Constitution

Constitution

of the

Associated Student Body

Galileo Academy of Science & Technology

Revised by the Executive Cabinet 1979 & 1986,

the Leadership Class of 1999, the Executive Council of 2003, 2004, and 2014, and the General Council of 2021.

Article I – Name and Purpose

Section I – Title

The name of this organization shall be the Associated Student Body (ASB).

Section II – Purpose

The purpose of this Associated Student Body shall be to organize and promote all student activities, which exist for the students of Galileo Academy of Science & Technology.

Article II – Officers

Section I – Executive Cabinet Officers

The Executive Cabinet of this association shall consist of a President, Business Vice President, Social Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Historian, Commissioner of Activities, Student Advisory Council Representative, and Environmental Advocate.

Section II – Eligibility of Officers

Any student may become a candidate for office whose candidacy has been approved by the principal or either dean, if the case may apply, current subject teachers, and the Associated Student Body Advisor(s). Petitions shall be required of all candidates. Unsatisfactory citizenship as determined by one of the dean is not acceptable for any student running for and holding office. A 2.0 grade point average (“GPA”) in the previous semester is required of any candidate running for office. If a student transfers from another school, the same requirement will apply. The grade point average will be determined by the four-point system which gives the “A” four points, the “B” three points, the “C” two points, the “D” one point, and the “F” zero point. Advanced Placement (“A.P.”) and Honors Courses will not receive the extra points. No officers may be engaged in any job or activity which if the opinion of the advisor(s) or the administration will result in a conflict of interest. If such a conflict occurs, the advisor(s) and the highest-ranking uninvolved Associated Student Body officer shall report this situation to the General council. Once conflict is established by the General council through a formal impeachment process, the officer shall resign.

No student shall be eligible for the Office of President of this association unless they are a full standing senior at the time set for entering upon the duties of the office. They must have been an active member of this association for at least one school year.
No student shall be eligible for the Office of Vice Presidents of this association unless they have been an active member of this association for at least one school year.
Candidates running for office must attend all General Council Meetings and Cabinet meetings during their campaign with the current officers to familiarize themselves with the operational procedures.

Section III – Election of Executive Cabinet

Each year, on the date set by the Principal and the Associated Student Body Advisor(s), the Executive Cabinet shall be elected. All election shall be held by authorized secret ballot and will be in accordance with the following procedures:

An election assembly shall take place during a designated period on another day prior to the dates set for the Executive Cabinet’ election, featuring speeches, debates, or other forms of presentations by the candidates. On another designated day, balloting will be conducted during a designated period. Election officers or designated students will individually pass out ballots to the designated period class. Alternatively, the Executive Cabinet can choose to conduct the election digitally. Students will vote for one candidate for each office. After students have voted, election workers shall collect ballots individually with assistance of the teacher. Ballot shall be placed in envelopes which shall be sealed immediately. Election workers and the teacher shall sign the envelope(s). If both the election workers and the teacher(s) agree that the procedure has been carried out properly, then the election workers shall return all sealed envelopes to a room designated by the Principal and the Associated Student Body Advisor(s) for tallying. Only election workers and designated faculty members are allowed to be present during the tallying process. Alternatively, a virtual election can be held in the event that a physical election is not feasible.

Any candidate receiving a majority of all votes cast for that office will be declared the winner. If no candidate receives such a majority (fifty-one percent of all people participating in the election), then the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for that officer shall be certified to a run-off election. A final tie vote in the run-off election shall be decided by a majority of ballots by the General Council. All winners shall be announced following the election. Any request for a recount shall be made within five days of the election.

The positions of Social Vice President, Commissioner of Activities, and Environmental Advocate shall be appointed through an interview process. An Appointment Committee shall be formed, and it shall consist of the following members: one member from the school administration, the ASB President, the ASB Advisor or corresponding class sponsors, the current Social Vice President or Commissioner of Activities and Rallies or Environmental Advocate, and other members of the General Council as deemed necessary by the Executive Cabinet.

The Appointment Committee, once established, shall consist of the same members for all the interviews of the same position.

The final decision for class appointment shall be made by a majority vote from the following members of the Committee: the class sponsor(s), the ASB Officer corresponding to the position being interviewed, and the ASB President. In the event of a tie, the ASB Advisor shall serve as a tie-breaker. All other members of the Committee shall advise but shall not vote for the final decision.

The final decision for ASB appointment shall be made by a majority vote from the following members of the committee: the ASB Advisor, the ASB President, and the ASB Officer corresponding to the position being interviewed. All other members of the Committee shall advise but shall not vote for the final decision.

