Chapter Bylaws

Bylaws of the Brocktonia Chapter of the Brockton High School 

National Honor Society. Adopted: June 10, 2024 

ARTICLE I: NAME 

This chapter's name shall be the Brocktonia Chapter of the National Honor Society of Brockton High School. 

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE 

This chapter's purpose shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote worthy leadership, and encourage character development in students at Brockton High School. 

ARTICLE III: POWERS 

Section 1.

This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the NHS National Constitution. 

Section 2.

The chapter adviser(s) is given the full authority to supervise the administration of chapter services, as delegated by the school principal. 

Section 3.

Final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter resides with the school principal.  

Section 4.

Our chapter at NHS maintains policies and practices designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified candidate or member based on 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 and shall be based on the criteria of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.  

Section 2.

Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary and alumni. Active members become alumni members at graduation. Honorary members are selected at the faculty council's discretion. Alumni and honorary members have no voice in chapter affairs.  

Section 3.

Eligibility: 

a. Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the junior and 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 Brockton High School.  

c. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. (Note: While the level of GPA performance can be raised by individual chapters, the standard must remain as a cumulative GPA. Chapters are discouraged from allowing their GPA standard to change annually but are encouraged to maintain and publicize this standard to help students set goals for achieving this level of academic performance.  

d. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character. 

ARTICLE V: SELECTION OF MEMBERS 

(Note: While selection procedures must be published and available as required by Article IX, Section 4, it is not required for the selection procedure to be included in the local chapter bylaws. The selection procedure can exist as a shorter, separate document.) 

Section 1.

The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council, which consists of five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter advisers shall be the sixth and seventh, nonvoting, ex officio members of the faculty council.  

Section 2.

The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the school year's first semester. (Note: Alternative or additional selection periods may be added.) 

Section 3.

Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur: 

a. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility.  

b. All students who are eligible scholastically (i.e., candidates) may be notified and asked to complete and submit the candidate information form for further consideration.  

c. The faculty shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official input form provided by the chapter adviser.  

d. The faculty council shall review the candidate information forms, faculty input, and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership. 

Section 4.

Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony.  

Section 5.

An active National Honor Society member who transfers from this school will be given an official letter indicating their membership status.  

Section 6.

An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to

this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter. The faculty council shall grant the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter to retain their membership. 

ARTICLE VI: OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS  

Section 1.

Annual dues for this chapter shall be $0.00. Senior members will receive a graduation regalia representing their membership.(Note: Dues cannot exceed $20 per member per year as noted in the NHS National Constitution.)  

Section 2.

Each member of this chapter in good standing regarding the membership standards and member obligations shall be granted the privilege to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society.  

Section 3.

Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall surrender the privilege of wearing the emblem to the chapter.  

Section 4.

Senior chapter members in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor cords (or other insignia adopted at the local level) at graduation.  

Section 5.

Senior chapter officers shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor stole at graduation.  

Section 6.

Each member shall be required to meet a minimum of 25 community service hours per year (in the form of completion of a service project, participation in the tutoring program and/or service project).  

a. A form is to be completed by each member and submitted to and approved by the executive committee to document all service hours. 

b. Up to five service hours per year may be completed during the summer prior to the academic school year.  

c. At least five of the required 25 hours must be completed through NHS-sponsored events. The remaining 20 hours may be completed through the member’s choice of activity, as long as the service hours follow this chapter’s community service guidelines as outlined in Addendum A.  

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS  

Section 1.

The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and historian. 

Section 2.

Junior student officers shall be elected in the week following April vacation. All returning members in good standing with the chapter are eligible to run for a position as an officer. Any active member can nominate an eligible member as a candidate for office.  

Section 3.

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, a second vote shall be taken of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. 

Section 4.

It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of the chapter and serve as the official representative of the chapter at school and community functions.  

Section 5.

The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also keep a record of members’ contributions to leadership and service. 

Section 6.

The secretary shall keep the minutes and attendance records for meetings and be responsible for all official correspondence. 

Section 7.

