The Constitution of the
Student Government Association of
Apopka High School
(Revised 5/13/ 08)

PREAMBLE
We do hereby establish this Constitution of the Student Government Association in order to serve our students and community while diligently promoting the values, traditions, & spirit, which make us proud to be the Blue Darters of Apopka High School.

Article I - NAME
Section I: The name of this organization shall be the Student Government Association of Apopka High School (SGA).

Article II - PURPOSE
Section I: The purpose of this organization is to develop those qualities of citizenship necessary for the preservation of our democratic system by providing students both the responsibilities and privileges of participating in a republican form of democracy within the confines of the school. It shall allow students to voice their ideas in the planning of activities that affect the general welfare of our school and students. Members shall act as ambassadors to our community through service.

Article III - MEMBERSHIP
Section I: The membership of this Student Government Association shall be composed of elected & appointed, voting members in the Executive Board and Senate. The membership of this Student Government Association shall also be composed of appointed, voting members in the House of Representatives, along with those selected/appointed to serve as ambassadors.

Section II: The membership of this SGA shall be comprised of seven officers in the Executive Board, twenty-four senators in the Senate, ten representatives in the House of Representatives and three ambassadors.

Article IV - AUTHORITY
Section I: The privileges and responsibilities of the Student Government Association are delegated to it by the principal of Apopka High School; therefore, the right to veto any SGA action rests with the principal or sponsor.

Section II: Parliamentary procedure shall govern the SGA in all cases to which they are applicable. Only the president or designated officer or sub officer can suspend the use of parliamentary procedure. This suspension must be clearly announced and reflected in the secretary's meeting minutes. The president, alone, will act as the chairperson.

Article V - DUTIES OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section I: The SGA shall be empowered to carry out numerous activities, traditions, and events on behalf of the student body. It shall make needed expenditures of funds, pending both a majority vote & sponsor's approval.

Section II: The SGA shall be involved in activities outside the hours of the normal school day.

Section III: The SGA will be a voice for AHS student needs and concerns within the organization.

Article VI - OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section I: The purpose of the Executive Board shall be to participate and coordinate all activities of the SGA. The Executive Board shall be: The president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, historian, parliamentarian, and supervisor of elections.

Section II: The officers of the executive board, president of the senate, senate pro tempore, and secretary of the senate will be the only individuals that may chair a permanent committee. These individuals will be assigned a permanent committee by the president or sponsor.

Section IV: Duties of the vice president shall be the following:
" To uphold and enforce this constitution
" Represent the Student Government at the president's request.
" To effectively carry out directives from the sponsor.
" Be responsible, along with the president, for the proper functioning of the SGA and its committees.

Section V: Duties of the secretary shall be the following:
" To uphold and enforce this constitution.
" To keep the official record, minutes, committee reports, and files of all Student Government Association meetings.
" To effectively carry out directives from the sponsor.
" Maintain a log of SGA member's attendance in class, special meetings, appropriate dress, and functions.

Section VI: Duties of the treasurer shall be the following:
" To uphold and enforce this constitution.
" Maintain accurate records of all financial transactions of the Student Government Association.
" Serve as liaison between the Student Government and the school bookkeeper.
" To effectively carry out directives from the sponsor.
" Supervise all money collecting operations, receipts, and management of the budget.
" Open all records of this SGA to anyone authorized by the president or sponsor, for their examination.

Section VII: Duties of the historian shall be the following:
" To uphold and enforce this constitution.
" Prepare state competition materials as needed or for SGA use.
" To effectively carry out directives from the sponsor.
" Keep an accurate record of all Student Government Association activities along with a SGA Scrapbook.

Section VIII: Duties of the parliamentarian shall be the following:
" To uphold and enforce this constitution.
" To ensure that SGA meetings are conducted in an orderly manner according to parliamentary procedure, unless otherwise suspended by the president.
" To effectively carry out directives from the sponsor.

