CONSTITUTION of Lee’s Summit North High School Youth in Government Club
(Approved, July 1, 2019)
ARTICLE ONE - Name of Organization
Section 1 - The name of this organization shall be the Youth-in-Government Club of Lee’s Summit North High School.
ARTICLE TWO - Purpose
Section 1 - The purpose of this organization is to provide students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills and experience democracy, based on the motto “Democracy Must Be Learned By Each Generation.”
Section 2 - The Youth-in-Government Club shall prepare students for the Missouri State Conference of Youth and Government, held in Jefferson City, Missouri each year. This conference is a student-driven simulation of state government involving students throughout the state of Missouri. The Youth-in-Government Club shall prepare students to be delegates at the state conference which is held at the end of the first semester of each school year.
Section 3 - The Youth-in-Government Club shall be divided into three groups. The first group shall be known as the Legislative Delegation, whose purpose it is to draft legislation for the state convention in either the Missouri House of Representatives or the Missouri State Senate. The second group shall be known as the Judicial Delegation, whose purpose is to participate in trial competition as either attorneys or student-judges. The third group shall be known as the Executive Delegation, whose purpose is to fulfill the student-elected offices of the state convention.
ARTICLE THREE - Authority
Section 1 - The organization is a recognized student organization of Lee’s Summit North High School within the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and adheres to all school and district policies as set forth by the Student Handbook of Lee’s Summit North High School.
Section 2 - The organization is affiliated with the Missouri YMCA Youth and Government program.
Section 3 - This organization will establish bylaws to govern administrative and procedural matters. Bylaws shall not conflict with this constitution. Bylaws may be adopted, amended, or temporarily suspended by a majority vote present at an organization meeting where a quorum is present and by approval of the principal of Lee’s Summit North High School.
ARTICLE FOUR - Membership
Section 1 - Membership in the organization shall be open to those regularly-enrolled at Lee’s Summit North High School who are enrolled in six of seven classes during a semester, have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50, and are in compliance with the standards of eligibility for extracurricular activities for Lee’s Summit North High School.
Section 2 - Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions may not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. The organization shall have no rules or policies that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability.
ARTICLE FIVE - Officers
Section 1 - The officers of the Youth-in-Government Club shall be a PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, and SECRETARY.
Section 2 - The officers shall be known as the Executive Committee of the Youth-in-Government Club.
Section 3 - In order to run for office in the Youth-in-Government Club, members must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and be in the organization for more than one school year.
Section 4 - While in office, officers must maintain a 3.00 grade point average and must not have below a 3.00 for more than one semester.
Section 5 - Officers must be a full-time student and be in good standing with his or her high school.
Section 6 - Nominations for officers shall be submitted to the Secretary and the advisor(s) prior to the last day of school for seniors. Members may nominate themselves for office.
Section 7 - All officers serve for a term of ONE (1) YEAR or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
Section 8 - Any officer who, during the term of his/her office, ceases to be a voting member, or fails to maintain his/her status as a full-time student maintaining a 3.00 grade point average, in good academic and disciplinary standing with Lee’s Summit North HIgh School, shall be removed from his/her office and a replacement shall be elected.
Section 9 - Election for Youth-in-Government Club officers shall take place no sooner than one week after the graduation of seniors from Lee’s Summit North High School and no later than the week of final exams.
Section 10 - The method of election for Youth-in-Government Club officers shall be conducted by a standard instant runoff system and shall be counted by the advisor(s) of the club. The advisor shall determine the time, place, and manner of the elections.
Section 11 - Votes shall be cast by secret ballot.
Section 12 - The President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the organization, shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall prepare the agenda for meetings. The President shall appoint all committees and committee chairs. The President shall have other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the organization.
Section 13 - The Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall perform all legal duties assigned by the President. The Vice President shall assume the office of President if the office becomes vacant.
Section 14 - The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings of the organization, keep these on file, and submit copies to organization members upon request. The Secretary shall be responsible for all organization correspondence and shall keep copies on file. The Secretary shall maintain membership records for the organization.
ARTICLE SIX - Lettering Requirements
Section 1 - A member of the Youth-in-Government Club shall be eligible to earn a varsity letter of Lee’s Summit North High School if the meet the standards outlined in Article Four of this Constitution and successfully represent Lee’s Summit North at the state convention of Youth and Government for the state of Missouri.
Section 2 - A member of the Youth-in-Government Club who earns a varsity letter all four years for Lee’s Summit North shall receive a special certificate of recognition.
Section 3 - Any member of the Youth-in-Government Club who earns a varsity letter may wear this letter on the sanctioned letter jacket of Lee’s Summit North High School.
ARTICLE SEVEN - Special Committees
Section 1 - The President may create special committees to perform such duties as defined in their establishment.
Section 2 - The Executive Committee shall appoint, by majority vote, committee members and a chairperson for the committee.
Section 3 - The Executive Committee shall have the power to remove, by majority vote, any committee member from the committee.
ARTICLE EIGHT - Meetings
Section 1 - Meetings of the Youth-in-Government Club shall be determined by the advisor(s). Members shall be notified of meetings at least one week in advance.
Section 2 - Special meetings may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Committee. All members must be given a minimum of three days notice prior to a meeting time.
Section 3 - Business cannot be conducted unless a quorum of the membership is present. A quorum for this organization is defined as one-third of the voting members.
Section 4 - Members must be present to vote.
