Second Creek Elementary School

							            Second Creek Elementary School’s
                       Student Council Constitution
                                             2012-2013




Article One (Name)
   O The name of this organization shall be the Second Creek Elementary School Student Council,
       hereinafter called the Council.

Article Two (Purpose)
   O The purpose of the Council shall be to:
       1. Strive for good citizenship.
       2. Respect all individuals in the school and community.
       3. Involve all students in sharing ideas to make our school the best it can be.
       4. Promote school spirit.
       5. Give all students practice in democracy in action.
       6. Provide service to groups in our school and community.

Article Three (Membership)
   O Section 1: All students in grades two through five shall have the opportunity to run for election,
       as one of their class’s student council representatives for one term.
   O Section 2: Representatives shall have the opportunity to vote, to offer ideas to the Council, and
       to run for a cabinet position.
   O Section 3: One term shall be about one school year, from the completion of the elections to the
       last day of school.
   O Section 4: A membership agreement must be completed and signed by parents/guardians.
   O Section 5: The Second Creek Student Council shall have an elected leadership team called
       the cabinet. The cabinet team shall include a President, Vice-President, Secretary and
       Treasurer. These people must be elected by the students in the 3rd – 5th grades by ballot.
   O Section 6: The principal of Second Creek Elementary School shall be the final authority over all
       actions of the Student Council.

Article Four (Eligibility for Member in Good Standing)
   O Section 1: (Qualifications) A student who wishes to be a candidate for the Student Council
       shall:
       1. Be a good citizen in the classrooms, on the playground, in the lunchroom, and when
       representing the council in the community at school or away.
       2. Be a hard-working and diligent student.
       3. Relate well to other students and adults.
       4. Be interested in being a Student Council member in good standing.
O Section 2: (Nominations & Election of Representatives) Each homeroom in Grades 2 through 5
  shall:
         Select two students to become representatives for their room.
         Student council representatives will nominate two candidates per category, for election
          as President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
         Election of classroom representatives shall be selected by the end of September.
         Election of cabinet members shall take place in a 2nd – 5th grade assembly, by secret
          ballot no later than the second week of October of each school year. The student
          receiving the majority of votes shall be declared the winner for each category.

O Section 3: (Elections) Candidates for a cabinet position must prepare a speech to give to the
  students at the assembly. The speech should be no more than five minutes, and state the
  reasons why the student feels they are the best candidate for the position.
     o Nominees for the cabinet offices will be permitted to make 10 flyers (81/2 x 11) to
        advertise their candidacy.
     o The flyers should be student made using markers, crayons, photos, or computer
        lettering, etc.
     o Once approved by the sponsors, these flyers may be affixed to the walls in the main
        building, auditorium entrance, cafeteria, or on the portable doors with tape.
     o All flyers shall be approved by the Student Council Sponsors before posting.
     o Approved posters will have the initials of the approving staff member in the bottom right
        corner.
     o Students ARE NOT permitted to make any false promises or make bribes on their
        campaign posters or speeches (candy, pencils, buttons, balloons, money, changing
        school rules, e.g., extending recess periods) in order to get votes.
     o Students are not permitted to use the telephone after school hours to seek votes.
     o Students may not campaign door to door to secure votes.
     o NOTHING may be exchanged for a VOTE.
     o Students making false promises or violating these rules will be disqualified from
        election.

O Section 4: (Representative Member’s Requirements, Powers, and Duties) Each Student
  Council member shall be responsible for performing the duties of membership including: attend
  meetings, be an active voice for students in the school, complete service responsibilities, set a
  good example for others, and show school spirit.

O Section 5: (Cabinet Member’s Requirements, Powers, and Duties)
      President:
        O Must be a 5th grade student.
        O Shall preside over all of the student council meetings.
        O Shall ensure that all members have the chance to give input to discussions and decisions.
        O Shall act as the spokesperson for student council and be able to speak to large groups.
        O Shall serve as a student council representative in an administrative meeting.
        O Shall be responsible for carrying out the plans and policies of the student council.
        O Shall be responsible for reading over the agenda and presenting it to the rest of the council.
        O Shall be part of the Spirit Activities Committee.

        Vice President:
         O Must be a 4th or 5th grade student.
         O Shall perform the duties of the president in the absence of that officer.
         O Shall manage all student council voting opportunities.
         O Shall be part of the Spirit Activities Committee.
             O Shall run for President the following year.

           Secretary:
            O Must be a 4th or 5th grade student.
            O Shall take charge of attendance and all other records at student council meetings, and make
               sure that they are stored safely in our student council file.
            O Shall maintain a roster of all student council members and their teachers.
            O Shall take care of any phone calls or setting up of appointments.
            O Shall type anything that needs to be typed.
            O Shall handle thank you notes and other forms of correspondence information.
            O Shall be a member of the Spirit Activities Committee.
            O Shall make sure that notice is given regarding all student council meetings.

