Pembroke Intermediate Student Council Constitution and By-Laws
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Pembroke Intermediate School Student Council
Article II: Mission and Purpose
Section 1. Mission The mission of the Pembroke Intermediate School Student Council is to provide opportunities to enhance student leadership development and contribute to the overall benefit of our school.
Section 2. Purpose The purposes of the Pembroke Intermediate School Student Council shall be:
a. To encourage the development leadership skills among all enrolled students.
b. To provide leadership training for student council members and advisers.
c. To assist our school to focus on relevant issues that affect them and to seek solutions to the ever-changing challenges that arise throughout the year.
d. To encourage student to seek out opportunities for building civic skills and attitudes such as participation in elections, discussion and debate of issues, and collaborative decision-making.
e. To encourage active, ongoing broad-based participation in leadership training activities at the school, district, state, regional, and national levels.
f. To recognize individuals and related participants for their service and contributions toward the fulfillment of the mission and purposes of the Pembroke Intermediate School Student Council
Article III: Membership Section
1: Definition of Membership Members are all student council officers and representatives that have been elected by majority of votes from the student body of Pembroke Intermediate School.
President: 5th or 6th grader. Duties and Responsibilities:
∙ Preside at meetings of the Executive Board of Officers and General Membership
∙ Represent the association on all public occasions and student council events where feasible
∙ In collaboration with the Student Council Advisor, develop year long agenda items for the organization
Vice President: 5th or 6th grader. Duties and Responsibilities:
∙ Preside at meetings of the Executive Board of Officers and General Membership in the absence of the President
∙ The Vice President of the Student Council will represent the organization at all committee meetings
Secretary: 5th or 6th grader. Duties and Responsibilities:
∙ Compile and keep the minutes of Executive Board of Officers meetings
∙ Maintain and distribute contact information for members of the organization
∙ Provide directions, notices, and the agenda of meetings to Executive Board of Officers and General Membership
∙ Coordinate any public relations materials relevant to the organization
Treasurer: 5th or 6th grader. Duties and Responsibilities:
∙ Monitor and record all funds of the Student Council
∙ Disperse funds as needed
B. Eligibility to hold office:
a. All current serving Student Council Officers and Representatives must maintain a “C” average or better in all courses to remain a member of the organization.
b. Quarterly Report Cards must be presented to the Advisor for review and verification of eligibility to continue as a member.
c. Members who fail to maintain grades will be placed as a non-voting member on probation for one grading period. If the student fails to improve his / her grades by the next grading period, this will result in an automatic suspension from the Student Council.
d. Open representative seats that occur during the school year will be directed back to the grade level team teachers to conduct an election for a replacement representative. Officer positions that come open during the school year may be filled by a review from the advisor. The next student candidate who ran for each office during the most recent election and was the next highest receiver of votes will become the officer appointee.
Section 2: Election of Officers.
A. The Student Council Election for Officers will take place each year during the Month of November at a time and date to be designated by the Student Council advisor.
B. Eligibility to run for Student Council Officer: Students may run for open offices based upon a call for elections by the Student Council Advisor. The required criteria to have a name added to the ballot include: 1. Completion of an application signed by parents. 2. No major school discipline issues (All Day ISS or OSS). 3. All procedures for conducting campaigns and the election process will be defined by the advisor and presented to qualified candidates before the beginning of the election cycle. (2017 Theme: "Serving Others, How I Can Make a Difference For My School Through Leadership".)
Section 3: Election of Representatives: A. Representative elections will take place during the start of school each year by Election Day in November.
B. There will be one representative identified and appointed from each recognized homeroom.
C. Conditions defined for eligibility to run for office will be same as those stated for officer candidates found in Section 2, item B.
Section 4: Committees:
A. The organization shall have four on-going committees represented by members who are appointed based upon volunteer opportunities and approved by the Advisor.
B. The on-going committees will include: Constitution and By Laws, Fundraising, Service Projects and Team Building.
C. The agenda for these committees will be established by the Advisor based upon the year long plan established by the Executive Board of Officers.
Article IV: Adviser
The Student Council Advisor is appointed by the principal, and acting as a designee of the Principal is empowered to manage council activities, oversee the council budget, provide leadership training, and assist with planning events, schedule meetings, as well as support the organization in an advising capacity. Duties (include but not limited to):
∙ Appoint all committees required by the constitution, by-laws, or approved by the Executive Board of Officers
∙ Supports the organization in planning and delivering agenda items, committee responsibility, and school wise related programs.
∙ Serves as the school liaison for the organization to administration, staff, and interested parties.
∙ Coordinates all financial matters for the organization related to any fundraiser activity. ∙ Serves as the faculty advisor for the organization to school administration, staff, and interested community and related organizations.
Article V: Meetings
Meetings are defined by the organization Advisor and will typically be established once a month. Committee meetings will occur as needed based upon agenda items or overall function of the committee and as deemed appropriate by the Advisor.
Article VI: Quorum
A quorum for the purpose of voting or securing approval of agenda items will consist of an overall presentation of 50% of the general membership of representatives. Officers are voting members of the organization and can be included in this tally towards a quorum.