Section 5 - In order to vote, a member must be in good standing. Good standing for this organization shall be defined as fulfilling payment of dues, not currently in in-school suspension, not currently in out-of-school suspension, and meeting all academic requirements.
ARTICLE NINE - Advisor(s)
Section 1 - The Youth-in-Government shall have a faculty advisor(s) who is a full-time staff member of Lee’s Summit North High School. The faculty advisor(s) shall serve on an academic year basis or until their successor has been selected by the principal of Lee’s Summit North High School.
ARTICLE TEN - Finances
Section 1 - Members who have not paid their dues or state conference fees by the due date shall be considered as not being in good standing and shall lose all membership privileges, including voting, until the dues are paid.
Section 2 - Organization funds shall be used to pay for state conference fees and advisor expenses.
Section 3 - Organization fees shall be determined by the advisors and administration of Lee’s Summit North High School each academic year.
Section 4 - The amount and due date of the initial deposit for the organization shall be determined by the advisor. This shall be communicated to all students interested in joining the club in a timely manner.
ARTICLE ELEVEN - Discipline of Members
Section 1 - All members of the Youth-in-Government Club are expected to uphold the rules and regulations of the Lee’s Summit North High School Student Handbook and adhere to the policies and procedures set for by Lee’s Summit North High School and the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.
Section 2 - Members that violate the rules and regulations of the Lee’s Summit North High School Student Handbook policies may face disciplinary action by the advisor(s) or principal of Lee’s Summit North High School.
ARTICLE TWELVE - Hazing
Section 1 - The laws of the state of Missouri concerning hazing shall be observed.
Section 2 - The policies of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District concerning hazing shall be observed.
Section 3 - Hazing is defined as any activity, on or off school grounds, that a reasonable person believes would negatively impact the mental or physical health or safety of a student or put the student in a ridiculous, humiliating, stressful or disconcerting position for the purposes of initiation, affiliation, admission, membership or maintenance of membership in any group, class, organization, club or athletic team including, but not limited to, a grade level, student organization or district-sponsored activity. Hazing may include those actions that subject a student to extreme mental stress including, but not limited to, sleep deprivation, physical confinement, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment or criminal activity, or other stress-inducing activities. Hazing may also include, but is not limited to: acts of physical brutality; whipping; beating; branding; exposing to the elements; forcing inhalation or consumption of any food, liquor, drug, tobacco/vape product, or other substance; or any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of an individual. Hazing can occur even when all students involved are willing participants. Hazing does not occur when a student is required to audition or tryout for an organization when the criteria are reasonable, approved by the district and legitimately related to the purpose of the organization.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN - Impeachment
Section 1 - Any member may initiate officers removal by the following procedure:
A) Petition Executive Council with signatures of 1/3 of all voting members petition should state reason for removal.
B) Executive Council shall then notify officer being petitioned with removal and call for a removal meeting within 10 school days of the filing of the petition.
C) At the removal meeting, the petition’s stated grievances shall be made public and the officer charged shall be allowed to respond to the charges of the petition. The advisor(s) must be present at the removal meeting.
D) Removal from office shall require a vote of 2/3 of all voting members. The vote shall be counted by the advisor(s).
E) No officer shall face impeachment until after the first five school days of the academic year.
E) No officer shall face impeachment more than once during a school year.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN - Vacancy
Section 1 - In case of resignation or removal of the President, the Vice President shall assume the office or President for the remaining unexpired term.
Section 2 - In case of resignation or removal of the Vice President, the President shall appoint a new Vice President to complete the unexpired term. The new Vice President must meet all of the requirements of an officer of the Youth-in-Government Club.
Section 3 - In case of resignation or removal of the Secretary, the President shall appoint a new Secretary to complete the unexpired term. The new Secretary must meet all of the requirements of an officer of the Youth-in-Government Club.
Section 4 - In case of resignation or removal of all members of the Executive Council, the advisor(s) shall appoint an acting President, Vice-President, and Secretary to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. The new members of the Executive Council must meet all of the requirements of an officer of the Youth-in-Government Club.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN - Amendment Process
Section 1 - Proposed amendments to this constitution shall be presented to the executive committee and advisor(s), in writing, no later than one week prior to the scheduled meeting. The Executive Committee and advisor(s) shall review and make recommendations on all bylaw revisions prior to consideration by the membership.
Section 2 - Special meetings to consider amendments may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Committee. All members must be given a minimum of three days notice prior to a meeting time.
Section 3 - Constitutional amendments require approval by two-thirds of the voting members present at a regular or special meeting.
Section 4 - All amendments require approval of the advisor(s) and by the principal of Lee’s Summit North High School.
Section 5 - The amendment shall be effective in the following school year.
Section 6 - Upon approval, all amendments shall be added to this constitution and be submitted to Lee’s Summit North High School by the beginning of the next academic year.
Section 7 - No amendment of Article Twelve shall be made unless changed by the legislature of the state of Missouri or the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.
Section 8 - No amendment to this Constitution shall be made that contradicts the laws of the state of Missouri or the board policies of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.
ARTICLE SIXTEEN - Ratification
Section 1 - Upon ratification of his Constitution of the Youth-in-Government Club by the approval of the principal of Lee’s Summit North, students shall be eligible to vote for officers in the second week of September of 2019 who have paid an initial deposit of dues.
Section 2 - The initial deposit of dues shall be determined by the advisor and communicated to all potential members prior to the first week of the 2019-2020 school year.
Section 3 - Elections of club officers shall be administered according to sections 1-8 and sections 10-11 of Article Five of this Constitution.