Surprise Lake Middle School

ASB Constitution

The students of Surprise Lake middle School, in order to promote the general welfare, encourage and unify student activities, and enact desirable changes in the Student Body organization, do hereby establish this constitution.

Article 1: Name

              The name of the organization shall be the Associated Student Body of Surprise Lake Middle School (herein also named ASB or ASB of SLMS).

Article II: Purpose

Section A.  The purpose of this organization shall be to enable students to learn the procedures of student government; to stimulate interest in student activities; to promote a spirit of cooperation between the student body and the faculty; and to assume our share of the responsibility for the welfare of the Student Body as a whole.

Section B. Student Government shall be the governing body of the Associated Student Body.  They shall work, with the aid of a faculty advisor, to set up policies and plan activities for the school year.

Article III: Membership

The membership shall include all students activities enrolled in SLMS.

Article IV: Organization of the Governing Body

Section A.  The governing body shall be called the Student Government and shall be composed of two divisions:  The Executive Council and the Student Council.  Each member of the student government shall have one vote.

Section B.  The Executive Council shall consist of the Associated Student Body Officers, as elected by the student body, and a faculty advisor.

Section C. The Student Council shall be composed of one representative form each core class (SCC Rep) and the members of the Executive Council, as well as representatives from recognized school organizations as appointed by the Executive Council.

Article V: Meetings

Section A. Executive Council Meetings shall be held monthly or at the discretion of the president and/or advisor.  Attendance for individuals other than the Executive Council shall be by invitation or request.

Section B. The Student Government Meetings shall meet monthly or at the discretion of the president and/or advisor.  Attendance for these meetings shall be open to all students and interested parties.

Section C.  Quorum.  A quorum for conduction a business meeting of the Student Council shall consist of 2/3 of the present voting members. Special ballet vote may occur if a meeting is not possible before an issue must be resolved.

Article VI: Powers of the Governing Body

Section A. Duties and powers of the Executive Council shall be:

1. To act as a Rules Committee for amendments for the Constitution.
2. To draw up an agenda for Student Council meetings.
3. To meet outside of Council when deemed necessary by the Principal, the        Advisor, or the President.
4. To make recommendations for action by the Student Council.

Section B. Duties and powers of the Student Council shall be:

1. To work with the Executive Council: to encourage cooperation between the staff and student body; to conduct student government; and to supervise activities.
2. To investigate and report on matters referred to it by students or faculty.
3. To have the final vote on all Student Government activities.

Section C. Veto: The School Board, Principal, and Advisor shall have the right to veto any measure proposed by the Student Council.

Article VIII: Officers and Duties of the Officers

Section A. Officers

• Associated Student Body President
• Associated Student Body Vice-President
• Associated Student Body Secretary
• Associated Student Body Treasurer
• Core Representatives (One per Core Class)
• Advisor

Section B. Duties of Specific Officers

1.  Associated Student Body President

              a. Preside at all Student Council meetings and some assemblies

              b. Act as official Representative of the Associated Student Body

              c. Prepare and distribute an agenda for Student Council meetings.

              d. Call special meetings a needed with approval of the advisor.

              e. Shall appoint all necessary committees.

              f. May be responsible for miscellaneous duties

g. Confirming that a quorum has or has not been reached.

2. Associated Student Body Vice-President

              a. Assume the duties of the President in case of absence.

b. Take over the office of President if the office is vacated

c. Take charge of at least 1 meeting

d. Oversee Committees

3. Associated Student Body Secretary

a. Take minutes at Executive Council and Student Council meetings.

b. Publish Student Council minutes

c. Be responsible for all official correspondence

d. Take Attendance at all Student Council meetings.

e. Read the minutes of the previous meeting.

4. Associated Student Body Treasurer

a. Assist the Principal and Advisor in preparing the ASB budget.

b. Present the financial report to the Student Council upon request. (Given one weeks notice)

c. Contact the building secretary (who shall keep an accurate account of ASB funds) and request a financial report.

