NHS Bylaws 2022
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this chapter shall be the Pendleton Heights High School Chapter of the National Honor Society.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students of Pendleton Heights High School(name of school).
ARTICLE III: POWERS
Section 1. This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the NHS National Constitution. See www.nhs.us/constitutions.
Section 2. The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal.
Section 3. Final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter resides with the school principal. (See Article V, Section 1 of the NHS National Constitution.)
Section 4. Our chapter of NHS maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified candidate or member on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, and disability. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty council and shall be based on the criteria of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
Section 2. Eligibility:
a. Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class.
b. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been enrolled for a period equivalent to one semester at Pendleton Heights High School.
c. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative GPA of 11.0 on a 12.0 point scale effective for the class of 2024 and on.
d. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character.
Section 3. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.
ARTICLE V: OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
Section 1. Member dues are not required of this chapter at this time.
Section 2. Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and member obligations shall be granted the privilege to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.
Section 3. Chapter members who are seniors in good standing (See Article shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor cords at graduation.
Section 4. Meetings shall be held when deemed necessary by chapter officers. Attendance is not mandatory, but members must attend often enough to remain up-to-date on current events within the chapter.
*Good standing is equivalent to maintaining GPA and completing all service projects in the time given
ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, and outreach officer.
Section 2. There shall be an executive committee consisting of all members who expressed interest in participating in the decision making of this chapter.
Section 3. All returning members in good standing with the chapter are eligible to run for a position as an officer by self-nomination.
Section 4. Voting shall be by secret ballot. A majority vote shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter. If the first vote does not yield a majority, the candidates may elect to share the contested position.
ARTICLE VII: ACTIVITIES
Section 1. The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.
Section 2. All members shall regularly participate in these projects.
Section 3. These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community, have the support of the administration and the faculty, be appropriate and educationally defensible, and be well planned, organized, and executed.
Section 4. The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner.
ARTICLE VIII: RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, AND REVIEW.
Section 1: These bylaws will be approved upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote of all present executive committee members, a majority affirmative vote of the faculty council, and approval by the school principal.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given to members at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Articles V and X, which are developed by the faculty council with the approval of the principal (selection and discipline).
The Faculty Council of Pendleton Heights High School has determined that the minimum grade point average for membership consideration is to be a GPA of 11.00. This is to begin with the incoming juniors of 2022-2023. For the seniors of 2022-2023 the GPA is to stay at 10.50.
Beginning with 2023-2024, the GPA will be 11.00 for all candidates, juniors and seniors.
Article X
Dismissal
Section 1. The procedure for dismissal shall be determined by the faculty council in compliance with the rules and regulations of the National Honor Society. A written description of the dismissal procedure shall be available to interested parties.
Section 2. Members who fall below the standards which were the basis for their selection shall be promptly warned in writing by the chapter adviser and given a reasonable amount of time to correct the deficiency, except that in the case of flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws a member does not necessarily have to be warned.
Section 3. The faculty council shall determine when an individual has exceeded a reasonable number of warnings.
Section 4. In all cases of impending dismissal, a member shall have a right to a hearing before the faculty council.
Section 5. A member who has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the faulty council under the same rules for disciplinary appeals in the school district.
Section 6. The National Council and the NASSP shall hear no appeals in dismissal cases.