First Working Draft -- 9/21/2000	Final (Sixth) Draft -- 3/15/2001
Preamble. In order to better represent the interests of the Student Body, to ensure certain rights for the members of the Classes, and to explicitly describe the processes by which the Class Governments shall conduct their business, affairs, and elections, we the Student Body of North Shore High School do hereby establish and ordain this Constitution.	Preamble. In order to better represent the interests of the Student Body, to ensure certain rights for the members of the Classes, and to explicitly describe the processes by which the Class Governments shall conduct their business, affairs, and elections, we the Student Body of North Shore High School do hereby establish and ordain this Constitution.
Article I. Class Offices and Responsibilities Sec. 1 The President shall preside over all meetings and supercommons run by the Class Government. He shall schedule the meetings and determine the agenda for each.	Article I. Class Offices and Responsibilities Sec. 1 The President shall preside over all meetings and supercommons run by the Class Government. He shall schedule the meetings and determine the agenda for each.
Sec. 2 The Vice President shall chair all fundraising and events committees. In addition, the Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President upon the latter's absence.	Sec. 2 The Vice President shall chair all fundraising and events committees. In addition, the Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President upon the latter's absence.
Sec. 3 The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all Class Government meetings, including the attendance list; making the minutes readily available to the general Student Body; keeping records of all votes taken; counting the ballots in the votes; and maintaining the list of Commons Representatives.	Sec. 3 The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all Class Government meetings, including the attendance list; making the minutes readily available to the general Student Body; keeping records of all votes taken; counting the ballots in the votes; and maintaining the list of Class Representatives.
Sec. 4 The Treasurer shall keep track of the financial status of the Class Government. He shall assist the Vice President on all fundraising events. The Treasurer shall be responsible for budgeting the Class Government's capital.	Sec. 4 The Treasurer shall keep track of the financial status of the Class Government. He shall assist the Vice President on all fundraising events. The Treasurer shall be responsible for budgeting the Class Government's capital.
Sec. 5 Should an Officer be absent from a meeting, the President may appoint a person as an Interim Officer to fulfill the absent officer's responsibilities at that meeting. If the President shall be absent, the Vice President shall become the Interim President, and the Interim Vice President shall fill in for the Vice President's duties. Should the President not have appointed an Interim Officer, one may be appointed by motion of the Class Council.
Sec. 6 Should an Officer be absent from no less than four meetings in a row without reasonable excuse, the Interim Officer may be installed as the de facto officer by motion of the Class Council. The elected officer may be reinstated at any time by motion of the Class Council.
Sec. 7 Each Commons group within the Class shall designate a single Representative to represent that Commons in the Class Government. A Commons Representative can be recalled or replaced by the members of his or her Commons by motion of that Commons.	Sec. 5 The Class as a whole shall select six Representatives to represent the entire Class in the Class Government. These six Class Representatives, as well as the four Officers, shall also serve as Representatives to the S.G.O. Council.
Article II. Meetings Sec. 1 The voting members of the Class Government shall be the four Officers: the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and the Commons Representatives. These shall be collectively known as the Class Council.	Article II. Meetings Sec. 1 The voting members of the Class Government shall be the Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and the Class Representatives. The President may not vote. All Officers and Class Representatives shall be collectively known as the Class Council.
Sec. 2 Members of the general Student Body of the Class may attend the meetings and partake in the discussion, but do not have voting privileges.	Sec. 2 Members of the general Student Body of the Class may attend the meetings and partake in the discussion, but do not have voting privileges, unless the Class Council votes to have a general referendum of the Student Body of that Class.
Sec. 3 The Class Council shall meet once each week on the day assigned to it. A quorum of three is necessary to conduct official business.	Sec. 3 The Class Council shall meet once each week on the day assigned to it. A quorum of a five voting members on the Class Council, including at least one Officer, is necessary to conduct official business.