Section IV – General Duties of Executive Cabinet

The President shall be the chief executive of the association. The President shall preside over all rallies, assemblies, and the General Council. The President shall see that the Constitution and its laws are enforced. The President shall be in charge of student association activities, regulated and planned by the cabinet. In the absence of the President, the cabinet shall appoint one of the Vice Presidents to assume the responsibility of the President.

The Business Vice President shall assist the President for the successful conduct of the association. As Vice President, They shall be the Student Activities Advisor for the incoming freshmen class. They shall assist the incoming class in their decision-making, promote class spirit and plan activities. This officer shall assist the Social Vice President with other responsibilities. This officer may serve as President in case a vacancy arises. This officer shall serve on alternate student seats at School Site Council.

The Social Vice President shall assist the President for the successful conduct of the association. They shall be in charge of accommodating of official visitors to the school and planning public appearances of any type necessary for the Executive Cabinet. They shall be the liaison to the groups promoting school dances. This officer shall assist the other Vice President with other responsibilities. This officer may serve as President in case a vacancy arises. This Officer shall be in charge of public relations of this association.

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the sale of ASB stickers or the equivalent, if changes are made, and for the budget of the student body funds through the Associated Student Body General Fund. This officer shall be in charge of the Student Body Association funds, sales and collection and be subject to the rules and regulation of the San Francisco Unified School District. This officer shall keep an accurate inventory of the school store in the ASB drive. The Treasurer shall also submit a financial report including all income and expenditures to the General council at each General council meeting. This Officer shall be a Student Delegate to the School Site Council.

The Recording Secretary shall be in charge of the minutes of the General council meetings. This officer shall duplicate and distribute to all General council members necessary memoranda. This officer shall also keep an accurate account of the attendance in the votes of these bodies. A copy of the minutes shall be forward to the administration.

The Corresponding Secretary shall attend all meetings. They are responsible for all class mail, thank you notes, etc. This role also organizes clubs through Club Recognition forms and leads Club Week. This role will act as liaison to PTSA and will be required to attend the monthly PTSA meeting and report back to ASB. This officer shall assist the Historian to help update the Galileo website, design infographics, and flyers for class projects.

The Historian will be responsible for maintaining a scrapbook to document school-related activities. They shall be responsible for assisting in publicizing all Student Body Activities. This officer shall also be in charge of keeping the main bulletin board attractive and informative. The Historian shall also be responsible for the supplies of the Association.

The Commissioner of Activities and Rallies shall coordinate rallies, noontime activities, assemblies, the Class of the Year Competition, and all other student activities in collaboration with the General council.

The Student Body Advisory Council Representative shall attend all District Student Advisory Council meetings as an active participant. They shall report the proceedings of the meetings of the District Student Advisory Council to the General council. They shall chair the election assembly and be a member of the School Site Council.

The Environmental Advocate shall work with environmental advocacy organizations to promote environmental activism and awareness on school campuses. They shall attend all Environmental Advocacy Club Meetings as an active participant and report the proceedings of the meetings to the General Council.

Section V – Oath for ASB Officers

All newly elected Executive Cabinet of the association shall take the Oath assuming their position and duties during the Move-Up Assembly. The Principal and the Associated Student Body Advisor(s) shall determine the date of the assembly.

Section VI – Terms of office

All Associated Student Body officers shall serve for one school year per term.

Section VII – Removal from office

Any executive officer may be removed from the office upon the recommendation of the Associated Student Body Advisor(s) and by two-third vote of the General Council, or by order of the Principal in consultation with the Executive Cabinet. In case of a vacancy of a student association office, the General Council shall nominate and elect a replacement within two weeks; however, should the President of this Association be recalled or his/her office become vacant, one of the Vice President shall be appointed by two-third vote of the General Council.

Article III – General council

Section I – Members of the General General council

The General General council consists of the following:

Executive Cabinet;
Class officers;
Appointive Commissioners and Liaison
President or representative(s) from each club or other organizations.

Section II – Appointed Executive Assistant

The General Council shall have the power to appoint qualified people to assist in the operation of the student government.

Section III – Meetings

The General council shall hold regular meetings. A majority of the members of the General council shall constitute a quorum and is required to conduct a meeting. The Executive Council Meeting shall be a public meeting open to all members of the Galileo community. Only elected Officers shall have voting power on action items in the agenda. However, the ASB President must allow public input before calling for a vote.

The ASB President shall ensure time for public comment during each General Council Meetings.

The Executive Cabinet shall establish regular communication and collaboration with clubs and other student organizations within Galileo.

Section IV – Requirements

The General council is required:

To represent and promote school activities;
To have each member purchase an ASB sticker, when situation permits;
To approve all incomes, expenditures, and checks to be issued.

Section V – Meeting Procedures

The General council shall adhere to the Parliamentary Procedure given by the Advisor(s).

