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CONSTITUTION OF THE STUDENTS OF WOLCOTT SCHOOL

Preamble

We, the students of Wolcott School, have decided upon these beliefs and laws, which we will follow and respect:

1. We believe that all students are created free and equal.

2. We believe that each student deserves the absolute best education every day.

3. We believe that students should learn together in peace and harmony.

4. We believe that students should treat each other with dignity, open mindedness, and respect.

5. We believe students must respect each other's private possessions and communications.

6. We believe that students have the right to write freely, speak freely, and gather freely so long as it is consistent with our constitution.

7. We believe students have the right to be free from cruel punishment or treatment.

8. We believe in a democratic student council governed by this constitution and empowered to make laws for our school.

9. We recognize that our student council does not control parents, teachers, or teaching.

ARTICLE I

SECTION 1: Our government will consist of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches.

SECTION 2: All branches of the government will be respected in all government discussions.

SECTION 3: The government will meet at the same time and in the same place each week. The meetings are open to the public. Each classroom in the school must attend at least one government meeting each year. Individual students may attend any student council meeting with teacher permission.

SECTION 4: Anyone elected to a government position may be impeached by a two-thirds vote of the House of Representatives. Upon impeachment, the Senate will hold a trial to determine that individual's fitness for office. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is necessary to remove a person from office.

SECTION 5: This constitution may be amended if all classrooms in the school approve the amendment. Each classroom having voted to accept the amendment by a two thirds margin.

SECTION 6: The student government maintains the right to levy taxes.

SECTION 7: The Blair Provision: If a new principal needs to be hired, the students will write to the superintendent of schools and request an opportunity to interview the finalists for the new principal position.

ARTICLE II ELECTIONS

SECTION 1: Student Council members are elected for a one-year term.

SECTION 2: A person may serve on the Student Council a total of two terms during their school career at Wolcott.

SECTION 3: Student Council elections must follow these guidelines:

A. PROCEDURE FOR SENATE ELECTIONS AND "AT LARGE" ELECTIONS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  • Each Grade Three through Grade Five classroom will elect one boy and one girl to the House of Representatives, however, older students will be given greater representation in the House out of respect for their wisdom and age. Younger students will have more equal representation in the Senate. This system is similar to that used by the United States government to balance the representation of larger and smaller states. For this reason, the fourth grade will always have two more representatives than the third grade and the fifth grade will always have one more representatives than the fourth grade. The first and second grade will each elect one "at large" representative, male or female. This section will be referred to when determining the number of "at large" candidates for the house.
  • Grades One through Five will elect two senators, one boy and one girl, per grade level.
  • The primaries for the Senate/"At Large" elections will take place during the second week of September. Final elections will take place during the third week of September.
  • The Senate/"At Large" election will take place during two separate sessions, by grade level, in the auditorium. After determining the number of "At Large" representatives to be elected, the election, by grade level, in the auditorium, will follow the same procedures for the primary elections that will be held in the classroom. These procedures are outlined in Section 3B.

B. PROCEDURE FOR REGULAR ELECTIONS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  • Each Grade Three through Five classroom must elect two representatives, one boy and one girl, to the House of Representatives.
  • Primary elections will be held during the fourth week of September.
  • They will be conducted by classroom.
  • Teachers will review the qualities of a good leader with their students prior to elections.
  • No speeches will be allowed for the primaries.
  • Students must be nominated by another student.
  • Each student is only allowed to nominate one classmate.
  • Before each primary election, the teacher must give students two minutes to seek a nominator.
  • Each student is given two votes in the girl primary and two votes in the boy primary.
  • You must use your two votes for two different people. You may not use two votes for one person.
  • You may vote for yourself.
  • The three students receiving the highest number of votes in each category (boy, girl) are finalists.
  • Finalists may put up posters in teacher designated areas of the room or corridor.
  • Final elections will be held during the first week of October.
  • Finalists will be expected to give a speech to their class.
  • For the final elections, each student will once again have two votes.
  • Before the vote, review with students how to be gracious in victory or defeat.
  • Vote.
  • The Senate will elect its own President of the Senate.
  • The House will elect its own Speaker of the House.

C. ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

  • Once the House and Senate are elected, the Student Council must nominate two finalists who will run for president of the school. These students must give a speech at Town Meeting. The following Monday, the whole school will vote to elect a president.
  • Independent candidates, who are not members of the student council, may run for president. They must submit a petition with forty signatures written clearly and neatly at least three days prior to the date that speeches are to be given at Town Meeting. They must also demonstrate a solid working knowledge of parliamentary procedure by taking and passing the parliamentary procedure role-play test. The Senate will give this test. The Senate will also have the responsibility of determining whether the individual has passed. If an individual has not passed, he or she will be encouraged to attend more student council meetings until he or she is ready to try again.
  • The Student Council member who is the runner up to become President will be appointed The Sergeant at Arms of the Congress. If only one candidate runs for President, the member who is the runner up in the Vice Presidential elections will be appointed Sergeant at Arms.
  • The Student Council will nominate students for Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President of the Executive Branch in that order. Following the nomination process the Student Council will then elect a Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President in that order. Only Student Council members may run for Executive Branch offices. A student Councilor may only be nominated for one Executive Branch office.
  • Executive Branch elections must be held by the first week of October, December, February, and April. All Executive Branch offices will be voted on at those times.
  • A Student Councilor may run and be elected to an Executive Branch office as often as he or she wishes.
  • When a Senator is elected to the Executive Branch, a new Senator, from the appropriate grade level of the House, must be elected by the Student Council to fill the vacant Senate seat.
  • When a Representative is elected to the Executive Branch, nothing changes.
  • Upon being elected, the President of the School must take the following oath, which is to be administered by the school principal at a Town Meeting. The oath is to be taken with the president's right hand resting on the Mighty Noggin Knocker.

I solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of Wolcott School. To do my best; be fair in all the things I do; to work with everyone and keep the Student Council meetings calm. I will try to give wise answers. I will be confident. I will uphold the laws. I will be fair and honest when I appoint members to all committees. When there is no law, I will make good executive decisions. I will uphold a standard of excellence. I will uphold the spirit of the Constitution. I will be responsible for all consequences. I swear this today in front of the entire school on (date) as President of Wolcott School.

D. CONFLICT OF INTEREST RESTRICTION

A student may only serve in one branch of the government (legislative, executive, or judicial) at any one time.

ARTICLE III

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

The following duties and responsibilities shall be assigned to each officer of the Executive Branch:

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

  • Run all government meetings.
  • Appoint all committees.
  • Balance the budget.
  • Make executive orders when necessary.
  • Calls emergency meeting with consent of the principal.
  • Veto or approve laws that are passed by congress.
  • Represent the school at official functions, e.g. assemblies.
  • Enforce the laws.

DUTIES OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

  • Run government meetings when the President is absent.
  • Help the President run the meeting by noting the order in which hands were raised. Legislators are then recognized in that order.
  • Break tie votes in the House and Senate.
  • May be asked to chair important committees.
  • Consult with the President on all important issues.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

  • Record the minutes of each government meeting.
  • Take attendance at each meeting.
  • During each Student Council meeting and at Town Meeting, read minutes from the previous meeting.
  • Maintain the box containing all bills that are to be brought before the Student Council.
  • Ensure that all motions that have been submitted in writing display good penmanship and spelling.
  • Write all government correspondence.
  • Post all laws that have been passed in a public place in the school.

DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

  • Collect all taxes from individuals and businesses.
  • Maintain a list of salaries.
  • Must run one auction during term of office.
  • Establish a regular payday schedule.
  • Pays all Wolcoid salaries to government and school employees.
  • Keep track of the government money.
  • Give a Treasurer's Report at each Student Council meeting.

DUTIES OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS

  • Upon the President's command, escort disruptive members of congress from the meeting.
  • Announce the entrance of the President to the Student Council meeting.

ARTICLE IV

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

SECTION 1: The Legislative Branch is composed of the Senate and The House of Representatives.

SECTION 2: The Legislative Branch will create all of the laws of the school government.

SECTION 3: The Senate will elect a President of the Senate. The House of Representatives will elect a Speaker of the House.

SECTION 4: During meetings, The President of the Senate and The Speaker of the House are the Legislative Branch members who will sit closest to the President.

SECTION 5: The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House may each call up to four caucuses per meeting. Additional caucuses may be called if the President of the government agrees to grant them.

SECTION 6: a member of the Legislative Branch must sponsor All bills. All bills must be clearly written and written so that they may be clearly understood.

SECTION 7: When voting on a bill, the house where the bill originated will vote first.

SECTION 8: For voting purposes, "Aye" means "yes", and "Nay" means "No". When voting, each member of the congress must vote clearly, crisply, and on cue. A member who does not vote clearly, crisply, or on time may be censured. Members of congress may choose to abstain from voting.

SECTION 9: Legislators may talk with each other during meetings, as long as they do not disturb the proceedings.

SECTION 10: All bills must pass each house by a majority vote before being sent to the President for approval or veto.

SECTION 11: Non voting and non-paid ex officio members of the government are encouraged and valued as a positive addition to the government.

SECTION 12: All meetings will be run using parliamentary procedure.

ARTICLE V

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

SECTION 1: Conflict resolution and mediation are the means for achieving justice at Wolcott School.

SECTION 2: each classroom will elect Mediators. The number of mediators to be elected will be determined by the President and the school principal.

SECTION 3: Mediators must be trained before they may practice mediation.

SECTION 4: Mediators must take the following oath before the entire school. While taking the oath, their right hand must rest upon the Mighty Noggin Knocker.

I solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of Wolcott School; to faithful to its' laws, traditions and ideals; to mediate fairly, objectively, and non-judgmentally; to work in the best interests of Wolcott's students, parents, and teachers; and to arrive at lasting and meaningful agreements. I swear this publicly in front of the entire school on (date) and for all time.

ARTICLE VI

CONSTITUTION DAY

SECTION 1: Each year, teachers and students will participate in a Constitution Day Celebration. This day is intended to remind students of the rights and beliefs in their Constitution. Each class will conduct lessons on United States history. Each class will study the school Constitution. We will hold a Town Meeting on democracy and government. Each class will have a pizza party. An extra recess will be held on Constitution Day. The teachers may plan other events. Constitution Day should be held on a Friday in September.

We, the students of Wolcott School, are committed to this constitution for all time.

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