The Constitution of the Associated Student Body

of Nathan Hale High School

ASB

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Preamble

 

We, the students of Nathan Hale High School to promote representative and democratic government, outstanding sportsmanship, student activities, and the general welfare for the Nathan Hale High School; to improve and promote student, staff, and community interaction through mutual respect and communication; to increase student voice in school management; and to continue and establish traditions, activities, events, and responsibilities which promote a positive school atmosphere and culture; establish this Constitution  of the Student Body of Nathan Hale High School.

 

Article I:  With this Constitution we recognize the Associated Student Body of Nathan Hale High School established on _____________ (refer to previous constitution).  Our mascot for all Nathan Hale co-curricular activities shall be The Raiders.  The school colors shall be red, white, and blue.

 

Article II:  This constitution acknowledges and supports the rights and responsibilities of every full-time student; a student who attends Nathan Hale a minimum of three class hours per day, and/or confers upon them membership in the Associated Student Body by purchasing an ASB Card.

 

Article III:  Structure of Government

Section 1:  The Associated Student Body shall allow for a system of government possessing equitable distribution of duties and responsibilities and shall consist of three branches:  Executive, Representative, and Judicial.

 

Section 2:  The Executive Branch shall consist of the Student Leadership Council (SLC).  This branch shall serve to facilitate community communication and the creation, implementation, and evaluation of activities that positively impact student life and building culture.  Further, this branch is responsible for the creation, implementation, and overview of financial decisions affecting the ASB.

 

Section 3:  The Representative Branch shall consist of the SLC, the Student Union, and school administration (including the Activity Coordinator, the principal, staff, and community).  While the SLC will be active daily, the main responsibility of this branch is the communication of events to and from the Executive Branch and the entire Associated Student Body in order to facilitate student voice, participation, leadership, and learning.

 

Section 4:  The Judicial Branch shall consist of the SLC and the Administration, specifically the Activity Coordinator and/or the Principal.  With this branch rests the responsibility of previewing actions and/or programs, especially those that are new, innovative, or mean a substantive change to current practice, prior to invoking the veto power of the Principal of Nathan Hale High School. 

 

Article IV:  Officers and Duties

Section 1:  Executive Branch, the SLC

  1. Membership of the SLC includes, but is not limited to:

      ASNH Officers

i. ASNH President

ii. ASNH Vice President

iii. ASNH Secretary

iv. ASNH Treasurer

                  Commissioners

1.      Commissioner of Clubs.

2.   Commissioner of Social Activities and Events.

3.   Technical Commissioner.

4.   Commissioner of Assemblies and Dances

5.   Commissioner of Athletics

   6.   Communications Commissioner

   7.   Commissioner of Fundraising

   8.   Commissioner of Visual and Performing Arts

                                                               i.      The number of Commissioners shall consist of no fewer than 7 positions and represent those positions and duties deemed necessary by the elected ASNH officers and Activity Director.

 Class Officers

a.       President

b.      Vice President

c.       Secretary

d.      Treasurer

e.       Senate Representative

f.        Site-Council Representative

  1. Duties of the SLC include but are not limited to:

1.   Grant charters to clubs and organizations.

2.      Investigate and report on matters referred to it by the student body or faculty.

3.      Approve all student body financing and spending.

4.      Those duties necessary for student voice at Nathan Hale High School.

 

  1. All officers of the SLC are elected or appointed to one-year terms.
  2. The ASNH Budget, and all subsequent budgets under that umbrella, shall be established by the end of May of the previous year at the latest.
    1. The outgoing ASNH Treasurer runs the budget meetings.
    2. The newly elected ASNH officers, the elected and appointed SLC officers, and the staff Activity Director shall adopt the yearly budget.
  3. The SLC shall hold a business meeting at least once per week to entertain financial or programmatic issues and decisions. 
    1. This meeting will be publicized so that all needing to bring business before the Executive Branch can do so in a timely and appropriate manner.
    2. At minimum, a treasurer, secretary, and one other officer must be present from each class as well as the ASNH Treasurer, Secretary and either ASNH President or Vice President must be present if an approval of expenditures is necessary.

