Constitution
Amity Student Government Constitution
We, the Representatives of the students of Amity Regional Senior H. S., do hereby convene this Student Council in the interest of our fellow students.
1. To promote cooperation among students, staff, administration and the Board of Education.
2. To support student organizations.
3. To provide a democratic forum for all.
4. To represent and act upon the social interests of students.
5. To provide the entire school community with the opportunity to actively participate in school related events.
Functions:
Spirit Week, Homecoming Dance, Pep Rally, Food Drive, Clothing Drive Daffodils for cancer, Student assembly, Student Elections, Relay for Life
PREAMBLE
We, the students of Amity Regional Senior High School, in order to aid in continuing a school characterized by cooperation among the student body, faculty, administration, and board of education, hereby pledge ourselves to assist in any action or program that will further the educational objectives of our school, or promote the rights and ideals of the students, and establish this Constitution of the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School.
ARTICLE I. ·
THE PURPOSES OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section 1. The Amity Student Government has the following purposes in carrying out its responsibilities and duties:
Subsection A: To serve as a liaison among students, faculty, administration, the superintendent, the board of education, and the community.
Subsection B. To represent, defend and promote student ideals, rights, and activities to the student body, faculty, administration, superintendent, board of education, and community.
Subsection C: To set an example for the students and other parts of the school to follow.
Subsection D: To improve understanding of the students and schools, by the faculty, administration, superintendent, board of education, and community.
ARTICLE 2.
THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section 1. In accordance with the above stated purposes of the Student Government, it is hereby empowered:
Subsection A. To initiate, coordinate, and aid in projects that will bring about improvement in our school, or community.
Subsection B: To promote school spirit by organizing and sponsoring school functions.
Subsection C: To assist in the formation and development of clubs.
Subsection D: To aid the faculty, administration, superintendent, and board of education in determining the wants and needs of the students.
Subsection E: To publicize the activities of the school and the Student Government. .
Subsection F. To orientate the new students and incoming sophomore classes with Amity Regional Senior High School, upon the request of the guidance department.
Subsection G: To form special or standing committees for the purpose of aiding Student Government in any of its functions and duties.
Subsection H: To hold activities for the purpose of raising funds for the Student Government or for any other in-school club.
Subsection I. To hold elections open to all students in their sophomore or junior year, for the purpose of electing members to the Student Government.
Subsection J: To hold meetings.
Subsection K. To establish rules of order by which the Student Government shall conduct its meetings.
Subsection L. To represent, defend, and promote student ideals and rights at events and meetings of any other organizations, including, but not limited to, the Amity Change Team (ACT), the Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO), the board of education, and any subcommittees thereof.
Subsection M. To spend or use the Student Government’s money in ways to promote its goals, execute its powers, fulfill its duties, and otherwise further the business of Student Government, with the approval of the Student Government advisor.
Subsection N. To conduct referendums and surveys of the students and faculty, in accordance with policy set forth by the administration, providing that their policy does not infringe upon students constitutional rights established by the courts of the United States and the State of Connecticut.
Subsection O. To work with any other outside organizations or entities in executing any of the aforementioned powers granted to the Student Government.
Subsection P. To make recommendations, and proposals for action, to the faculty, administration, superintendent, board of education, and any other outside organization which may request such a recommendation or proposal for action.
Subsection Q. To publicize any public records of the Student Government, including, but not limited to the minutes of Student Government meetings, or the minutes of any Committee or Council meetings, or the financial records of the Student Government, or the records of any committee or subcommittee thereof.
Subsection R. To assign, at the discretion of the Student Government, representatives to first period classes to report the business of the Student Government to the student and faculty.
Subsection S. To keep and maintain a Student Government Office, wherein Student Government records may be kept and business may be conducted. The burden of maintaining such an office space shall lie upon the Student Government Officers or any representative to whom they delegate this task.
Subsection T. On monthly basis, to stop into first period classes in order to connect with students who would like to ask questions/express concerns/offer suggestions etc.
Section 2. All actions taken by the Student Government are subject to veto by the administration, with due cause. In the event that the administration vetoes a Student Government action, the Student Government reserves the right to appeal such a veto to higher levels of authority, including, but not limited to, the superintendent, the board of education, the local municipalities, and the laws and courts of the State of Connecticut, and the United States of America, so help us God.