Sec. 4 The affairs of the Class Council shall be recorded in the minutes by the Secretary, as will the outcomes of all the votes held there. All votes shall be public votes, preferably with the individual yeas and noes of each voting member being recorded and made public knowledge.	Sec. 4 (1) The affairs of the Class Council shall be recorded in the minutes by the Secretary, as will the outcomes of all the votes held there. All votes shall be public votes and made public knowledge, preferably with the individual yeas and nays of each voting member being recorded and published. (2) Should the Class Council find it necessary to withhold the names and/or numbers of a vote, they may hold a vote to keep them secret. However, that vote for secrecy itself must be a public vote.
	Sec. 5 Should the President be absent from a meeting, the Vice President shall preside over the meeting; should both be absent, the Secretary shall preside; and should all three be absent, the Treasurer shall preside. In each case, the presiding officer shall still be considered to be a voting member.
Sec. 5 In the case of a tie vote, the President shall cast the deciding vote.	Sec. 6 In the case of a tie vote, the President shall cast the deciding vote, even if he is not present at the meeting.
Sec. 6 The Officers shall appear at their class' Supercommons at least once each month to inform the general Student Body of their Class about the business of the Class Government.	Sec. 7 The Officers shall appear at their class' Supercommons at least twice each month to inform the general Student Body of their Class about the business of the Class Government.
Sec. 7 The Officers shall be required to attend the weekly SGO meetings.	Sec. 8 The Officers shall be required to attend the weekly SGO meetings.
Article III. Elections Sec. 1 All Class Elections shall be held no earlier than the first Monday of May and no later than the third Monday of May.	Article III. Elections Sec. 1 All Class Elections shall be held no earlier than the second Monday of May and no later than the first Monday of June. No Class may hold its Elections prior to the SGO Elections of the same year. The above nonwithstanding, the incoming freshman class shall hold their elections no later than the first Monday of October.
Sec. 2 In order to be considered as a candidate for Office, a person must present a petition containing the signatures of at least one-fifth (20%) of the general Student Body. Signatures appearing on the petitions of more than one prospective candidate shall be stricken from both. These petitions must be submitted to the Class Advisor no later than the fourth Tuesday of April.	Sec. 2 In order to be considered as a candidate for Office, a person must submit to be reviewed a petition containing the signatures of at least one-fifth (20%) of the general Student Body of that Class. Signatures appearing on the petitions of more than one prospective candidate shall be stricken from both. These petitions must be submitted to the Class Advisor no later than the fourth Tuesday of April.
Sec. 3 Each candidate shall deliver a speech at a Supercommons meeting determined by the Class Advisor and Class President.	Sec. 3 Each candidate shall be required to deliver a speech at a Supercommons meeting on a date determined by the Class Advisor and Class President.
Sec. 4 The candidates shall be allowed to display posters in the hallways of the school. There may be no posters posted in classrooms or on any glass surface. These posters may be displayed from the date the candidate's petition is approved. They shall be allowed to be displayed until and including the day of the Election.	Sec. 4 The candidates shall be allowed to display posters in the hallways of the school. There may be no posters posted in classrooms or on any glass surface. These posters may be displayed from the date the candidate's petition is approved. They shall be allowed to be displayed until and including the day of the Election.
Sec. 5 The ballots shall be taken on voting machines. Paper ballots are not an acceptable method of conducting Elections. That nonwithstanding, students who are absent the day of the Election may request an absentee ballot the day following the Election upon verification of their legal absence from school on the Election day. Only members of the respective class may vote in Elections for its Class Government.	Sec. 5 The ballots shall be taken on voting machines. Paper ballots are not an acceptable method of conducting Elections. That nonwithstanding, students who are absent the day of the Election may request an absentee ballot the day following the Election upon verification of their legal absence from school on the Election day. Only members of the respective class may vote in Elections for its Class Government.
	Sec. 6 Upon placing his vote, each member of the Student Body will be required to sign his name on a list of all class members. Should the total number of votes cast in any Election on the ballot machine exceed the number of signatures on the sheet, the Election shall be declared null and void, and a re-Election shall be conducted within two weeks.
