Student Government
CONSTITUTION
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
We the students, in order to form a more perfect educational environment, provide training as leaders in a democratic society, stimulate student pride and involvement in their school and community, foster beneficial relationships between the students, staff, and community, and promote the general welfare of all students, do ordain and establish this Constitution for Arts and Communication Magnet Academy (ACMA).
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Article I
- Article II
- Article III
- Article IV
- Article V
- Article VI
- Article VII
- Article VIII
- Article IX
- Article X
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I: ORGANIZATION’S NAME
ARTICLE II: STUDENT BODY ELIGIBILITY AND RIGHTS
ARTICLE III: STUDENT GOVERNMENT MEMBERS
ARTICLE IV: RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT MEMBERS
ARTICLE V: ELECTION PROCEDURES
ARTICLE VI: LENGTHS AND LIMITS FOR TERMS OF OFFICE
ARTICLE VII: IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT MEMBERS
ARTICLE VIII: STUDENT GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
ARTICLE IX: FINANCES
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS
Article I
Article II
Article III
SECTION 1. STUDENT GOVERNMENT MEMBERS
Student Government shall be composed and controlled by the following membership positions:
(a) The Officers, who are composed of the
i. President
ii. Vice President
iii. Secretary
iv. Treasurer
(b) The Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity,
(c) The Representatives;
(d) The Teacher Advisor.
Article IV
SECTION 1. RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT
The President shall be a junior who has served for at least one term in Student Government directly prior to election, and deemed academically acceptable by the Teacher Advisor. As President, they shall have the following responsibilities:
(a) To coordinate and delegate all functions and activities of ACMA Student Government;
(b) To appropriately represent Student Government and the Student Body at all school, interschool, and parent functions;
(c) To preside over and call order to all Sessions of the House of Representatives;
(d) To submit an initial written agenda for Student Government to the Representatives for their evaluation and approval by simple majority;
(e) To, from time to time, provide a written address to the Teacher Advisor as to the state of the organization and its activities;
(f) To facilitate Student Government’s relations between other ACMA organizations and the community at large; and -
(g) To be in constant contact with the Student Government and Staff.
SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President shall be a sophomore or a junior and have served for at least one term in Student Government directly prior to election. As Vice President, they shall have the
(a) To assume the responsibilities of the President in their absence; and
(b) To be in constant contact with the Student Government and Staff.
SEC. 3. RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SECRETARY
The Secretary shall be in eighth grade or above and have served for at least one term in Student Government directly prior to election. As Secretary, they shall have the following responsibilities:
(a) To take, file, and send out notes from all Sessions of the House of Representatives and Senate;
(b) To monitor and update the Student Government calendar, website, social media, and bulletin board;
(c) To be a source of communication between all Student Government members; and -
(d) To be in constant contact with the Student Government and Staff.
SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE TREASURER.
The Treasurer shall be in eighth grade or above and have served for at least one term in Student Government directly prior to election. As Treasurer, they shall have the following
(a) To properly execute all aspects of ARTICLE IX;
(b) To prepare financial reports as needed;
(c) To provide budgets for different projects within the Student Government; and
(d) To be in constant contact with the Student Government and Staff.
SEC. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE COUNCIL ON CONSTITUTIONALITY AND CONGRESSIONAL INTEGRITY
The Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity shall consist of two Middle School and two High School Representatives. The council shall have the following responsibilities:
(a) To monitor and confirm that all actions taken within the Student Government are in accordance with the Constitution, and to report and suggest appropriate penalties and revisions to the Officers and Teacher Advisors for all actions not in accordance with the Constitution; and
(b) To thoroughly know and understand the Constitution.
SEC. 6. RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The Representatives shall consist of two ACMA students elected by their respective Ohana. As Ohana Representatives, they shall have the following responsibilities:
(a) To faithfully represent the constituency of their respective Ohana;
(b) To attend all Sessions of the House of Representatives and Town Hall meetings scheduled by Student Government, and, if unable to attend, to notify an Officer as to their whereabouts;
(c) To evaluate the President’s initial proposed agenda for Student Government and vote on the matter;
(d) To participate in the execution of Student Government’s activities; and –
(e) To be a source of communication between Student Government and the Student Body.
SEC. 7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE TEACHER ADVISOR.
The Teacher Advisor shall be an ACMA staff member. As Teacher Advisor, they shall have the following responsibilities:
(a) To supervise the activities of Student Government;
(b) To be in constant contact with Student Government; and
(c) To provide support for all Student Government members.
Article V
SECTION 1. CANDIDACY FOR OFFICE.
Candidates for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity shall announce their candidacy no later than three weeks prior to the presidential election, during a Student Government meeting designated for organizing all Student Government elections. Candidates shall be checked for the necessary qualifications mentioned in ARTICLE IV by the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity and Teacher Advisor, and may only run for one of the mentioned positions. If a candidate is found to not meet all necessary qualifications, they shall be disqualified from running in the election. Confirmed candidates may then endorse election campaigns and prepare a speech for their election assembly or meeting, following any guidelines set by the Teacher Advisor.
SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCEDURES.
Elections for the position of President will be held during the first month of the second semester of the school year, in an assembly held during Supervised Study. All members of the Student Body will vote. Candidates will be allowed to deliver a short speech, and, if time allows, can answer questions from the electorate. The current Officers who are not running in the election shall be responsible for all election details, including, but not limited to, scheduling the election, organizing the assembly’s procedures, presiding over the election, and the creation, collection, and tallying of ballots. The candidate with the relative majority shall be declared the winner of the election.
