Constitution of the Incredible Dolphins Student Team Council

 

Preamble

 

We, the members of the Incredible Dolphins Assembly, in order to foster a spirit of cooperation among the students and faculty, and to encourage the highest standards of personal conduct, and to promote activities which are in the best interests of our school, do hereby ordain and establish this Constitution for the 6D class of Vicente San Agustin Benavente Middle School (VSABMS).

 

Article I

Name of Organization

The Name of this Organization shall be The Incredible Dolphins Student Council (IDSC).

 

Article II

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose and objectives of the Incredible Dolphins Student Council shall be:

1. To foster a spirit of cooperation and community amongst students and teachers of team 6D from Benavente Middle School.
2. To promote and encourage activities that are in the best interests of the team and our school, which comply with all local, state, and federal laws.
3. To raise funds for purchasing educational materials to enhance student learning.
4. To raise funds to provide the financial means for social activities.

 

Article III

Assembly Membership

The membership body shall consist of an assembly comprised of students and faculty members assigned to Team 6D of Vicente San Agustin Benavente Middle School.

 

Article IV

Student Team Council Membership

The assembly is governed by elected student officers.  It is comprised of three bodies:  The Executive Board, the Legislative Board, and the Faculty Advisor(s).

 

Section 1.  The Executive Board shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary of Correspondence, Secretary of Records, Historian, and Parliamentarian.  They are to execute the bills or activities passed by the legislative body.

 

Section 2.  The Legislative Board shall consist of eight (8) elected senators.  The senators hold the voting privileges to pass bills into laws.

 

Section 3.  The Faculty Advisor(s) are the teachers from Team 6D.

 

Section 4.    How a bill becomes a law:

            Clause 1:  All students and teachers in team 6D may introduce or propose bills, activities, or events to the General Assembly, Executive Board, or Legislative Board.

            Clause 2:  Any bill that is passed by the Legislative Board by a simple majority must be signed by the Executive President, a Faculty Advisor, and a School Administrator before it takes effect.

 

Article V

The Election of Officers and the Election Process

The Student Officers shall be elected in a general election for the term of one semester.  The first general election shall occur within the first month of the school year.  The second general election shall occur during the first full month of the third quarter session.

 

The Executive Board officers must receive the majority vote cast by students from Team 6D of VSABMS. 

 

The Legislative Board, or senators, will be comprised of the top eight vote recipients in the general election.

 

Article VI

The Offices and the Officers Roles and Duties

The Student Team Council membership shall consist of the Executive Board, the Legislative Board, Homeroom Representatives, and Faculty Advisors.  The respective duties are outlined below:

 

1. Executive Board

All members of the Executive Board will:

·        Represent the ideas and concerns of the Senators to the Executive Board, Faculty Advisors, and Administrators.

·        Represent the ideas and concerns of the Executive Board to the Senators, Faculty Advisors, and Administrators.

·        To work cooperatively with other Executive Officers, the Senators, and Faculty Advisors in executing the approved committees.

·        Serve as or appoint committee chairpersons.

·        Serve as model students by abiding by all class, team, school rules as well as local and national laws.

·        Work with the Advisors and Senators in planning team activities and events.

·        Attend all required Executive Board meetings and general assemblies.

·        Report to a team Faculty Advisor at least once a week.

 

In addition to the above duties, each Executive Board position will serve the specific duties as described below:

1.      President

i.         To preside as chairperson at all regular meetings.

ii.       To set the agenda for every meeting

iii.      To provide leadership and set policy for the IDSC.

iv.     To cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie in any issue requiring a ballot.

 

2.      Vice-President

i.         To serve as chairperson for all fund raising committees.

ii.       To assume all the roles and duties of President in the abscense of the President.

 

3.      Secretary of Correspondence

i.         To provide official correspondence for the IDSC when required.

ii.       To assume the duties of the Secretary of Records in the event of absence.

iii.      To assist the Historian in the construction of the team yearbook, quarterly newsletter, and the Incredible Dolphins website.

4.      Secretary of Records

i.         To record and maintain a written record of business and issues discussed during regularly scheduled meetings.  This record shall be known as the minutes of the meeting.

ii.       To read aloud the minutes of the previous meeting at each regularly scheduled meeting.

iii.      To assume the duties of the Secretary of Correspondence in the event of an absence.

 

5.      Treasurer

i.         To maintain the financial records of the IDSC.

ii.       To provide accountability for all financial matters concerning the IDSC.

iii.      To read aloud at every regularly scheduled meeting the current financial statement of the IDSC.

 

6.      Historian

i.         To provide appropriate announcements and advertising activities within the school and the local community as directed by the IDSC.

ii.       To compile a photographic record of all IDSC  activities.

iii.      To create and distribute quarterly newsletters regarding issues, news, and events with the Incredible Dolphins Team.

iv.     To add, edit, and publish articles in the Incredible Dolphins website.

 

7.      Parliamentarian

i.         To ensure that the Constitution of the Incredible Dolphins be faithfully followed by the Student Team Council.

ii.       To establish and maintain proper parliamentary procedure at all IDSC meetings.

iii.      To ensure that all adopted bylaws are followed.

iv.     To maintain attendance records of all regular IDSC meetings.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Legislative Board

There will be eight (8) elected senators forming the Legislative Board.  All senators will:

• Attend all meetings of the general assembly.
• Discuss, debate, and vote on bills and activities that enhance intellectual and social growth for students of Team 6D.
• Work cooperatively with Officers, other Senators, and Advisors in executing the approved committees
• Report to their classes the business of the IDSC.
• Be willing to serve on an “ad hoc” committee.
• Serve as model students by abiding by all class, team, and school rules as well as local and national laws.
• Uphold the guidelines and regulations of the Incredible Dolphins Constitution.
• Be responsive to the needs and concerns of the students and teachers of Team 6D.

