Saint Mary's College High School

THE CONSTITUTION OF

SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

PREAMBLE

Saint Mary’s College High School is committed to the principle of student government and acknowledges the value of granting students autonomy in the governance of their affairs as a means of creating a community based on shared purpose, trust, and tradition. Being a part of student government is a privilege, not a right, and teaches students important lessons regarding the proper balance of freedom and responsibility.

ARTICLE I: NAME

1.1 The Saint Mary's College High School student council shall be known as Lasallian Student Leaders (LSL).

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

2.1 Foster and promote a sense of school spirit and belonging.

2.2 Sponsor and organize social activities, service projects, and opportunities for spiritual growth.

2.3 Empower the student body through a multi-level model of democratic governance.

2.4 Serve as a liaison between the student body and administration/faculty to bring about a sense of shared ownership, pride, and mutual trust.

ARTICLE III: STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 The Executive Branch is a deliberative assembly that consists of the Executive Council and its Executive Cabinet. 

3.2 The Executive Council shall consist of nine elected representatives: two co-presidents (senior only), faith ambassador, service ambassador, secretary, and one president from each class.

3.3 The co-Presidents, elected from the rising senior class, will be responsible for all aspects of the Executive Council and its Executive Cabinet.

3.4 Together the co-Presidents will facilitate Executive Council meetings, provide direction for cabinet level work, oversee LSL business in C-Block, provide appropriate counsel for class presidents, and communicate directly with the entire student body at all public functions. Each president has one vote.

3.4.1 In January, the co-Presidents will deliver to the student body information on the “state of the union,” and recommend for their consideration such measures as they shall judge necessary and expedient.

3.4.2 The Faith and Service Ambassadors, Secretary, and Class Presidents report directly to the co-Presidents.

3.5 The Faith Ambassador is LSL’s liaison to and works with the Director of Campus Ministry. They plan faith-based activities in the campus community, including class retreats, liturgies, and off-campus Lasallian and Diocesan activities. The Faith Ambassador has one vote.

3.6 The Service Ambassador is LSL’s liaison to and works with the Director of Service Learning. They coordinate service-learning opportunities for individuals and groups in the Saint Mary’s community. The Service Ambassador has one vote.

3.7 The LSL Secretary is responsible for documenting and publishing LSL business, providing an institutional memory. The Secretary has one vote.

3.8 The four Class Presidents lead their respective classes and class councils, and represent their classes to the LSL Executive Council. Each Class President has one vote.

3.9 The Executive Cabinet shall consist of the appointed chairs of the following committees: fundraising, entertainment, communications, administrative liaison, clubs, student outreach, service, and faith. The appointments shall be made by the co-Presidents and ratified by the Executive Council. 

3.9.1 There shall be no more than two chairs per committee. 

3.9.2 The Cabinet Chairs are responsible for recruiting committee members, facilitating meetings, and reporting to the LSL Executive Council.

3.10 The Class Councils shall consist of the elected President, Vice-President, Secretary, and C-Block representatives within each respective class. 

3.10.1 Each class council shall report to their school-appointed faculty moderator, and is responsible for class-specific activities.

3.11 The C-Block Assembly consists of one elected representative from each C-Block class to be chosen at the beginning of each school year. 

3.11.1 C-Block reps administer and facilitate LSL- and class-specific business during the Community Block period each week, working cooperatively with the C-Block teacher.

3.11.2 The C-Block representatives are non-voting members of LSL, and they report to their respective Class Presidents. 

3.12 In the event of any vacancy, the LSL co-Presidents and Advisors will appoint a replacement.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

4.1 LSL Executive meetings shall be held during Y-Block according to the following rotation:

• A. First Wednesday Executive Council
• B. Second Wednesday Executive Council + Executive Cabinet
• C. Third Wednesday Executive Council + Class Moderators
• D. Fourth Wednesday Executive Council + Executive Cabinet

4.1.1 This rotation may be subject to change by LSL Presidents and/or LSL Advisors

4.1.2 Any month with a fifth Wednesday shall be used as needed and as defined by the co-Presidents and the LSL Advisors.

4.1.3 A quorum of two-thirds membership is required to hold a meeting. One LSL Advisor must be present to hold a meeting.

4.2 LSL Executive meetings are mandatory; excessive absenteeism as determined by the LSL Advisors will result in disciplinary action. If an absence is anticipated, it must be notified to the LSL Advisors ahead of time. If a class president anticipates an absence, he/she may appoint the class vice-president to fill in.

4.3 LSL Executive meetings shall be run by the co-Presidents. In the event that both Presidents are absent, the Secretary shall run the meeting.

4.4 The LSL Secretary is responsible for working with the co-Presidents to develop an agenda, take minutes, and distribute action items.

