DMS STUDENT COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

Constitution of the Student Council

Dickson Middle School

Preamble

We, the students of Dickson Middle School, in order to establish a representative voice in
school affairs, to coordinate student activities, to promote school spirit, to maintain the good
standing of our school, to encourage harmony between students and faculty, to foster high ideals
and scholarship, and to demonstrate good citizenship in our school, our community, our state and
our nation, do hereby establish this constitution.

Article I

Organization

Section A The activities of the student government established in this constitution

shall be vested in Student Council

Section B Membership in the Student Council

1. Executive Council
a. President
b. Vice-President
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
2. Class Representatives
a. 8th grade
b. 7th grade
3. Each member shall be installed for one school year.
4. Members in good standing are eligible for re-election.

Section C Requirements to be a Student Council Member

1. Executive Council
a. The President and Vice President must be 8th graders who have had at least
one year experience in Student Council.
b. The Secretary and Treasurer must be 8th graders. Student Council members
will have the opportunity to be elected for these offices in the spring. If an
office is not filled during the spring election, it will be added to the agenda for
election in the fall.

2. Class Representatives must be a member of the class which they are representing.

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3. All members must have a minimum 2.75 GPA (C+ Average).

4. Members must attend all Student Council meetings or provide written notice(text) to
an advisor prior to the absence.

Section D Conduct required of Student Council Members

1. Have a positive and cooperative attitude, with conduct above reproach, at

school and in the community.
2. Set the example of behavior and spirit for the student body.
3. Support all programs sponsored by the council.
4. Support all programs sponsored by Dickson Middle School.
5. Support and respect the faculty and administration.
6. Support and show concern for the well being of fellow students.
7. Support and maintain a quality image to the community and school
8. Provide services to the students, faculty, administration and community.

Section E Election of Student Council Members

1. The Executive Council and Student Council advisors shall set the date and procedures
for the conduct of Student Council executive elections and interviews and acceptance
of representatives.
a. Candidates must follow the procedures for acceptance. Students will not be
accepted if procedures are not followed.
b. Candidates must have no more than one office referral.
c. Candidates may not have any ISS or Alternative School placements in the
current year.
d. Executive Candidates must deliver a short speech prior to voting.
Representatives must complete representative packet and complete an
interview with executive council and advisors.

e. Elections for Executive Council positions will be held in the 4th grading
period for the upcoming school year during an April meeting. Class
Representatives as well as Executive Council positions not filled in the spring
election will be held in the 1st grading period.
f. Current members will monitor the election process.

2. Student Council Executive Officers shall be elected by secret ballot of the

current council.
a. Each student may vote once for each office.
b. The Executive Council candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall
be inducted.

3. Class Representatives shall be added to the council if he or she meets the requirements
outlined in the representative packet including completing the interview process. Students

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who meet all requirement details in Article I sections C and D may be appointed to
Student Council at the discretion of the advisors.

Section F Impeachment and Removal of Student Council Members

1. Probation
a. A grade of “D” in any class, per grading period, will place one on academic
probation.
b. Failure to comply with the attendance requirements for Student Council
meetings will place one on attendance probation . Members on attendance
probation will remain of probation until a hearing is held.
c. Failure to comply with the conduct requirements detailed in Section D of this
constitution will place one on conduct probation. Members on conduct
probation will remain on probation until a hearing is held.
d. Members on probation shall not participate in Student Council activities until
the probation has been lifted.
2. Removal
a. Any ISS or Alternative School placement will automatically remove one from
Student Council.
b. Any member placed on academic probation must bring the grade up to at least
a “C” in the next grading period. Failure to do so will result in removal from
Student Council.
c. A grade of “F in any class per grading period will automatically result in
removal from Student Council.
d. Any member placed on probation will be granted a hearing by the Executive
Council, Advisors, and an administrator. This hearing will determine whether
the member is to be removed from the Council.
e. Any member removed from Student Council will not be eligible to run for re-
election in the following year.
3. Impeachment
a. Recommendations for Impeachment of Executive Council members can be
brought to the Student Council advisors by any member of the Student Body,
faculty, or staff.
b. A hearing will be conducted by Student Council advisor(s), a Teacher
Committee and the Executive Council to discuss the possible impeachment.
c. The Vice-President will succeed the President if necessary.
d. The Student Council advisors will determine the need for and procedure for
filling any vacant offices.

Section G The Duties of Student Council Members

1. Executive Council
a. President
1. Must work with the faculty and students to accomplish council goals.
2. Must conduct meetings in an orderly manner.

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3. Must maintain character beholding a president.

4. Must work to develop harmony within the council.
5. Must oversee and help execute projects of his/her committee(s).
b. Vice-President
1. Must work with the President and other members to accomplish the
Student Council goals.
2. Must oversee and help execute projects of his/her committee(s).
3. Will serve in the absence of the President.
4. Must work to develop harmony within the Council.
c. Secretary
1. Must take accurate minutes and report them at the next meeting.
2. Must keep detailed attendance records.
3. Write appropriate correspondence and ensure that it is signed
and delivered.
4. Must oversee and help execute projects of his/her committee(s).
5. Must work to develop harmony within the Council.
d. Treasurer
1. Must keep detailed records of the council’s money and report at each
meeting.
2. Must work with his/her advisor to prepare a budget for the next school
year. This shall be completed by April and presented to the Council for
approval.
3. Will be trained by the school bookkeeper and will follow procedures
for reporting income.
4. Must work to develop harmony within the Council.

2. Representatives
a. Will serve to help he student council.
b. Will work to develop harmony between the Student Council and the student
body.

Article II

Powers of the Student Council

The Student Council shall have the right and power:

1. To formulate activities or projects they deem beneficial to the school.

2. To set Student Council meeting dates and attendance policies as needed on a yearly
basis.
3. To recommend impeachment of its members in violation of the constitution.

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4. To develop policies and set standards in accordance with the preamble of this
constitution.
5. To annually evaluate the practices and activities of the Student Council.
6. To annually re-evaluate election procedures.

Article III

Student Body

The Student Body shall have the right and power:

1. To meet and conduct business in coordination with the Student Council.

2. To cite any violations or accountability issues of the Student Council in regard to the
Student Body.

Article IV

Installations

Section A Officers elected in the spring election will be installed before the end of the
school year.

Section B Elections will be held in the fall. Those officers and members will be installed
before the end of the first grading period.

Article VI

Veto

Section A The student council advisors and/or administration shall have the right to veto
any measure proposed by the Student Council.

Section B Fifty-One percent of the Student Body or of the Student Council, constitutes a
quorum

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