The S.G. Constitution
We the students of State College Area High School, to promote a free and equal learning community, solemnly form a government and lay out its constitution below.
Article I
Section 1
The student government’s principal organ will be the leadership council.
Mission Statement: To serve, first and foremost, as a bridge between students and school staff, faculty, and administrators. To provide a safe, inclusive space for students to grow and learn as leaders, discuss Student Government and general school/district policies and procedures, and voice their opinions, assessments, and experiences. To empower students to engage in change, activism, and community service through Student Government and beyond.
*State high students will be officially notified of the opportunity to join Leadership Council at the beginning of the year.
Section 2
Any student currently enrolled in at least two credits at State College Area High School may serve in the leadership council.
All students meeting this criteria are welcome to participate in Leadership Council
Section 3
The council speaker will determine the procedure for debate in the leadership council. The cabinet will provide means for members of leadership council to impact the discussion agenda and to introduce legislation.
A resolve or law will represent the will of the council if it meets one or both of the following conditions:
A majority of council members and three cabinet members have signed it.
A supermajority, of at least 60% with a minimum of 20 votes, of council members have signed it.
Section 4
The leadership council will have the power to pass laws regulating the actions and structure of the student government,
To gauge the student body’s opinions regarding school policies,
To report the student body’s opinions to the school board and the administration,
To inform the student body about new school policies,
To issue resolves to the school board and the administration advocating for or against school policies,
To promote student involvement in local, state and national government,
And to perform any other task allocated to the leadership council by the current principal,
Provided that no action taken by the leadership council will contradict or conflict with any article of this constitution.
Section 5
The leadership council will elect one member to serve as its speaker. The council speaker will draft student government laws and resolves in conjunction with the president. The council speaker will attend board meetings, and be a voting member of the officer team. Their vote and feedback is considered representative of the leadership council.
The council speaker will serve and be elected at the discretion of the leadership council. The speaker may not be a Student Government or Student Senate officer.
The Leadership Council speaker will
- Run announcements at all council meetings
- Make members aware of opportunities for involvement in the school and community
- Relay specific member concerns and ideas to the board or advisor as appropriate
Section 6
The advisor may remove and replace a council member if they repeatedly behave disruptively in leadership council meetings, do not attend leadership council meetings, or commit a level four violation as defined by the student handbook. Each incident will be dealt with on a case by case basis with the oversight of the Student Government board.
Students can join leadership council throughout the year, and though regular attendance is encouraged for full membership, it is not required. All attendance issues will be dealt with on a case by case basis with the oversight of the Student Government board
The advisor will consult the president before removing members of the council, although the president may not override their decision.
The advisor may not remove and replace a cabinet member.
Section 7
The leadership council will have the right to meet with no administrators present.
An adult advisor will be accessible at every meeting, though they are not required to be present in all group discussions.
Article II
Section 1
The student body will elect a president to guide the leadership council in the execution of its powers. The president will communicate directly with the school board and with the administration, schedule student government meetings, and set broad goals for the student government. The president is encouraged to communicate these goals to leadership council throughout their term.
Section 2
The student body will elect four other officers to assist the president: the vice president, the secretary, the treasurer and the parliamentarian. Together with the president, these officers will form the cabinet.
In general, the role of the cabinet is to communicate with the student body via the Leadership Council and other methods deemed necessary, generate and support ideas and initiatives that benefit the student body, and serve as a bridge between the student body and school/district staff, faculty, and administrators.
Beyond specific cabinet roles, cabinet members are expected to but not limited to:
- Contribute feedback and input on student government projects
- Organize and lead meetings (such as leadership council)
- Support related events
The vice president will be the president’s closest assistant and will take on the president’s duties if the president is unable to do so. The president may also delegate some of their own responsibilities to the vice president if they wish.
The secretary will organize the logistics and communications of the student government. They will take attendance, record council meeting minutes, send emails and perform any other necessary clerical duties.
The treasurer will advise the president on the student government’s budget. They will approve the student government’s financial transactions.
The parliamentarian will serve as the president’s legal expert. They will be familiar with the student government constitution, student government laws and resolves, parliamentary procedure, relevant school and district policies, and any other necessary laws.
Section 3
A board member must have served in the leadership council for two years to serve as president. A council member must have served in the leadership council for one year to serve in any other cabinet position. A council member may not hold concurrent Student Government and Student Senate positions.
Section 4
The order of precedence of the officers will be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, parliamentarian, from greatest to least.
Section 5
Although the cabinet may exercise the powers of the leadership council without its specific consent, the cabinet may not defy the council’s laws or resolves.
Section 6
If a cabinet officer has met the grounds for dismissal specified in Article I, Section 6, the advisor must request a supermajority vote of impeachment from the leadership council. If the council completes a vote of impeachment, it may dismiss and replace the officer.
If an opening occurs on the board, the next ranking officer will assume the position, regardless of unmet criteria due to age/experience level.
At least 1 year of participation in leadership council is required for all officer positions. A year of participation is in this case defined as having attended 50% or more of the Leadership Council Meetings.
Section 7
Student Government elections may include a written application, campaign video, and any other portions deemed necessary by the Student Government advisor. However, equity and accessibility will be upheld as the highest priority during election season. As such, campaign components that may unfairly benefit some students over others and/or limit the participation of marginalized students as candidates will not be used.
Officers for the following school year will be elected no later than the end of May of the preceding year.
Candidates who run for a Student Government position are not permitted to run for a concurrent Student Senate position.
If no candidates run for a cabinet office, the winner of the second-largest share of the vote for the highest contested position in the order of precedence will win. If no candidates run for multiple offices, the winners of the next greatest shares of the vote for the highest contested position will be elected, then, in the same manner, other losing candidates further down the order of precedence.
If there is an electoral tie, the top two candidates will have a runoff. If there are only two candidates, the non-senior members of leadership will convene to elect a winner.
Rising officers will take office on the day of commencement.
The sitting president may not endorse any candidate for school office.
Article III
The student government may determine the procedure which, once approved by either the principal or superintendent, will dictate the selection and recommendation of students to serve on the school board and as the borough council representative. Three school board representatives and a borough council representative will also be selected prior to each school year.
- Selection may include a written application, an interview, a vote, and other measures deemed necessary by the Student Government board, Student Government advisor, and relevant adults (borough council members/school board members).
- These representatives will sit as a non-voting member of the board during the duration of their term.
Article IV
The administration will appoint a faculty advisor for the student government.
To the best of their ability, the advisor will attend all leadership council and cabinet meetings. The advisor will provide good counsel to the president, cabinet and council.
Article V
Section 1
If the interpretation of the student government constitution or a student government law is questioned, the advisor will seek counsel from the parliamentarian and make a ruling.
Section 2
The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds supermajority of the leadership council and four cabinet officers, or a simple majority in one chamber, a two-thirds supermajority in the other chamber, and passage as a ballot initiative in the next officer election.
Article VI
Section 1
When this constitution is ratified, the current Leadership Council and Officers will serve as the leadership council and cabinet, respectively, until commencement.
Section 2
When this constitution is ratified, all previous constitutions will be null and void.