Section IX: Duties of the supervisor of elections shall be the following:
" To uphold and enforce this Constitution.
" Serve as Chairperson and coordinator for Student Government Association elections.
" To effectively carry out directives.
" Maintain and update voter registration records as needed or required.
" Supervise polling places and ballots during elections when it is not a conflict of interest.

Article VII - THE SENATE
Section I: The sophomore, junior, & senior classes at AHS shall be represented in the SGA through a 24 seat Senate.

Section II: The senate of the SGA shall be ideally composed of 20 elected & 4 appointed senators. The appointed senators will be selected by the SGA sponsor. Freshmen may not serve as either an officer or senator. A freshman may serve as Speaker of the House, which is a sub-officer position.

Section III: Duties of the senator shall be the following:
" Assist officers as they require in the proper functioning of SGA.
" Participate in various committees and participate in fund raising projects.
" To effectively carry out directives from the sponsor.
" Attend local, district and state meetings as needed.
" Participate in service projects at Apopka and within the community.
" Participate in social projects, events, and school wide functions.

Article VIII - REPRESENTATIVES & AMBASSADORS
Section I: Members of the House of Representatives and ambassadors are voting members of the SGA and subject to its Constitution. Only freshman that meet the requirements will be considered by the sponsor and committee to serve. If approved by the sponsor, these students will be known as Representatives.

Section II: Regular meetings of the House of Representatives will occur after school and not during class hours.

Section III: The senate president, senate pro tempore, and secretary of the senate will act as presiding officers, working with the speaker of the house on behalf of the House of Representatives. The senate president along with the senate sub officers will be responsible for conducting House meetings and coordinating activities with the executive board, senate, and sponsor. The senate leadership along with the speaker of the house will be responsible for the committees and activities for the House of Representatives.

Article IX - HONOR CODE
Section I: All members of SGA will treat each other with courtesy and dignity. Personal conflicts and demeaning behavior have no place within this organization. All members are equal in their ideas, opinions, and value and will be treated with respect.

Section II: The highest level of student citizenship and integrity will be the minimum standard of behavior in SGA. Honesty is not a luxury and deceit will not be tolerated. The truth is expected and required. Civility is mandatory. Manners and common courtesy are expected at ALL TIMES.

Section III: Violation of the above will result in disciplinary action, drastic grade reduction, or removal from office depending on the seriousness of the transgression. Honor code violations will be reviewed by the sponsor and principal of AHS.

Article X - ELIGIBILITY & CANDIDACY FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section I: All members shall have an overall average of 2.5 and maintain this average throughout the year.

Section II: All candidates will possess an excellent citizenship and attendance record at Apopka High School.

Section III: No officer of the Student Government Association may also be an officer of any Class Council at the same time.

Section IV: A candidate must turn in their candidacy petition, submit teacher recommendations, and receive the sponsor's endorsement before the due date. Any student wishing to run for the office of president or vice president must have one year prior SGA experience in the Executive Board or Senate and the sponsor's endorsement. All candidates must meet the requirements and deadlines stated on the declaration form. The sponsor's endorsement will be based on an overview of the complete student and any prior SGA service if applicable.

Section V: Only a student who will be a junior or senior during their term may run for the office of president or vice president. A student may only run for one SGA office at a time. The one-year prerequisite for seeking the office of president or vice president may only be waved by the sponsor. The student will be interviewed by sponsor first before being allowed to seek either of these positions.

Article XI - ELECTIONS
Section I: The Executive Board and Senate will be elected in the spring. Ambassadors are appointed in the spring as well.

Section II: Newly elected officers & senators will assume their official responsibilities the day after the current school year ends. An officer-elect or senator-elect may act or represent the school in lieu of an existing officer or senator if approved by the sponsor or if they are filling the spot of a graduating senior. Re-elected officers or senators will continue uninterrupted in their positions. Positions not filled by the election will be filled (appointed) by the sponsor.

