding school rules and traditions.

F.  To promote a desire to serve one’s school, community and country.

G.  To promote Christian values.

ARTICLE III – POWERS

A.  All powers of the Student Council are delegated to it by the school administration. 

     The principal has the right to veto any act of the Student Council or to revoke any

     of the powers held by it.

B.  The Student Council shall have the power:

      1.  To sponsor social functions for the student body.

      2.  To plan and carry out worthwhile community service projects.

      3.  To conduct elections.

      4.  To conduct special assemblies with the permission of the principal.

      5.  To set and maintain a school bulletin board.

      6.  To discuss and present opinions to the principal concerning school policies.

      7.  To provide the orderly coordination of school activities.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Student Council will be based on leadership, character, service, scholarship, and citizenship.

A.  Membership shall consist of:

      1.  Officers shall include a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and a

           Representative at Large.

      2.  Two representatives from each grade in grades 4-6.

      3.  The sponsor(s) has the option to extend the size of the council by placing    

           additional representatives or officers on the council at the time of elections.

B.  The Executive Board shall consist of:

      1.  The five officers as listed in above.

      2.  The sponsor(s) of Student Council.

ARTICLE V – ELECTION OF MEMBERS AND OFFICERS

A.  Election of Officers

      1.  Election for officers will be held in spring.

      2.  Candidates must be registered to attend St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School for  

the coming school year by the deadline that candidates must have election paperwork filed.

      3.   Candidates must currently be members of Student Council.

      4.  The President shall be a 6^th grader for the upcoming school year.

      5.   The Vice-President shall be a 5^th grader for the upcoming school year.

      6.  The other offices are open to any current Student Council member.

B.  Grade Level Representatives

      1.   Election for representatives will be held in the fall.

      2.  Candidates can be from grades 4-6.

C.  Membership in the Student Council shall be based on the following standards:

      1.  Grades:  Students must have an overall average of 80 in each class for the first

           through third grading periods prior to election time.  Once elected, a member

            receiving a failing grade on a report card will be placed on probation until

progress reports are issued.  While on probation, he or she will not be allowed to participate in council activities during the probationary period.  If at the end of the

            probationary period, the grade is still failing, the member is automatically

           dismissed from Student Council.  Any member not maintaining an overall average

           of 77 in each academic class will be placed on probation for 9 weeks.  If grades

are acceptable when the Progress Report is issued, the probationary period is ended.  If the grade is not acceptable at the end of the 9 weeks, the member will be automatically dismissed. 

      2.  Conduct:  The student must have no more than two “N”s in conduct during the

year prior to election.  Once elected, members will be put on five weeks probation             for one “N” and nine weeks probation for more than one “N”.  If the conduct

problem is not resolved at the end of the assigned probationary period, the member will automatically be dismissed from Student Council.  If a member receives a “U” in conduct, a conference will be held between the sponsor(s), student and principal to decide on probation or dismissal.

      3.   A Student Council member may be on probation only one time during the year.  If

a Student Council member needs to go on probation for a second time, a meeting

will be held between the sponsor(s), student and principal to decide on probation   or dismissal.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

A.  The Executive Board shall meet in August prior to each school year to put together a

      tentative schedule of activities for the school year.

B.  The Executive Board shall meet a week prior to each scheduled council meeting to

     discuss any business and plan the agenda for the regular meeting.

C.  The Student Council will meet once a month during September, October, November,

      December, January, February, March, April, and May.

D.  Special Sessions may be called for by the Sponsor(s), Principal, or President.

ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

A.  The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

      1.   President

a.  Preside at all Student Council meetings and Executive Board

      meetings.

b.  Appoint committees as necessary.

c.  Vote on any matters in which the Council is equally divided.

d.  Submit reports to the Texas Student Council Association in the Spring.

      2.  Vice-President

            a.  Perform the duties of the President in his/her absence.

            b.  Act as chairperson for the Service Committee and collect and tally permission

                 slips for service projects.     

            c.  Assist the President and check regularly to see that all committee chairpersons

     are performing their assigned duties.

      3.  Treasurer

             a.  Work with the sponsor(s) and bookkeeper in maintaining records and receipts

                  of the Student Council.

            b.  Make a brief financial report at each Student Council meeting.

       4.  Secretary

            a.  Take minutes of all official meetings of the Student Council.

            b.  Type the minutes and give copies to the sponsor(s) and principal.

            c.   Present minutes for approval at each Student Council meeting.

            d.  Keep an accurate record of attendance at meetings.

            e.  Carry on all correspondence of the Student Council.

       5.  Representative-At-Large

            a.  Responsible for the fellowship activities of the council including council

     birthdays, taking pictures at council functions and maintaining the scrapbook.  

b.  Must submit scrapbook to the Texas Student Council Association by the

     deadline in the Spring.

B.  The duties of representatives shall be as follows:

     1.    Attend all meetings of the Student Council.

     2.    Attend all committee meetings to which they are assigned.

     3.    Take a keen interest in all school affairs, and actively participate in all functions

sponsored by the Student Council.

     4.    Bring any suggestions given to him/her by any student back to the Student

Council.

     5.    Represent the school in a dignified, positive manner whether at the school or a

public function.

     6.    Keep accurate records for reports that are assigned and record any merit or

demerits that are issued.

ARTICLE VIII – RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

This constitution can be ratified in the following manner:

A.  A Student Council member or a member of the faculty must present the item to be

      ratified to the Student Council.  The proposal must be written and presented to the

      Executive Board.

B.  The item to be ratified must then be discussed and passed by a majority of the

      Executive Board.

C.  The item to be ratified must then be read to the entire Student Council in the meeting

      prior to the meeting it is to be voted on, allowing an opportunity for discussion and

     debate.

D.  The item to be ratified must be passed by a two-thirds vote of Student Council.

ARTICLE IX – AMENDENDMENS

Amendments to this constitution must be made in the following manner:

A.  A Student Council member or a member of the faculty must present amendments to

      the Student Council.

B.  The amendment must then be discussed and passed by a majority of the Executive

      Board.

C.  The amendment must then be read to the entire Student Council in the meeting prior

      to the meeting it is to be voted on, allowing an opportunity for discussion and debate.

D.  This amendment must be passed by two-thirds vote of the Student Council before it is

      accepted.