5. Core Representatives

a. Attend all Student Council meetings.

b. Participate in meetings.

c. Act as a go-between for Core and Student Council

d. Serve on various committees.

6. Advisor

                            a. Propose items or agenda

                            b. Approve all activities and expenditures.

c. Act as an agent of the School Board to make certain that district policies are carried out.

d. Support the student council members in their various duties.

Section C. Removal and Replacement of Officers

1. An officer may be dismissed from office for any of the following reasons.

a Conduct unbecoming a position of leadership

b. Violation of school or district policies.

c. Not fulfilling his/her duties as prescribed in this Constitution.

d. Unexcused absence from two meetings in a row or more than 3 meetings.

e. GPA of less that 2.5 for two consecutive quarters.

f. Request of the Core teacher for the better of the student.

2. Undesirable classroom conduct by an officer will be reviewed by the Student Council to determine whether the officer will be removed.

3. Removal may be instituted by writing a confidential letter to the Advisor or Principal which includes the name of the person to be removed and the reasons for the removal.  The Advisor will bring it to the attention of the Council if deemed necessary.

4. A two-thirds vote by Student Council members and concurrence of the Principal and Advisor shall be the basis for dismissal from office.

a. Executive Officer vacancies shall be filled by the candidate who received the second highest number of votes in the original election or by a special election.

b. Core Representative vacancies shall be filled at the discretion of the Core teacher.

Article IX Elections

Section A.  Associated Student Body Officers

1. Elections: Elections for ASB Officers shall be held in the month of May of the Preceding year.

2. Qualifications: Only those who will be in the 7th grade of the active year will be allowed to run for the positions of ASB Officer.  All Candidates must be able to attend regular meetings, as well as maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher.

3. Nominations: These officers shall be nominated by a petition bearing the signature of five of their teachers and approved by the principal  before the nominees list is made public.  Faculty members may initiate such a petition.

4. Current 7th grades will not be allowed to vote during the May elections.

Section B. Core Representatives

1. Nominations and Elections: Elections for Student Council Core Representatives shall be held within the first two weeks of school. Core Class Teachers will determine the details of the nomination and election.

2. Qualifications:  SCC Reps must be able to attend all Student Council meetings, and maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA.

3.  Current ASB Officers may not serve as a SCC Rep.

Article X.  Clubs and Organizations:

Section A. Formation

• Clubs may be formed when students have an interest and have secured an advisor.  An advisor must be a classified or certified staff member of the Fife School District who is able to attend all meetings and competitions.
• All clubs shall follow these guidelines:
• Present a Statement of Purpose with a description of the club, including purpose, goals, and sample meeting schedule
• Received approval of the Student Council to organize.
• Present a budget for the year and end the school year with a zero or positive budget.
• A minimum of 10 SLMS students who participate regularly, have turned in a signed Code of Conduct, and have paid their ASB fee for the current year.
• One chief officer or advisor’s assistant who maintains a 2.5 or higher GPA.
• Meet at least once a month during the school year. Minutes for these meetings must submitted to the ASB Advisor or their designee.
• Remain subject to the rules and regulations of this constitution.

Section B. Funding

All club expenditures, activities, and fund raisers must be approved by the Student Council and the Principal/Advisor.

Section C. Club Removal

A clubs ceases to exist when fails to meet the guidelines listed in section A.  Any financial balance remaining automatically reverts back to the ASB general fund.

Article XI. Amendments

Any member of the Student Council may propose changes to the constitution.  Such amendments must be passed by 2/3 majority of the Student Council and be posted on the bulletin boards for a week to be viewed by all students.  If 2/3 of the Student Body favors the amendment, it shall become part of the constitution.

Article XII. Adoption.

This constitution, upon ratification of quorum of the Student Council, supersedes all other constitutions previously followed.