Section III: Election rules, declaration of candidacy, and teacher recommendations will be compiled into a packet and provided by the sponsor prior to the election. A candidate's failure to follow the election rules will result in disqualification. It is the candidate's responsibility to review this constitution prior to running for office.

Article XII - FINANCES
Section I: All matters pertaining to finances shall be subject to the approval of the principal of Apopka High School. All financial expenses pertaining to the work of the SGA must either be authorized by a majority vote of the Executive Board & Senate with final approval from the sponsor or solely authorized by the sponsor as needed.

Article XIII - COMMITTEES
Section I: There shall be only two types of committees: permanent & special. Only an officer of the Executive Board, president of the senate, president pro tempore of the senate, or secretary of the senate may chair a permanent committee. The sponsor will determine the number of permanent committees at the beginning of the school year. Special committees within the SGA may only be formed by the president or sponsor.

Article XIV - TERM OF OFFICE
Section I: All elected and appointed members of the SGA shall serve a term of one school year (No term limits).

Article XV - VACANCIES
Section I: The sponsor shall appoint vacancies in the Executive Board, Senate, House of Representatives, or Ambassadorships occurring during the school year. Selected candidates must meet all requirements and recommendations for office.

Section II: If the president shall not be able to complete his/her term of office, the vice president shall assume the presidency. The line of succession is president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian, parliamentarian, supervisor of elections, president of the senate, senate pro tempore, and secretary of the senate.

Article XVI - REMOVAL FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Section I: Any member of the SGA can be removed if they fail to execute their duties in a responsible fashion. Each case shall be reviewed by the sponsor, and if deemed necessary, presented to the principal of Apopka High School for a final judgment.

Sections II: Grounds for dismissal from the Student Government Association may include:
" Repeated failure to fulfill the responsibilities set forth in this Constitution.
" Administrative suspension, multiple detentions, or repeated infractions of established sponsor or school rules.
" Failure to maintain a cumulative 2.5 G.P.A. or an acceptable attendance record.
" Any behavior that would compromise the high standard of the SGA or the reputation of Apopka High School.
" Failure to report to the student government sponsor any referral, suspension, or detention in a timely manner.
" Both repeated and or serious violations of established SGA Honor Code or serious violation of an established rule.

Article XVII - AMENDMENTS
Section I: Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any voting member and submitted to the Parliamentarian.

Section II: The Executive Board and the sponsor shall review the proposed Amendment. If approved by a majority of the Executive Board as well as the sponsor, the Amendment will then go to the Senate for approval. If a majority of the Senate approves, the Amendment goes to the Student Body President for his or her consent. If consent is given, the Amendment is added to the Constitution.

Section III: The Student Body President may veto any Amendment to the Constitution.

Section IV: Only a member of the Senate can call for an override vote.

Section V: The President's veto may only be overridden by a 2/3 majority of all voting members.

Article XVIII - RE-ELECTION
Section I: After a SGA member has served a year in student government, they may only run for a position as an officer or seek reappointment as a senator if they are considered to be in "Good Standing". Good standing will be determined by the sponsor based on the student's attitude and performance in SGA.

Section II: An SGA member in "Good Standing" is a student who the sponsor considers to have been an asset, working hard in their position the prior year with a good attendance record. Furthermore, the member has shown themselves to be reliable, responsible, and willing to go above and beyond in their representation of Apopka High School. Without the recommendation of the sponsor, the student will not be considered in "Good Standing" and will not be allowed to return to SGA in any capacity.

Article XIX - RATIFICATION
Section I: This Constitution shall become effective upon ratification by the sponsor, president, president-elect, and vice president of the Student Government Association.

Tuesday May 13th, 2008

Mr. Ross Black - SGA President 2007-2008

Ms. Natalie Acosta - SGA President-Elect 2008-2009

Ms. Kelly Coe - SGA Vice President 2007-2008

Mr. Paul Peters - Student Government Association Sponsor