Constitution

We had to create a constitution for Leadership, so here it is! There are a couple important aspects, but this basically dictates how our club is going to work, so I suggest you read!

-Brennan (Vice President)

PURPOSE:
Our purpose for forming this organization is to further both our knowledge and understanding of politics and our abilities as debaters.

Article I: NAME
We are the Hollywood High School chapter of the Junior State of America.

Article II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Any person attending Hollywood High School and fulfilling the requirements
of the organization may be a member.

Section 2: The requirements are as follows: willingness to debate, continued attendance,
and yearly dues of $5.

Section 3: In order to guarantee equal human rights, equal opportunities shall be afforded
to all students without regard of race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic origin, citizenship, nationality, or physical disability.

Section 4: This club shall be a club of active debaters with interests in politics.

Article III: OFFICERS AND ADVISORS
Section 1: The titles of the officers of this organization shall be, ranked in order from
greatest to least authority, are as follows: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2: The qualifications for holding office are an ability to complete the necessary
tasks, election by one’s fellow members, and at least one year’s previous membership in the case of the President.

Section 3: All officers shall enjoy a single term for each election, consisting of one
school year, hereafter referred to as a “year,” with any one member only able to serve a maximum of two terms as President.

Section 4: The Treasurer shall deal with all financial and fiduciary duties of the club; the
Secretary shall keep records of all activities as required, as well as any other recordkeeping as deemed necessary; the Vice President shall serve as Acting President in the absence of the President, and shall perform the necessary duties assigned to them by the President; the President shall oversee and represent the club and its activities, as well as the other officers. Any position not named may be created and have a consenting member appointed to said position by the President.

Section 5: All elected officers shall enjoy a position on the executive board, and all officers
shall enjoy their position until such time as they abdicate by choice or necessity.


Section 6: The faculty sponsor for the club shall be Mrs. Brown, until such time as she
abdicates out of choice or necessity.

Article IV: ELECTIONS
Section 1: The election for new officers shall take place before the final meeting of the
year, in the year’s final month. The elected officer’s term shall take effect at the beginning of the following year, and all officers shall be referred to as Acting officers (i.e., Acting Secretary) until the end of their term.

Section 2: The elections shall consist of a series of elections, going down the chain of
command, beginning with President and ending with Treasurer. They shall be done in an open ballot, with the voting done while the candidates are not in the presence of the voters (e.g., outside the room). Candidates, prior to leaving the room for voting may give a 30- or 10-second speech, as time allows, to explain their validity as a candidate, with candidates speaking in alphabetical order by first name. Should a candidate wish to run for another position as well, they may run for the position that has its election first; should they fail to win said election, they may then run in one of the following elections.

Section 3: As, historically, member attendance and participation has been dangerously
Low, for the purposes of this noble club’s continued existence, should the number of official members present be less than half of the registered members, the majority of those members present may substitute for the majority of the club as a whole. Any action that makes use of this provision must be officially cleared by a vote of the executive board; should there be a tie by the provision, the advisor or coach shall act as the deciding vote. This shall heretofore be referred to as the “Brennan’s Vote Clause.”

Section 4: Should, for any reason, any officer not faithfully execute their duties, it is the
right of the members to impeach the offending officer. In order to successfully impeach the offending officer, a complaint must be filed with the executive board through the proper forms, to be received from the Secretary or Acting Secretary. Said forms are to be filled out, citing grievances and signatures of at least two-thirds of the registered members, and filed with the Secretary or President if the Secretary is unavailable. Should the paperwork be found satisfactory, a meeting shall be called, either during the regular meeting or at another appropriate time for such an event for the sake of allowing business to be furthered in spite of calamity (i.e., at nutrition), with the President or Vice President advocating the club in order to prosecute, while the impeached may appoint a willing member of the club currently not involved in any other conflicting way to represent themselves as their defense. The trial will be done as a debate, with the resolution being as follows: “Resolved, [impeached official] is to be expulsed from their position due to [reasons for impeachment].” Should the presiding members find for the resolution, the officer is immediately stripped of their position (and possibly membership, if at least a 95% vote deems the officer’s actions severe enough for such an act) and re-elections for the position are held at the earliest possible time among members (preferably immediately following the stripping of position). Should any member, officer or otherwise, be found to be interfering with the impeachment process in any significant way (i.e., refusing to file paperwork, not bringing up the subject in meetings, holding on to paperwork for the sole reason of preventing its being filed, etc.), regardless of who is impeached, it is grounds for immediate expulsion from the club, including the stripping of membership.

Section 5: Should this constitution or any measure require amendment for any reason, they
may be carried out through a proposal and an acceptance by a vote of a two-thirds majority.

Article V: MEETINGS
Section 1: Meetings shall take place during the allotted lunch period of every Monday of
the school week in room 406 or as need dictates. Should a replacement meeting area be required, the members may seek it out as a group.

Section 2: All members shall avoid absences under threat of expulsion from the club.
Should a member hold more than three unexcused absences at any time, they may be expulsed from the club and stripped of membership. Should a member have five unexcused tardies, they shall be given one unexcused absence in lieu of five unexcused tardies. All tardies and absences shall be determined as excused or unexcused based on a cursory vote by the present members as to the validity of the excuse of the member in question as soon as is convenient following the offending member’s arrival.

Article VI: FINANCES
Section 1: The duty of creating, preparing, and executing fundraisers shall be the
responsibility of the Treasurer, who may enlist willing members to participate. The majority of fundraising efforts shall be focused on in-school, club-related activities, such as All-School Fair and similar events.

Section 2: Dues, as listed in Article II, Section 2, shall consist of a payment of $5 to the
Treasurer at the meeting designated by the Treasurer and approved by the remaining executive board as appropriate. Said meeting is to take place during the first two months of the semester, preferably sometime within the first three meetings, unless an extension is deemed necessary and approved by a vote of the President, Vice President, and Secretary.