ARTICLE J.
THE MEMBERSHIP WHO SHALL COMPRISE THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section 1. Five officers shall head the Student Government, namely:
Subsection A. A President
Subsection B. A Vice President
Subsection C. A Treasurer
Subsection D. A Recording Secretary
Subsection E. A Corresponding Secretary
Section 2. The Student Government shall also contain forty-five representatives, or possibly more or fewer, due to a lack of candidates for the office of representative or to other provisions in this Constitution. The forty-five, more or less, representatives shall be divided among the sophomore, junior, and senior classes in the following way:
Subsection A. Fifteen representatives from each the sophomore, junior, and senior class to the Student Government as a whole.
ARTICLE 4.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section 1. The qualifications for each of the various officers shall be:
Subsection A. The President:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall be entering his or her senior year.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall not have reason, at the time of his or her candidacy for the presidency, to believe that he or she will opt for the early graduation program.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall have at the time of his or her candidacy, and maintain during his or her tenure in office, an average citizenship grade of 2.0, unless the administration grants a waiver of the said requirement.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall take the following oath or affirmation upon assuming the presidency, “I do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School.”
Subsection B. The Vice President:
Sub-subsection 1. Shall be entering either his or her senior or junior year.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall not have reason, at the time of his or her candidacy for the vice presidency, to believe that he or she will opt for Amity’s early graduation program.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall have at the time of his or her candidacy, and maintain during his or her tenure in office, an average citizenship grade of 2.0, unless the administration grants a waiver of the said requirement. Sub-Subsection 4. Shall be qualified to perform the duties of the office of the Vice President, and also President, in the event that the President is absent or is, by any number of means, removed from office.
Subsection C. The Treasurer:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall be entering either his or her senior or junior year.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall not have reason, at the time of his or her candidacy for the office of Treasurer, to believe that he or she will opt for Amity’s early graduation program.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall have at the time of his or het: candidacy, and maintain during his or her tenure in office, an average citizenship grade of 2.0, unless the administration grants a waiver the said requirement.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall take the following oath or affirmation upon assuming the office of Treasurer, “I do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the office of the Treasurer of the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School.”
Sub-subsection 5. Shall be able to execute the duties of the office of Treasurer.
Subsection D. The Recording Secretary:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall be entering either his or her senior or junior year.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall not have reason, at the time of his or her candidacy for the office of Recording Secretary, to believe that he or she will opt for Amity’s early graduation program.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall have at the time of his or her candidacy, and maintain during his or her tenure in office, an average citizenship grade of 2.0, unless the administration grants a waiver of the said requirement.
Subsection E. The Corresponding Secretary:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall be entering either his or her senior or junior year.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall not have reason, at the time of his or her candidacy for the office of Corresponding Secretary, to believe that he or she will opt for Amity’s early graduation program.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall have at the time of his or her candidacy, and maintain during his or her tenure in office, an average citizenship grade of 2.0, unless the administration grants a waiver of the said requirement.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall take the following oath or affirmation upon assuming the office of Corresponding Secretary, “I do solemnly swear…
Sub-Subsection 6. Shall fulfill all of his or her obligations, as stated in this Constitution.
Sub-Subsection 7. Shall, at his or her discretion, exercise the powers of the office of President, as stated in this Constitution.
Subsection B. The Vice President, while in office:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall perform all the duties of the President in his or her absence.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall assist the President in every way possible to further the business of Student Government.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall act as a parliamentarian during
Student Government meetings, and assist the President in dealing with questions of parliamentary procedure.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall fulfill all of his or her obligations, as stated in this Constitution.
Sub-Subsection 5. Shall, at his or her discretion, exercise the powers of the office of Vice President, as stated in this Constitution.
Subsection C. The Treasurer, while in office:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall work with the faculty advisor to record all the transactions of the Student Government portion of the School’s General Fund.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall carry out any and all financial business of the Student Government.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall keep a ledger of all Student Government expenditures, receipts, profits, losses, and balances, and shall present a copy of such a ledger at Student Government meetings and make a copy of such a ledger available to any person that requests one. A copy of this ledger shall be passed on to the Treasurer of the next year.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall keep all paperwork, or a copy thereof, pertaining to the financial business of the Student Government, and pass it on to the Treasurer of the next year.
Sub-Subsection 5. Shall fulfill all of his or her obligations, as stated in this Constitution.