The treasurer shall keep the record of business expenses and all other financial transactions of the chapter.  

Section 8.

The historian shall keep social media record of the chapter. 

Section 9.

Officers and the faculty adviser(s) shall collectively be known as the chapter’s executive committee. The executive committee shall establish annual goals for the chapter and have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter. Any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members. 

ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS  

Section 1.

Regular meetings of this chapter shall be bi-monthly (two Mondays per month in A225 from 2:00pm until 3:30pm). Special meetings can be called by the president with approval of the advisers.  

Section 2.

This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.  

Section 3.

Members are expected to attend 90% of all chapter meetings.  

a. In case of an absence, members shall inform one of the chapter advisors, via private Teams message. 

b. In the event of an absence due to a conflicting school-sponsored activity, including drama or music rehearsals, athletic events, etc, members are expected to provide signed documentation from an advisor or adult supervisor in order to excuse the absence. The signed documentation must include any and all meeting dates the member will be absent due to that specific event.  

Section 4.  In the event that a member needs to leave early for extenuating circumstances, they shall inform chapter secretary of their exit. Members shall ensure that they are involved in a service project before they leave. 

Section 5.

Upon arrival at each meeting, members shall check in with the secretary. Attendance logs shall be organized in alphabetical order. 

ARTICLE IX: ACTIVITIES  

Section 1.

The chapter shall determine a minimum of one service project for each semester, for each member.  

Section 2.

All members shall mandatorily participate in one of these projects in order to meet the NHS service hour requirements.  

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. All projects must adhere to guidelines outlined in Addendum A.  

Section 4.

Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an individual service project that reflects their talents and interests and is approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute.  

Section 5.

The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner. 

Section 6.

The chapter shall participate in a tutoring program, where members are encouraged to participate. Such activity shall be counted as community service hours. 

ARTICLE X: DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS  

Section 1.

Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, service, leadership, or character may be considered for discipline or dismissal from the Brocktonia chapter of the National Honor Society. Members of the National Honor Society are expected to maintain their academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership in their school and community.  

Section 2.

If at the end of a semester, a member’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.5, they will be given a written warning and a reasonable time for improvement. If the cumulative GPA remains below standard at the end of the warning period, the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the faculty council that can include consideration of dismissal from the chapter.  

Section 3.

Violations of the law or school regulations can result in immediate consideration of the dismissal of a member (see Section 5 below). These violations include but are not limited to DWI; stealing; destruction of property; cheating; truancy; or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities or in the community. 

 Section 4.

Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absences, excessive tardiness) will receive written warning notification. A conference may be requested by either party (faculty council or student/parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be considered for dismissal.  

Section 5.

Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed from their positions because of disciplinary action taken by the faculty council.  

Section 6.

Any member who falls below the required attendance and service project expectations will be given a written warning and a reasonable time for improvement. If the member has not attended the required number of meetings or participated in a service project at the end of the warning period, the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the faculty council that can include consideration of dismissal from the chapter.  

Section 7.

In all cases of pending dismissal:  

a. The member will receive written notification from the adviser/faculty council indicating the reason for consideration of dismissal.  

b. The member will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge(s) against them at a hearing before the faculty council prior to any vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the NHS National Constitution). The members can present their defense either in person or via a written statement presented in lieu of the face-to-face hearing. Following the hearing, the faculty council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the faculty council is needed to dismiss any member.  

c. The results of the faculty council vote will be presented to the principal for review, and then stated in a letter sent to the student and parents. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.  

d. The faculty council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterwards according to provisions of the school district discipline policies.  

e. A member who is dismissed or resigns may never again be considered for membership in the National Honor Society. 

Section 8.

In lieu of dismissal, the faculty council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate. 

ARTICLE XI: RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, AND REVIEW

Section 1:

These bylaws will be approved upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote of all active members of the chapter, a majority affirmative vote of the faculty council, and approval by the administration.  

Section 2:

These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document. 

 ARTICLE XII: 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 before the vote. The exceptions are Articles V and X, which were developed by the faculty council with the approval of the principal (selection and discipline).