Student Government

The name of this organization should be the AHS Student Government to represent the student body of Avon High School.

The purpose of this student leadership team is to:

• Provide opportunities for the training of leaders, the practice of good citizenship, and the promotion of democracy as a way of life.
• Foster unity in realizing the ideals of education and democracy.
• Serve as a link to better establish relationships between administration, students, parents, and the community at large.
• Provide a medium of exchange for ideas, activities, and problems.
• Conduct activities that will stimulate the involvement of the student body.
• Promote positive respect for the school and the community.
• Aid individual AHS students in establishing and maintaining an effective school climate that celebrates academic and extracurricular success.

Section 1: Active Members

Membership will consist of the Executive Board, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.  One will gain membership in the AHS Student Government by successfully completing the nominations procedure and being elected/appointed under the procedures defined by this document.

Section 2: Dismissal of a Member

Any member will be removed if he/she misses two meetings and/or any other Student Government required event without presenting reasonable excuses to the advisor. It is the responsibility of the member to get the meeting/event excused at least 24 hours prior to the meeting/event, if possible. The executive board administrative assistant and the parliamentarian do have the right to ask for a member’s dismissal if absenteeism procedures are not followed and/or there are excessive absences.

1. Members do have the right to request a trial by jury if they are removed by the rules and regulations of the constitution. A member will be removed from service by a 2/3 or more majority vote of the Executive Board.
2. The Executive Board has the authority to appoint a replacement member.

Section 3: Impeachment

1. Any officer or representative of the AHS Student Government may be recommended for impeachment. The following are criteria.
2. The accusation will be a signed written statement to the Executive Board.
3. The Executive Board, if finding the accusations to be valid, will remove the student from that office by a 2/3 majority vote.
4. An officer (not representatives) have the right to an appeal to the sponsor. A ¾ majority vote is required to override the Executive Board.

*Upon the creation of a vacancy in the position of President, the House of Representatives will vote for one of the Vice Presidents to succeed the President for the remainder of the term.

Section 4: Administrative Rule

The administration has the authority to remove any student from service at their discretion without a rebuttal.

Section 1: Executive Board

1. The cabinet shall consist of the elected and appointed officers and the advisors to these officers. This shall include the offices of President, Three Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, and administrative advisors.
2. The elected/appointed officers of this organization shall be a president of the school, three vice presidents, and secretary, a treasurer, and a parliamentarian.
3. The President presides over and conducts chapter meetings in accordance with accepted parliamentary procedure. He/she provides leadership to keep meetings in order and on track.  He/she represents the chapter at special school events, civic clubs, and other out of school organizations.  He/she acts as a liaison between school administration, parents, and the class sponsors.  He/she upholds the character and the integrity of the office.
4. The Vice President of Student Affairs assists the president in the discharge of his/her duties and responsibilities. He/she presides over meetings in the absence of the president, and assumes the duties of the president if the president is unable to make an event. 
5. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will act as liaison between the executive board, school administrators, and community sponsors. He/she will oversee the Total Package program and coordinate academic excellence incentives for faculty and students.
6. The Vice President of Event Planning will be the lead in planning, organizing, and overseeing the clean-up and organization of AHS Student Government sponsored events. This officer will also act as historian and keep an up-to-date record of the AHS Student Government as contained in newspapers etc.
7. The Secretary takes notes and prepares adequate minutes of each regular and called meetings, prepares and maintains all necessary chapter files, and coordinates minutes and attendance records with all secretaries from each class. Prior to each meeting he/she presents past meeting notes and agendas.  He/she repeats all motions before the final vote in meetings and handles all official correspondence and assists with the monthly newsletter. He/she maintains the Student Government website.
8. The Treasurer shall work with the advisor and the president on funds and financial aspects of the AHS Student Government, maintain the financial records of the chapter and all of its subsidiaries, and ensure that all money is deposited with the Avon High School Treasurer.
9. The Parliamentarian shall assist the president in maintaining parliamentary procedure and act as the discipline arm of the meetings. He/she will be the resident expert on the Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 2: Executive Committee

1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Executive Board and the Senate.
2. During Executive Committee action each officer shall be entitled to one vote. The sponsors and school administration have veto power over all agenda items.
3. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for conducting the business of the association on its behalf with the exception of those items requiring a vote of the membership as prescribed in the constitution.
4. The Executive Committee will annually set the policies of the AHS Student Government in accordance with the constitution, the school handbook, local, state, and federal laws, to fulfill the wants and needs of a changing and growing school in a global economy.