Sub-Subsection 6. Shall, at his or her discretion, exercise the powers of the office of Treasurer, as stated in this Constitution.
Subsection D. The Recording Secretary, while in office:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall keep the minutes of each meeting of the Student Government, and each meeting of the officers of the Student Government, and pass these records on to the Recording Secretary of the next year.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall read the minutes of previous meeting.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall produce copies of the agenda, which may be created by members of the Student Government for each meeting of the Student Government, or for each meeting of the officers of the Student Government. A copy of each agenda shall be passed on to the Recording Secretary of the next year.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall keep an accurate record of all other proceedings of the Student Government, which shall be passed on to the Recording Secretary of the next year excepting financial proceedings that the Student Government Treasurer shall handle.
Sub-Subsection 5. Shall produce, any fliers or propaganda that the Student Government may deem necessary to further its business, unless this task is assigned to another member of Student Government by the President.
Sub-Subsection 6. Shall produce any phone trees, any listings of members of the Student Government or council or committee thereof that the Student Government may deem to be necessary.
Sub-Subsection 7. Shall keep a record of attendance at all meetings and activities of the Student Government, and turn over a copy of such records to the Attendance Committee. A copy of such attendance-records shall be passed on to the Recording Secretary of the following year. Sub-Subsection 8. Shall fulfill all of his or her obligations, as stated in this Constitution.
Sub-Subsection 9. Shall, at his or her discretion, exercise the powers of the office of Recording Secretary, as stated in this Constitution.
Subsection E. The Corresponding Secretary, while in office:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall notify all members of Student Government meetings by use of a phone tree and/or first period mail, and shall request to make an announcement over the public address system. Sub-Subsection 2. Shall keep a calendar of all Student Government events.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall distribute the minutes of all Student Government meetings to Student Government members and any other person who may request such said documents.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall perform all the duties of the Recording Secretary in his or her absence.
Sub-Subsection 5. Shall assist the other officers in filing papers of the Student Government Office.
Sub-Subsection 6. Shall fulfill all of his or her obligations, as stated in this Constitution.
Sub-Subsection 7. Shall, at his or her discretion, exercise the powers of the office of Corresponding Secretary, as stated in this Constitution.
Section 2. The duties of each of the Student Government Representatives shall be:
Subsection A: To act as a voice for the entire student population at Amity High School.
Subsection B: To represent the students from their respective class.
Subsection C: To listen to the opinions of students.
Subsection D. To be assigned to a minimum of one standing committee and also one special committee.
Subsection C. The name of any candidate for officer who loses shall automatically be placed on the ballot for his or her respective class representative election, unless the candidate requests otherwise. Accordingly, elections for Representatives to the Student Government shall be held the school day after officer elections, with the exception of incoming sophomores who shall be elected in September.
Subsection D. Each student running for Student Government Representative must submit a completed application and a petition with the names and signatures of at least 25 students registered at Amity, before their names will be placed on the ballot.
Subsection E. 15 senior, 15 juniors, and 15 sophomores representatives will be elected to the Student Government by members of their respective class. In the event that fewer than 15 candidates run to become the representatives of anyone class, then all the candidates shall become representatives. In this circumstance, the formality of an election shall not be required, at the discretion of the Student Government advisor, and the Executive Board. In the event that the number of votes received by a candidate in fifteenth place is exactly tied by the number of votes received by other candidates running for the same office, all candidates receiving the number of votes that tied for fifteenth place shall automatically become representatives.
Subsection F. After the official announcement of candidates seeking office, campaigning may begin Assemblies will be called for the junior and sophomore classes at which candidates for any of the Student Government Officer position, shall make speeches. Unless otherwise determined by a vote of the Student Government, all speeches should be held live, either in the auditorium or the gymnasium.
Subsection G. Candidates speeches must be reviewed and or edited by the Student Government advisor and the executive board for obscenity, as defined by the Supreme Court, and for factual accuracy only. Under no circumstances spall a speech be edited to change the stated opinions of the candidate and/or his or her platform.
Subsection H. Elections shall take place by machine. If a machine is not available, then a locked ballot box and paper ballots may be used.
Subsection I. No electioneering shall be allowed within 75 feet of the poles while they are open.