           Treasurer:
            O Must be a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade student.
            O Shall maintain a running total of student council’s funds.
            O Shall prepare all deposits, withdrawals, purchase orders, and requests for student council, and
               see that they are carried out.
            O Be responsible for keeping track of receipts and seeing that one to the advisors gets them.
            O Shall report to the student council when ever the amount of funds changes either positively or
               negatively.
            O Shall be aware of spending limits, and make sure that budgets are followed.

   O Section 6: (Advisors)

          o Two adult advisors will sit in on the council’s meetings.
                    Advisors are responsible for keeping up communication with the principal
                       and for clearing dates with the school’s secretary.

Article Five (Removal from office)
   O Section 1: Any cabinet member or representative may be removed from office by a majority
       vote of the Student Council membership for poor attendance at Council meetings, failure to
       perform required/requested duties, or for setting a poor example for others as a council
       member.
   O Section 2: An advisor has the power to remove a student from the council for unsatisfactory
       academic performance, or failure to follow school rules or class rules. No vote is needed, but
       parents must be contacted before the student is removed.
   O Section 3: Any student removed from student council cannot run in future elections.

Article Six (Committees)
   O Section 1: (Standing Committees) Second Creek Elementary shall have the following four
       school committees: Spirit Committee (Promoting Bison Pride School - Wide), School Service
       Committee (Sets up Service Projects), Bison Buddies (Welcomes and Mentors New Students)
       and Bison C.A.R.E. (Caring and Reaching Everyone).
          o Section 1A: The Executive Committee shall be the Cabinet members, the advisors, and
              the Principal. No meeting of the Executive Committee shall take place without either the
              Sponsor or the Principal in attendance. The Executive Committee shall approve the
              activity plans of each committee and set the Student Council Calendar of meetings and
              projects for the year.
          o Section 1B: The Elections Committee shall consist of the advisors and the principal or
              dean. It shall be responsible for making arrangements for general elections, including
              notifying homeroom teachers when homeroom elections are to take place, and
              conducting the general election.
          o   Section 1C: The Bison Buddies Committee. Shall be responsible for serving as friendly
              hosts and hostesses to new students and to visitors, mentors to new students to
              Second Creek Elementary School, and as peer mediators during their grade-level’s
              recess. This committee will be made of ten students.
          o   Section 1D: The Spirit Committee. Shall be responsible for promoting Bison Pride
              School - Wide. The Spirit Committee shall determine two special days during each
              school year—one in the fall and one in the spring and communicating these days to all
              students on the campus with posters. This committee will be made of ten students.
          o   Section IE: Bison CARE. Shall be responsible for showing care for teachers and staff
              members at Second Creek on their birthdays. It shall make cards for Second Creek
              students that are hospitalized or very sick. It shall recognize Second Creek students
              that are demonstrating high levels of performance. This committee will be made of ten
              students.
          o   Section IF: The School Service Committee. It shall be responsible for determining the
              service projects of the Second Creek Student Council and the plan for the ways and
              means to accomplish the goals set in the plan. Service projects shall be selected to
              benefit the community at large, e.g., Lets Say Thanks (Sends thank you cards to
              soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan). This committee will also be responsible for
              taking care of the recycling bins in the hallways once a month after school. At least one
              service project shall be designated to provide a benefit to the students of Second Creek.
              This committee will be made of ten students.

Article Seven (Meetings)
   O Section 1: Student Council meetings shall take place at once a month to conduct the business
       of the council. During each meeting, students will be taught a “Lesson in Leadership.”
           o The Student Council advisors will decide each year the appropriate meeting dates and
              times.
           o The meeting dates and times will be placed on the calendar of activities. For example,
              the first Wednesday of the month at 8:00 a.m.
           o An agenda shall be prepared and presented to each member of the Student Council by
              the president the day of the meeting.
           o Student Council members may initiate agenda items. All items for agenda must be
              submitted to the advisor two days before a meeting. Additional agenda items may be
              added at the beginning of each Student Council meeting by a majority vote of Council
              members.
           o If a quorum (half of Council members plus one) is not present for a meeting, no Council
              action may be voted upon.
   O Section 2: Committee meetings shall be scheduled to complete the work plan of each
       committee.

Article Eight (Voting Procedures and Rules)
   O Section 1: Each member shall have one vote.
   O Section 2: All motions require a second.
   O Section 3: All motions require (for passage) a majority vote of the Council members.
   O Section 4: The document, Rules of Order: Revised Edition, shall be the authority on any
       questions of parliamentary procedure.
   O Section 5: Any and all actions of the Student Council are not official until approved by the
       advisors and the principal.

Article Nine (Amendments)
O Section 1: This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Student Council
  members.