Section 1: Election Times

1. The elections for officers shall take place between March and May prior to the end of the school year in which the officers are to serve, as directed by the Avon High School calendar.

Section 2: Nominations and Qualifications

1. All students who run for office or for appointments must be full time Avon High School students.
2. All candidates for office must complete an application and must be approved for eligibility before their name is sent for consideration and/or entered on a ballot.
3. All candidates for the executive board must pass an interview process.
4. Officer candidates will submit a copy of their speech for approval prior to the speech.
5. Students must meet all requirements on the application in order to be nominated or run for office. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
6. A student who has been removed from the AHS Student Government must have written approval from the Executive Board to run for office.

Section 3: Election Procedures

1. Elections for the Senate shall be voted on by the present 8th grade, freshman, sophomores, and junior students.
2. Sponsors will not post a list of all candidates until the ballot is finalized.
3. Students who do not complete the deadlines are disqualified, unless circumstances require extension of deadline or other action.
4. Students who receive major disciplinary action (i.e. suspension or expulsion), break school policy, or local, state, or federal laws prior to or during the election process will be automatically disqualified.
5. Candidates who are not elected as executive board officers may be given the option to run for class officers. Please complete a new application if applicable.  No new interview will be needed.
6. Elections will be held after all of the nominees have given their campaign speeches
7. The winners for each executive board office will be elected by a rubric and point system and judged on the following categories: student vote, teacher vote, interview and application. The seven candidates who have the most points according to the rubric will be elected to the executive committee.                               

Section 4: Campaign

1. Students should rely on personal contact as a campaign strategy.
2. All nominees for the executive committee will be allowed a 30 second spot on the announcements. It must be a positive message with no negative comments about other nominees.
3. No campaign posters, flyers, candy, stickers, or other propaganda may be distributed.
4. Students who fail to follow election guidelines will be disqualified.
5. Campaigning is prohibited inside the cafeteria during elections.

Section 5: Meeting

1. The Executive Board will meet during every SRT period unless otherwise advertised.
2. The Executive Board has the authority to call a mandatory meeting with one week’s notice. One week will be considered 7 days.
3. The Student Government will meet during the Gold half of one SRT period of each month. The purpose of the meeting shall include but not be restricted to the following items:
4. A financial report from the treasurer of the Executive Board.
5. Minutes from the past meeting.
6. Vice president reports.
7. Sponsor comments.
8. Event planning.

Section 1: Branch of Government

The Avon High School’s Student Government shall be divided into three houses: The Executive Board, The Senate, and the House of Representatives.

Section 2: Sponsors

1. The sponsors will work with the leadership team and provide guidance into the safe and orderly functions of the Student Government team.
2. The sponsors will have veto power as provided by the Avon High School Administration.
3. Sponsors will allow the students to run the organization only providing guidance unless Executive Board decisions will endanger the reputation and safety of Avon High School and its subsidiaries.

Section 1: Student Workshop

The Executive Board shall provide for an annual workshop to be held during the summer months for students to learn character expectations, team building, time management, responsibility, commitment, and other subjects deemed necessary by the leadership team and the sponsors.

Section 2: Executive Board

The Executive Board and the sponsors will meet to provide a vision for the next school year during the summer months prior to the new school year.  That vision of events must be approved by the administration prior to the new school year.

Section 1:  The principal shall appoint an advisor (sponsor) to oversee the guidance and training of the Student Government and its activities.

Section 2:  All actions of the Student Government are subject to review and possible veto by the principal.

Section 3: Due to confidential issues, the administration has the authority to bypass the Executive Board and the sponsors as they see fit.

On all parliamentary questions not specified in this constitution Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the final authority.

Section 1: Proposal of Amendments: Amendments may be proposed in writing to the Executive Board by any member of the voting members of the Student Government.

Section 2: Adoption of Amendments: Amendments shall be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of the House of Representatives and a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate.  They must also meet the approval of the Executive Board, the administration, and the sponsors.

The constitution shall become effective following ratification by a three-fourths majority vote of the official delegates appointed and elected of the Student Government.