Subsection J. The counting of votes, and/or the tabulation of election results, shall take place in the presence of the Student Government Advisor, the Student Government President, and any other officers not on the ballot who wish to be present, reporters from the school newspaper, if available, any Registrar of Voters, if available, and any other security as is deemed necessary by the Student Government. All candidates must be at least 75 feet away from the place where the votes are being counted and tabulated, at the time that they are being counte9 and tabulated. The final sheet of tabulated results must contain the signatures of the Student Government Advisor and President, if not other signatures of witnesses as well.
Subsection K. The candidate who receives the greatest number of votes for each office, whether a simple majority, or a plurality of the total vote, shall win the election for such said office.
Subsection L. All candidates are entitled to a recount, where they may have a representative present to observe the recount.
Subsection M. All paper ballots cast must be sealed and saved for at least one year after the election in which such said paper ballots were used.
Subsection N. Any person is entitled to obtain the results of an election, including the voter turnout, and the number of votes obtained by each candidate.
Subsection O. A list of all candidates who ran for any representative office and how those candidates placed in the election shall be saved. In the event that any of the elected 15 members do not end up serving due to resignation, moving away, or something else, the next candidate in line, who lost the election shall be notified.
This person may become a representative at their discretion. If this person rejects, then the position shall be offered to the next person in line, and so on.
ARTICLE 8.
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. For the purposes of this Constitution, and the Student Government, the Executive Board shall be defined as the group collectively composed of the Student Government President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall hold meetings and conduct executive sessions as needed, at its discretion.
Section 3. The Student Government Advisor and any other person invited by the Executive Board may attend any meetings of the Executive Board.
Section 4. The Executive Board shall be responsible for overseeing the activities and effectiveness of every Student Government committee and subcommittee thereof This committee shall also be responsible for investigating cases of misconduct, fraud, gross misrepresentation, other abuses, or any issue referred to it by the Student Government President, with the exception of attendance issues, and may recommend removal of any member from Student Government, or removal of any member from any committee or subcommittee thereof, in cases that the Executive Board may deal with.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall establish a set of guidelines, which it may follow in investigating attendance problems.
Section 6. The Executive Board shall investigate absences and/or attendance problems, and deal with such problems on a case-by-case basis.
Section 7. The Executive Board may recommend the removal of any member from Student Government, or removal of any member from any committee or subcommittee thereof, in cases that involve problems with attendance.
ARTICLE 9. STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing committees may be formed either by a majority vote of the Student Government, or if a particular standing committee is required by the Constitution.
Section 2. The President of the Student Government shall appoint Members of any standing committee. The President may appoint a committee chairman and vice chairman, or leave the election of the committee chairman and vice chairman to the members of the committee.
Section 3. Meetings of all standing committees are open to any student, unless otherwise declared by executive order of the Student Government President.
Section 4. Standing Committees are open to the public, but have the right to enter executive session at any time.
Section 5. Each Standing Committee shall be required to meet a minimum of one time per month during the school year.
Section 6. The President of the Student Government, or the chairman of each representing committee may call a meeting of such said committee at any time, as needed.
Section 7. A Recording Secretary, chosen by the members other committee, shall keep detailed proceedings of the minutes of each and every meeting. A copy of such said minutes must be signed by the chairman and secretary and be forwarded to the Student Government Office within 3 school days.
Section 8. A tape recorder may be activated at any standing committee meeting, by anyone at the meeting.
Section 9. The powers and duties of each standing committee shall be granted to sue said committee by the Student Government, upon the creation of such said committee.
Section 10. Each standing committee shall be required to submit a committee report at each regular Student Government meeting, unless stated otherwise by the Student Government President.
Section 11. Any Student Government Officer, at their discretion, may attend any meeting of any standing committee. If such said officer becomes a member of anyone standing committee, then, that officer may act as a voting member of that committee.
ARTICLE 10.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Section 1. The Student Government President shall have the power to issue executive orders to bring about action, on any urgent issue, which should not wait until the next Student Government meeting, or on any issue, which is of minor significance.
Section 3. The absentee ballot may be submitted as an official vote during the same exact period of time during which that absentee ballot could have been obtained.
Section 4. Any member of the Executive Board may issue an absentee ballot, for you, to any other member of Student Government.
Section 5. The absent voter, in the presence of at least one witness, shall sign the ballot. The ballot shall be turned into the organization, which held or will hold the vote, for which the absentee ballot was cast.