Section VI - Teams and Operations

At the beginning of each school year, the Executive Cabinet shall propose and formulate, with the consent of the General Council, Teams and Committees within the General Council sub-teams. These sub-teams shall serve the interests of the student body established by the Executive Cabinet.

All Officers within the General Council shall be assigned to a Team, with consideration to their preference and the size of each Team. Each Team must include at least one Executive Cabinet Officer, who shall chair the Team and oversee its operations. The ASB President shall oversee operations of all Teams.

Article IV – Changes to Constitution

Section I – Amending Process

This Constitution may be amended by two-third vote of the General council and shall take effect immediately.

Section II – Revocation of the Constitution

This Constitution and any of its provisions may be revoked by the Principal, in conference with the Association Student Body officers or set aside by them at any time.

Article V – Class/Club Structures

Section I – Class and Club Sponsors and Associated Student Body Advisor(s)

Each class and/or club at Galileo Academy of Science & Technology shall have at least one faculty member as its sponsor. The Principal shall be determining the eligibility of the Sponsor/Advisor.

Each club Sponsor shall be responsible for the officers that will be created under their advisory.

Associated Student Body Business Vice President shall serve as the Freshmen Student Activities Advisor. They may request to appoint executive assistant as Assistant Freshmen Student Activities Advisor in accordance to Article III, Section II.

Section II – Duties of the Sponsor/Advisor

Each Sponsor/Advisor is responsible for qualification for any office or position of responsibility in a class or a club. The Sponsor/Advisor shall make sure that the officers are maintaining a 2.0 GPA. The Sponsor/Advisor is also responsible for the maintenance, with the Associated Student Body Advisor(s), regarding calendar dates, social events, and all/other club activities. The Sponsors/Advisor will collaborate and document accountability for leadership growth and participation of all officers each grading period. All calendar dates and newly formed events must be approved by the Associated Student Body. The Advisor/Sponsor is responsible for the class/executive cabinet approval of events and calendar dates. The Advisor or Sponsors/ is responsible for approval before seeking the consent of the ASB Vice Principal. The Sponsor/Advisor will hold one officer meeting a week and pep club at least twice a month. If there are two class sponsors both are required to attend. The Sponsor/Advisor shall keep a strict accounting of all finances of the class or club in collaboration with their treasurer. The accounting shall be with the school accountant. All Sponsors/ Advisors have the responsibility of promoting positive school climate and total school participation in collaboration with their officers.

Section III – Class and Club Officers

Class and club officers shall be responsible for keeping their Sponsor/Advisor informed of all planned events in order to avoid conflict. Class and club officers shall be responsible for making sure that there is a member present at the General council meetings. Club officer responsibilities shall be determined by each club individually as long as they do not conflict with the Constitution.

Section IV – General Duties of Class officers

The President shall be the presiding officer for all class and pep club meetings. This officer shall hold regular meetings with the Sponsor/Advisor and officers to plan meetings and activities. The President must prepare an agenda for all meetings. They must also set goals to raise money and help in developing the budget. The President shall organize fundraisers and special activities like Song and Yell Contest, Spirit week and Class of the Year Competition. The President shall enlist members in the pep club and always be visible and active. The Junior Class President shall serve on the School Site Council.

The Business and Social Vice Presidents shall also accept the responsibilities delegated by the President. These officers shall attend all class and pep club meetings. They shall help publicize all activities and take an active part in getting class members involved. One of the Vice Presidents shall assume the President’s duties if they are absent.

The Treasurer shall attend all meetings. They shall prepare a budget with the approval of the other officers. The Treasurer shall keep a ledger of the class accounts and make regular at all meetings concerning class balance. This officer shall work closely with the Sponsor/Advisor to ensure all money, receipts, deposits, and check requests and all transactions are kept accurately.

The Corresponding Secretary shall undertake all necessary correspondence of the student body in representation of the Class Cabinet. This includes responding to emails and writing thank you notes.

The Recording Secretary shall attend all meetings and take accurate minutes. They shall type or write all class business, budget, agenda, etc. This shall be kept in a Google Drive folder and be passed on to the next year’s officer. This officer shall also distribute minutes from previous meetings.

The Historian will maintain a scrapbook of all class activities and pass it to the Advisor at the spring election assembly. This officer shall be responsible for publicizing class events by preparing posters and flyers. The Historian must attend all meetings.

The Commissioner of Activities and Rallies shall be responsible for organizing class teams for all Class of the Year Competitions. They shall assist in helping with the Song and Yell Contest, Spirit Week, and all other fundraising activities. This officer shall attend all meetings.

Revised May 2021 by the General Council of 2021.

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