 

3. Homeroom Representatives

Each teacher from the Incredible Dolphins Team will choose two representatives from their 1^st period class, known as Homeroom Representatives.  The duties include:

• To attend regularly scheduled meeting of the IDSC.
• To convey the desires and concerns of the assembly membership to the IDSC.
• To report to the Homeroom class the business discussed at all regularly scheduled IDSC meetings.

 

4. Faculty Advisor

Any Team 6D Teacher qualifies as a Faculty Advisor.  The duties of the Faculty Advisor are:

• To provide adult supervision and advise to the IDSC.
• To exercise the Faculty Veto when the advisor deem it necessary.

 

Article VII

Faculty Advisor Veto

The Faculty Advisor(s) and School Administrators reserve the right to veto any measure approved by the IDSC.  A Student Team Council over-ride of the Faculty Advisor Veto does not exist.  A verbal explanation will be provided by the Faculty Advisor or School Administrator outlining the reasons for the Veto.

 

Article VIII

Meetings

Section 1:  All meetings, as deemed appropriate, shall be conducted using Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

 

Section 2:  The General Assembly, which consist of the Executive Board, Legislative Board, Homeroom Representatives, Faculty Advisor(s), and interested students from Team 6D shall meet at least once every two weeks.

 

Section 3:  The Executive board shall meet at least once a week. 

 

Section 4:  The Committees shall meet as needed.

 

Section 5:  At least one Faculty Advisor must be present in the executive and general assembly meeting.

 

Section 6:  A quorum shall consist of a simple majority, defined by at least 50% of all IDSC Officers plus one Officer.

 

Article IX

Impeachment and Succession

Section 1:  Impeachment

A.      All IDSC Officers and representatives shall be subject to impeachment for behavior deemed inappropriate by the Faculty Advisor(s) and/or School Administration.

B.     Suspension or expulsion from school requires automatic impeachment from any IDSC Officer.

C.     A report card below 2.5 cumulative G.P.A. or an “F” or receiving an “N” or “U” for citizenship requires automatic impeachment from any IDSC Officer.

D.     Missing 3 or more meetings, unexcused, shall be subject to impeachment proceedings.

E.      Any Officer or Representative who fails to carry out his/her duty in a responsible manner may have impeachment charges brought against him/her.

F.      Impeachment proceedings are defined in the bylaws.

 

Section 2:  Succession

1. In case of the President’s permanent inability to serve, the Vice-President will assume all responsibilities of the office of the President.  The Vice president will be replaced by following clause (B) below.
2. In case of all other elected/appointed officer(s) inability to serve, the President shall appoint from general applications or previous candidates, with approval from the executive board, a student to complete the term.  The Faculty Advisor(s) must confirm the appointment.
3. When Representative vacancies occur, they will be filled by special election in the homeroom class where the vacancies exist.

 

Article X

Amendments

This constitution may be amended by three-fourths (¾) of the legislative body

 

Article XI

Ratification

This Constitution shall be in effect when it is approved by Benavente Middle School’s Student Body Association (SBA), then receives three-fourths (¾) vote of the IDSC Officers.

 

 

Bylaws to the Constitution

 

Article I

Standing Committees

Section 1:  All standing committees shall be as follows:

1. Public Relations and Publicity—Is responsible for the maintenance of the Incredible Dolphins bulletin board, all advertisements for IDSC events, working with the corresponding secretary for all newspaper and website articles, and other school publicity as submitted and approved by the Faculty Advisor.
2. Service—Is responsible for planning and implementation of IDSC service projects.
3. Social—Is responsible for the planning and implementation of any IDSC social projects.
4. Spirit—Is responsible for the planning and implementation of any IDSC spirit projects.

 

Section 2:  All committee chairmen/chairwomen shall:

1. Attend all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.
2. Actively participate in IDSC activities.
3. Maintain regular communication with officers, other staff members, and the advisor.
4. Give monthly progress reports on committee activities.
5. Submit a semester end report relating to the actions of the committee during the semester.

 

Article II

Ad Hoc Committees

Section 1:  May be formed as deemed necessary by the executive board.

 

Section 2:  Must have specific objectives for a one-time event/program.  A project-pla should be completed as required with all IDSC events.

 

Section 3:  The President, with the consent of the executive board and approval of the Faculty Advisor, will appoint a chairman for the committee.

 

Section 4:  The committee will be disbanded at the conclusion of its function.

 

Article III

Impeachment

Section 1:  From Article 9, Section 1 in the Constitution, these are the proceedings to be implemented when charges are brought before an elected/appointed IDSC /Chairman/Representative:

1. Charges should be submitted in writing to the Faculty Advisor.
2. The Faculty Advisor will inform the Executive Board and a committee of students and at least two (2) Faculty Advisors shall be convened to discuss the charges.
3. If the committee finds the charges to be credible, the IDSC member charged with the impeachment shall present his/her defense to the committee.
4. The committee shall vote by secret ballot to determine the outcome.

 

Article IV

Adoption and Amendments

Section 1:  This document shall take effect upon approval by the VSABMS Student Body Association (SBA) and three-fourths (¾) vote of the Executive Board.

 

Section 2:  These Bylaws may be amended upon approval by VSABMS Student Body Association (SBA) and three-fourths (¾) vote of the Executive Board.

 

Article V

Jurisdiction

Section 1:  This document shall be appended to the Constitution for the duration of its authorization, but shall be superseded by the Constitution in any conflicts.