Section 6. After the Student Government, Executive Board, and committee or subcommittee has counted the absentee ballot, the original copy of the ballot shall be forwarded to the Student Government Office, where it shall be filed. Any committee or subcommittees of the Student Government may keep copies of the absentee ballot.
ARTICLE: 14.
MEETINGS
Section 1. The Student Government officers shall preside over meetings of the St4dent Government and work to organize the Student Government into committees for various events.
Section 2. Student Government meetings shall be run by a strict adherence to the rules adopted by a majority vote of the Student Government. Copies of these rules shall be available to any member that requests them.
Section 3. Attendance shall be taken at all meetings and a copy of the attendance record shall be submitted to the Student Government Office or the Attendance Committee within three days of the meeting. This shall apply to both the Student Government, and the committees and subcommittees of the Student Government.
ARTICLE 15.
CLASS COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Section 1. Each graduating class at Amity High School shall have a class council committee designated to itself These class council committees shall be called “The Sophomore Class Council Committee,” “The Junior Class Council Committee,” and “The Senior Class Council Committee”, as is appropriate.
Section 2. Each Class Council Committee is hereby declared to be a standing committee, whose existence is hereby mandated by this constitution. It has all of the duties, and responsibilities of a general standing committee, with the exception of the fact that each Class Council Committee shall have its own treasury, completely separate from the treasury of the Student Government.
Section 3. Any member of Student Government shall be entitled to membership on their respective Class Council Committee.
Sub-subsection 5. Shall be able to execute the duties of the office of Corresponding Secretary, and Recording Secretary also, in the event that the Recording Secretary is absent.
Section 2. Each of the class representatives to the Student Government:
Subsection A. Shall be a member of the class that they represent to the Student Government.
Subsection B. Shall not have reason, at the time of his or her candidacy for the office of Class Representative, to believe that he or she will opt for Amity’s early graduation program.
Subsection C. Shall have at the time of his or her candidacy, and maintain his or her tenure in office, an average citizenship grade of 2.0, unless the administration grants a waiver of the said requirement.
Subsection D. Shall take the following oath or affirmation upon assuming the office of Class Representative, “I do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that J will faithfully execute the office of Representative of my class to the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School.”
Subsection E. Shall be able to execute the duties of the office of Class Representative.
ARTICLES.
DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section 1. The duties of each of the various Student Government Officers shall be:
Subsection A. The President, while in office:
Sub-Subsection 1. Shall preside over meetings of the Student Government, and meetings of the officers of Student Government, and enforce the rules by which Student Government has agreed to in its meetings.
Sub-Subsection 2. Shall consult with the Vice President or 9ther parliamentarian on questions of parliamentary procedure.
Sub-Subsection 3. Shall appoint people to committees and other posts as is necessary and proper.
Sub-Subsection 4. Shall take all appropriate measures to insure that all the provisions 6fthe Student Government Constitution and its Bylaws are carried out. Sub-Subsection 5. Shall call special meetings of the Student Government, or any of its committees, or subcommittees, or of the Executive Board at any time, as is necessary.
Section 4. Each Class Council Committee shall be responsible for handling issues pertinent to their class, or any other issue that may be assigned to them by the Executive Board.
Section 5. The Executive Board, if called upon to do so by a Class Council Committee, shall assist the members of that particular Class Council Committee to nominate their chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, and secretary. The duties of all Class Council Committee Offices shall be outlined in the Bylaws of each respective Class Council Committee. Each respective Class Council Committee may chose to amend and adopt their By-laws.
Article 16. BY-LAWS
Section 1. A copy of the procedures, regulations, and guidelines for the Standing Committees, Class Council Committees, Board of Education Representatives Committee, The Amity Change Team Representatives Committee, The PTSO Representatives Committee, Special Committees, and Subcommittees can be found in a copy of the By-laws for the Student Government Packet. The packet is available in the Student Government for the public, and a copy will be given to the heads of each committee when the committees meet.
ARTICLE 17.
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths majority vote of the entire membership of the Student Government.
ARTICLE 18.
RATIFICATION OF THIS CONSTITUTION
Section 1. Ratification of this Constitution shall only take place upon a two-thirds majority vote of the entire membership of the Student Government of Amity Regional Senior High School.