4.4.1 The agenda must be sent to all Executive Council members by 8:00 am Monday morning of the week of the meeting.

4.4.2 The minutes must be on the LSL website by 12:00 pm the second day.

4.5 The order of business shall be the following:

a. Prayer

b. Roll Call

c. Minutes of Last Meeting

d. Committee Updates

e. Ad hoc Updates/Issues

f. Student Feedback

g. Summary of Action Items for Next Meeting

h. Adjournment

4.6 Class council meetings shall take place once per week at the moderator’s choosing. C-Block reps will attend these meetings, and any other meetings scheduled on an as-needed basis.

4.6.1 The Class Secretary is responsible for working with the class President and moderator to develop an agenda, take minutes, and distribute action items. The minutes must be posted on the LSL website the following day by 12:00 pm.

ARTICLE V: VOTING

5.1 Any binding LSL decision requires a vote.

5.2 A quorum of two-thirds membership is required to hold a vote.

5.3 Any member of the Executive Council may call for a vote.

5.4 Deliberative decisions are typically made by voice vote, though any member may request a secret ballot.

5.5 A simple majority of 50% plus one determines the outcome of the vote.

5.6 In the event of a tie, the LSL Advisor may cast the deciding vote. Notwithstanding this exception, LSL Advisors do not hold voting rights.

5.7 The vote is recorded by the Secretary and incorporated into the minutes.

ARTICLE VI: ELECTIONS

6.1 Elections shall be held during the last six-week grading period of the second semester. For freshmen it will be held within the first six-week grading period of the new school year as determined by LSL.

6.2 Any student may run for an LSL office, provided they are in good standing with the Saint Mary’s community, as determined by the Vice Principal of Student Life, the student’s guidance counselor, and the LSL Advisors.

6.3 Candidates must complete a personal declaration of candidacy and a one-page personal leadership statement.

6.4 Candidates submit a 60-second video that the student body will view and discuss in their Social Studies or Religion classes.

6.5 Deadlines are at the discretion of the LSL Advisors and the administration.

6.6 On Election Day, students record their votes on a paper ballot in C-Block. C-Block teachers tabulate the results.

6.7 Each C Block class constitutes one electoral vote for each position.

6.8 The candidate winning the majority of votes in each C-Block class wins the electoral vote for the class.

6.9 The candidate for each position that wins a simple majority of electoral votes wins the election.

6.10 Officers-elect are sworn in during the Senior Presentation.

6.11 If no one runs for a position, the class council elected shall appoint someone to that position by the third week of the new school year. If it is an executive council position, the elected executive cabinet shall appoint the person by the third week of the new school year.

6.12 All elected members must sign a contract agreeing to execute their role with integrity and responsibility.

ARTICLE VII: IMPEACHMENT

7.1 Impeachable offenses are: insubordination, unwillingness to fulfill duties, or behavior that undermines the Saint Mary’s mission and philosophy.

7.2 Impeachment proceedings must be initiated by a member of the Executive Council. If it is a C-block representative, class secretary/treasurer or class vice-president, the class president may initiate impeachment proceedings.

7.3 Impeachment proceeds with the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Executive Council. 

7.4 The impeachment trial is held before the Executive Council, where evidence is considered. A deciding vote will be held at the close of trial, with a two-thirds majority required to unseat the accused.

 

ARTICLE VIII: ADVISORS

8.1 All LSL Executive Council and Cabinet members report to the LSL Advisors, who are appointed by the principal.

8.2 All class council members and C-Block representatives report to their respective class moderator.

ARTICLE IX: FINANCING

9.1 The budget for the LSL Executive Council and Cabinet is determined by the administration.

9.1.1 The budget for each class is based on their own fundraising efforts.

ARTICLE X: PROVISION FOR AMENDMENTS

10.1 An amendment must be proposed by a member of the Executive Cabinet. It is to be typed up with the following: a) To what article the amendment relates; b) What section the amendment seeks to overturn (if any), or it if just serves as a supplement/complement to an existing law.

10.2 If the amendment overturns or supersedes a previous part of the Constitution, a 7/9 margin in the Executive Council is required for the amendment to proceed. If it does not, a simple majority is all that is necessary.

10.3 If overturning a previous part of the constitution, the amendment must be approved by all four class councils.

10.4  After proper approvals are obtained, the LSL Advisors must consent to the amendment before which the amendment is submitted to the president and the PAC for review by the administration.

10.5  The amendment goes into effect when the principal agrees to the new measure.

ARTICLE XI: RATIFICATION

11.1 The Executive Cabinet must unanimously approve of the Constitution.

11.2 Each class president will then deliver the constitution to his/her class council. Each class council must consent to the Constitution by simple majority.

11.3 After consent from all four classes, the constitution goes to the PAC for review, whereupon its consent it shall be officially recognized by the administration and the Constitution shall become law.