Constitution


Johnsburg High School 2019-2020 Student Council Constitution

Article I – Name and Purpose

Section I – Council of Activities, Responsibility, Education, and Spirit hereafter known as CARES.

Section II – The purpose of this organization shall be to:

  1. Provide a desired attitude in the school.
  2. Improve morale.
  3. To provide a forum for the student voice and channels for student involvement.
  4. To assist in the management of the school.
  5. To coordinate student activities.
  6. To further positive human relationships within the school and community.

Article II – Membership

Section I – Membership Process

  1. Membership process for the main body of CARES for the following school year must be completed by the set date; however, petitions will be accepted at any time during the school year.
  2. Any student who so chooses may take out a petition. The petition requires twenty (20) student signatures, two (2) teacher signatures and one (1) administrator signature.
  3. Members who fulfilled point requirements by the end of a school year need not re-petition at the beginning of the following school year, but must make the vice president aware of their intention to remain in CARES.
  4. Any council member must remain active in CARES as reflected in the minimum number of points required for each semester.

Section II – Membership Qualifications

  1. Student must be currently enrolled at JHS.
  2. Student must have gathered twenty (20) student signatures, two (2) teacher signatures, and one (1) administrator signature.
  3. The student must have a willingness to work hard to make JHS a pleasant place to be.
  4. The student should have a genuine concern for the rights of all students.
  5. The student must demonstrate an effort for creating and maintaining a desired climate at JHS.
  6. The student must maintain academic eligibility in compliance with school policy.
  7. The student must remain active in CARES as reflected in the minimum number of points required for each semester.
  8. If a new member joins CARES partway into the semester, the semester-based point requirement should be prorated based on their starting date.

Section III – Expulsion from CARES

  1. CARES members are expected to follow all school rules and regulations. Any member who accumulates three (3) days out-of-school suspension will be dropped from CARES for the current quarter. They may re-petition for the following quarter.
  2. Any member who fails to earn the Executive Board’s set number of points will be suspended from CARES for one (1) semester.
  3. Failure of the member to follow his/her teacher’s zero hour rules twice results in expulsion from CARES for (1) semester.
  4. Members who are dropped from CARES for any of the above reasons will be allowed to petition for membership the following semester.

Article III – Officers

Section I – The officers shall consist of:

  1. President

B. Vice President

C. Secretary

D. Treasurer

E. Parliamentarian

F. Historian

G. Public Relations

H. The Executive Board, though they are not required to earn points, must demonstrate their dedication to the council through successful completion of their stated duties and also involvement in various council activities and functions.

Section II – Election of officers

  1. Eligibility
  2. A person wishing to run for and serve on the Executive Board must be an active member in CARES for the current school year.
  3. The President and Vice President must be juniors or seniors.
  4. The Parliamentarian, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian may be of any grade.
  5. The term of office shall be one (1) year.
  6. The candidate must interview with the advisor and the senior officers and turn in a typed essay explaining why he/she wants to be an officer for the office they are running for and their alternative “drop-down” office.

B. Election Process

  1. A student must be nominated by a fellow CARES member. The nomination must be seconded by a fellow CARES member. The nominee must accept or decline the nomination at that time. If the nominee is unable to attend the nomination meeting, he/she must notify the CARES President and/or the CARES advisor that they accept. If no advance notification is made, it will be assumed the nomination has been declined.
  2. Only CARES members in good standing will elect officers for the following school year by secret ballot.
  3. Dropping down is allowed to one office which has been predetermined on the day of nominations.
  4. Eligible candidates for office must have their essays in by the date assigned.
  5. There are no nominations from the floor on the day of elections.
  6. The election process will begin with the Presidency, and then move through the officers as stated: Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Historian, and Public Relations. The election for the next office shall proceed after the preceding officer has been chosen.
  7. The highest-ranking senior officer will be allowed to vote only to break a tie.
  8. Members running for a District or State office must have the approval of CARES
  9. All new officers will take office once the full slate of new officers has been elected.

Article IV – Duties of the Officers

ALL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ARE CONSIDERED CARES MEMBERS AND THEREFORE MUST COMPLY WITH THE SAME RULES AND POLICIES (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EARNING POINTS) AS STATED IN THIS CONSTITUTION TO MAINTAIN THEIR EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND MEMBERSHIP IN CARES.