Elections for the positions of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and member of the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity shall be held one week after the Presidential election, in a Joint Session of Congress held during Supervised Study. All Student Government members will vote. Candidates will be allowed to deliver a short speech, and, if time allows, can answer questions from the electorate. The current Officers who are not running in any of the respective elections shall be responsible for all election details, including, but not limited to, scheduling the election, presiding over the election, and tallying votes. The candidate with the relative majority shall be declared the winner of their respective election.
SEC. 4. REPRESENTATIVE ELECTION PROCEDURES.
Elections for Representatives shall occur during the second Ohana of the new school year. Two Representatives will be elected by each Ohana.
Article VI
SECTION 1. LENGTHS FOR TERMS OF OFFICE
All elected Officers and Constitutional Council members shall serve for the term of one year, spanning from the Spring Break of the then current school year, to the Spring Break of the following school year. All Representatives shall serve for the term of one year, spanning from the second Ohana of the current school year to the second Ohana of the following school year.
SEC. 2. LIMITS FOR TERMS OF OFFICE
For the positions of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, member of the Constitutional Council, and Ohana Representative, there is no limit on how many times someone may run for office as long as they meet the qualifications mentioned in ARTICLE V.
Article VII
SECTION 1. TERMS OF IMPEACHMENT.
A Student Government member will be impeached if they are formally accused, in writing, of violating any aspect of the Beaverton School District Consistent Discipline Handbook, or not
SEC. 2. IMPEACHMENT ACCUSATIONS.
Formal accusations against a Student Government member shall be submitted jointly by two Student Government members to the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity, who will at that point have permission to investigate the validity of said accusations, at their discretion. If these accusations are found to be invalid, the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity shall record such findings and dismiss the case. If these accusations are found to be valid, the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity shall issue articles of impeachment against the accused Student Government member, notify all Student Government members - including the impeached member - of the issuing of these articles, and designate a meeting to execute impeachment proceedings.
SEC. 3. IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
Impeachment proceedings shall be presided over by the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity and the Teacher Advisor. During these proceedings, the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity will present their findings to Student Government assembled. The accused Student Government member will then have the opportunity to present their case to Student Government assembled. After these two presentations, all Student Government members shall vote on whether or not to remove the accused Student Government member. A two-thirds supermajority in favor of removal must be obtained in order for the accused to be removed from office.
SEC. 4. LINE OF SUCCESSION.
In the event of the removal, resignation, death, or incapacitation of the President, the Vice President shall assume the Presidency immediately, and an election to fill the position of Vice President shall be scheduled no later than one week after the President’s removal. In the event of the removal, resignation, death, or incapacitation of the Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or member of the Constitutional Council, an election to fill the removed Officer’s position shall be scheduled no later than one week after the respective Officer’s removal. In the event of the removal, resignation, death, or incapacitation of a Representative, the Officers will organize the election of a new Representative from the removed Representative’s respective Ohana.
Article VIII
SECTION 1. OFFICER MEETINGS.
Officer meetings shall be held at the discretion of the Officers.
SEC. 2. SESSIONS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Sessions of the House of Representatives shall be held once every three weeks, at minimum. All Student Body Members shall be allowed to attend and speak within the Session, with the permission of the Officer presiding over the meeting. The President, or the Vice President in the President’s absence, shall preside over all Sessions. The convening of a Session shall be properly advertised by the Secretary through Morning Announcements, e-mail, and social media. Minutes from the Session shall be recorded, filed, and sent out to all Student Government members by the Secretary.
SEC. 3. TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
Town Hall meetings shall be held once every month, at minimum. in A156-A15. All Student Body Members shall be allowed to attend and speak at these meetings. The President, or the Vice President in the President’s absence shall preside over all meetings. These meetings shall be properly advertised by the Secretary through Morning Announcements, e-mail, and social media. Notes from these meetings shall be recorded, filed, and sent out to all Student Government members by the Secretary.
SEC. 4. ROLL CALL PROCEDURE.
The Officers shall call roll at the beginning of each meeting to track the attendance of each meeting. If an Ohana Representative is found, through this roll call, to be absent from meetings on at least three occasions without notifying on Officer prior to their absence, the Officers may follow the impeachment guidelines of ARTICLE VII.
Article IX
SECTION 1. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
The Student Government Account is the name for all of the money and finances for Student Government, and shall be under the control of the Treasurer and Teacher Advisor.
SEC. 2. WITHDRAWALS AND DEPOSITS.
All necessary withdrawals and deposits shall be made only by submitting a voucher to the Treasurer, who will submit the voucher to the Teacher Advisor for their approval. Once approved, the Treasurer will withdraw funds from, or deposit finds into, the Student Government Account.
SEC. 3. PURCHASING COPIES.
A copy of all purchases, orders and receipts shall be recorded by the Treasurer, who will, from time to time, audit Student Government using this information.
Article X
SECTION 1. PROPOSING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Amendments to the Student Government Constitution shall be formally submitted by a Student Government member to the Council on Constitutionality and Congressional Integrity, who will designate a time to convene a Session to ratify the proposed amendment. A two-thirds super majority from all Student Government members must be obtained to ratify the proposed amendment.