 

Section 2:  Representative Branch

  1. This branch consists of the SLC and the Student Union.
  2. The Student Union shall include one representative and one alternate from each mentorship, serving a one school year term.
    1. Each mentorship shall have one vote as a member of the Student Union. 
    2. ASNH officers will conduct Student Union meetings.
    3. In order to vote on a proposal, the representative or the alternate must be in attendance at the Student Union meeting.  No votes will be taken by proxy or in review.
  3. The duties of the Student Union include:
    1. Serving as a general liaison between the SLC and the student body, ensuring that communication occurs both directions.
    2. Making proposals concerning student life at Nathan Hale High School, which include but are not limited to rules, activities, events, concerns, building culture, etc. to the SLC.
    3. When a proposal is not approved for action by the SLC, the SLC returns it to the Student Union within 30 days for the Student Union to determine the next action (revision, re-presentation, or inaction).
  4. The Student Union shall meet a minimum of once (1) per academic quarter.

 

Section 3:  Judicial Branch

  1. The Judicial Branch shall consist of the SLC and the Administration, specifically the Activity Coordinator and/or the Principal.
  2. The duties of the Student Union, when called upon, are to act as a review board of proposed actions and/or programs within the student government purview prior to principal or Administrative veto.
  3. The Judicial Branch does not meet regularly as most business is handled within the trained operation of the Executive and Representative branches.

 

Section 4:  Decision-making

  1. A quorum of any decision-making body exists when 2/3 of the elected and appointed officers of that designated group are present.
  2. When in process for a decision, every effort will be made to reach consensus of those present as appropriate and within a reasonable timeline.
  3. The powers of the various organizations of the ASB are delegated to it by the principal, who shall have the power to veto any measure adopted by said groups, if s/he feels the measure is unreasonable or unsafe, disrupts the academic mission of NHHS, or violates the WACs or RCWs, district policies, or school policies, or interferes with the general well-being of the students of Nathan Hale High School.

 

Article V:  Elections

  1. Officerships:

a.       All ASNH officers, Class Officers, and Commissioners shall be elected or appointed for one-year terms.  Representatives to the Student Union shall be elected for one-year terms.

    1. All ASNH officers, Class Officers, and Commissioners shall meet the eligibility requirements for co-curricular activities as established in the By-Laws.
  1. Elections
    1. Elections for the following year for ASNH officers and class officers for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders shall occur during the mentorship prior to the final day in March.
    2. 9th grade elections will occur prior to the last Friday in September.
    3. All students (as defined in Article II) can vote on candidates for their corresponding class and ASNH officers.
    4. The candidate with the most votes assumes the office for which they campaigned.
  2. Taking Office: 
    1. All ASNH officers, Class Officers, and Commissioners will take office on the last day of the school preceding their term of office or membership. 
    2. All Student Union Representatives will assume their office upon election according to the guidelines established by the staff Activity Director and the ASNH Director of Elections.
    3. In the case that a class position is not filled, the officers elected will meet with their class advisors to recruit and appoint the needed position. Candidates who lost in other class positions shall be considered.
  3. Vacancies in Office:
    1. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of ASNH or Class President, the corresponding Vice-president shall assume the duties of that office.
    2. In the event of a vacancy occurring in any other elected ASNH or Class office, an election shall be held for these offices prior to March.
    3. For vacancies occurring in ASNH offices after March, the ASNH officers may appoint a student to hold that office.
    4. For vacancies in elected Class offices after March, the remaining class officers in consultation with their class advisor(s) may appoint a student from their class to hold said office.
    5. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the Student Union, the mentorship class shall be contacted for another representative.  If that mentorship cannot hold an election within 3 class periods, the ASNH officers in consultation with the mentor teacher may appoint a student.
  4. Recall:
    1. SLC members who neglect their responsibilities to the ASB including but not limited to lack of participation in SLC activities and/or maintaining good standing, will be put on mandatory probation which will include:

                                                               i.      Conversation with the staff Activity Director

                                                             ii.      Plan for future success

                                                            iii.      A timeline that will constitute the first measurement of adequate progress on the Plan for success.

    1. An officer may be recalled by the SLC if the individual acts outside of the intended constitutional rules and regulations or if they cannot meet the requirements of section A.  No further vote is necessary for an SLC member.
    2. An officer may be recalled by a petition signed by 50% of the officers of the group the officer represents.

 

Article VI:  Amendments

Section 1:  Any and all additions or changes to this Constitution shall require an amendment.

Section 2:  Amendments must be proposed by a member of the Representative Branch to all members of the Representative Branch.

Section 3:  Amendments must be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority vote in the SLC and a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority in the Student Union.

Section 4:  A ratified amendment shall be effective immediately.

 

Article VII:  Ratification

A proposed Constitution shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members of the SLC and Student Union provided that a quorum of the SLC and Student Union are present.

 

 

This Constitution of the Associated Student Body of Nathan Hale High School was ratified on the ______ day of _________________ 2006.