Section I – President

A. It shall be the duty of the president to:

  1. Preside over all meetings.
  2. Call meetings of CARES whenever necessary.
  3. Appoint all necessary committees after consulting with the Executive Board.
  4. Be well versed in Parliamentary Procedure.
  5. Represent CARES to the faculty, administration, and community.
  6. Be a member of all committees assigned by him/her.
  7. Vote in case of a tie.

Section II – Vice President

A. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to:

  1. Take care of all matters concerning CARES in the absence of the President.
  2. To be present at all CARES meetings.
  3. Be a member of all appointed committees.

d. Take the attendance and be caretaker of points.

e. Be head chairperson of the Homecoming Parade.

Section III – Secretary

A. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:

  1. Write up all the minutes of the general meetings. Copies of the minutes shall be given to all CARES members, administration, faculty, and posted for the entire student body.
  2. Tend to all inter-council clerical work.
  3. Prepare a Homecoming packet.

Section IV – Treasurer

A. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to:

  1. Handle the finances and to keep an accurate account of them.
  2. Give reports at general meetings.

Section V – Parliamentarian

A. It shall be the duty of the Parliamentarian to:

  1. Be well versed in Robert’s Rules of Order.
  2. Advise the President in the usage of Parliamentary Procedure.
  3. Be in charge of bringing a flag and leading the council in the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every general meeting.

Section VI – Historian

A. It shall be the duty of the Historian to:

  1. Act as CARES Historian and keep a scrapbook or slideshow of all CARES events.
  2. Keep track of all district and state workshops and other related information.
  3. Insure that CARES obligations for Adopt-a-Highway are successfully met.


Section VII - Public Relations

  1. It shall be the duty of the Public Relations to:
          1. Maintain the CARES website to keep it thoroughly updated.
          2. Advertise CARES through publicity and social media.
          3. Maintain a positive and enjoyable atmosphere during meetings.


Article V – Vacancies and Successions

Section I – Officer Conduct

Officers shall conduct themselves at all times as good school citizens and as representatives of the student body. All officers shall comply with the JHS Co-Curricular Code. If an Officer receives an out of school suspension of three (3) or more days, the council will be required to decide whether or not to remove that officer from office. A 2/3 vote is required to remove an officer.

Section II – President

Should the President be dismissed from office or for any reason be unable to carry out his/her duties, the Vice President will take their place. In the event none of the succeeding officers are Juniors or Seniors, an election by secret ballot will take place to elect a new President from the remaining Juniors and Seniors.

Section III – Officers

Should any officer, other than the President be removed from office or for any reason be unable to carry out the duties of their office, CARES members shall elect a new officer by secret ballot at the next general meeting.

Article VI – Meetings

Section I – Weekly Meetings

  1. CARES will meet at least once every two (2) weeks during the school day on a set schedule.

Section II – Committees

  1. Committee meetings may be called at other times by the chairpersons of the committees and by the President.

Article VII – The Executive Board

Section I – The Executive Board shall consist of the seven (7) officers and the advisor(s).

Section II – The Executive Board will meet at least once a week during the school year unless deemed unnecessary by a majority vote of the board. Minutes from these meetings will be posted publicly. The minutes must include any emergency decisions regarding money or other issues and who is attending the meeting.


Section III – The Executive Board shall have the power to approve all council dates.

Section IV - The Executive Board has the right to make emergency decisions (up to $500) if a general session cannot be called.

Section V – An officer who has five (5) unexcused absences from Executive Board meetings will be brought to the general council for an expulsionary vote. The council will determine by 2/3 vote whether to remove the officer from his/her office.

Article VIII – Committees

Section I – the President shall have the power to appoint standing and special committees as needed.

Section II – Committees shall meet at times that do not interfere with academic classes.

Article IX – Fund Raising

Section I – CARES shall have the power to raise funds as are necessary for its own operation, or for the projects undertaken for the benefit of the student body of the school district.

Section II – It shall be the policy of CARES not to raise funds through solicitation from the public or through such methods as door to door selling projects unless otherwise approved by administration.

Section III – CARES will follow school policy in regards to acceptance of gifts worth $100 or more.

Section IV – CARES will follow school policy with regards to auditing funds twice yearly.

Article X – Amendments

Section I – This constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the CARES membership.

Section II – Proposed amendments must be presented to the Executive Board in writing one week before being presented to CARES members.

Section III – Proposed amendments are subject to administrative, advisor, and/or Executive Board approval.