Sec. 6 All votes shall be tallied within 48 hours of the close of the ballots by the Class Advisor and Class Secretary. The candidate with the most votes shall be declared the winner. In the case of a tie, a re-election shall be held between the candidates involved in the tie.	Sec. 7 All votes shall be tallied immediately upon the close of the ballots by the SGO Advisor, Class Advisor, Assistant Principal, and a delegate from the SGO. The candidate with the most votes shall be declared the winner. In the case of a tie, a re-Election shall be held between the candidates involved in the tie. Allowing the two to serve as co-Officers is not an acceptable resolution.
Sec. 7 The candidates shall have the right to know the exact numbers of the election results in their respective races, but this information shall not be released to the general Student Body unless all candidates in that race unanimously agree to release it.	Sec. 8 The candidates, except for the victor in the Election, shall have the right to request the exact numbers of the election results in their respective races. However, this information shall not be released to the general Student Body unless all candidates in that race unanimously agree to release it.
	Sec. 9 Candidates for Class Representative do not need petitions. Candidates for Representative are also not required to make a speech. If there are six or less volunteers, no Election is necessary. The Election shall be run with voters voting for any six out of the available candidates; the six candidates with the highest vote totals shall become the Representatives. Each Class must submit its list of Representatives to the S.G.O. Secretary by the first day of October. Otherwise, the procedures for electing Representatives shall be the same as that for electing the Officers.
Article IV. Eligibility Standards Sec. 1 All candidates must be members in good standing of the class in which they seek office.	Article IV. Eligibility Standards Sec. 1 All candidates must be members in good standing of the class in which they seek office.
Sec. 2 No candidate for an office may be academically ineligible, meaning that they cannot be failing two or more classes. The candidates for President may not be failing any classes.	Sec. 2 No candidate for an office may be academically ineligible, meaning that they cannot be failing two or more classes. The candidates for President may not be failing any classes. Should an Officer fail to meet these requirements during his term, that Officer shall be suspended from his duties and an Acting Officer shall be designated by motion of the Class Council. The Officer shall be immediately reinstated upon presenting evidence that he is no longer failing to meet the requirements.
Sec. 3 Any candidate who has been a Class Officer in the year immediately preceding the year for which he seek re-election must present evidence: (1) that he has attended at least one SGO meeting in each month of that year, or at least 10 SGO meetings in the entire year, and (2) that he has attended at least one Class Council meeting in each month of that year, or at least 10 Class Council meetings in the entire year.	Sec. 3 Any candidate who has been a Class Officer in the year immediately preceding the year for which he seeks re-election must present evidence: (1) that he has attended at least one SGO meeting in each month of that year, or at least 10 SGO meetings in the entire year, and (2) that he has attended at least one Class Council meeting in each month of that year, or at least 10 Class Council meetings in the entire year.
Sec. 4 The Class Advisors shall be responsible for ensuring that all candidates meet these eligibility standards upon submission of their petition.	Sec. 4 The SGO Advisor, Class Advisor, Assistant Principal, and a delegate from the SGO shall be responsible for ensuring that all candidates meet these eligibility standards upon submission of their petition.
Sec. 5 Persons serving as SGO President, SGO First Vice President, or SGO Second Vice President may not serve as Class Officers at the same time.	Sec. 5 No person serving as an SGO Officer shall be allowed to serve as a Class Officer at the same time.
Article V. Impeachment Sec. 1 Any Officer may be impeached on the grounds that he is not fulfilling his duties and responsibilities; abusing his powers; violating any clause of this Constitution; overtly mishandling Government affairs; or otherwise engaging in any conduct considered unbecoming of an officer.	Article V. Impeachment Sec. 1 Any Officer may be impeached on the grounds that he is not fulfilling his duties and responsibilities; abusing his powers; violating any clause of this Constitution; overtly mishandling Government affairs or engaging in flagrant misconduct; or otherwise engaging in any conduct considered unbecoming of an Officer.
Sec. 2 An Officer is impeached by petition of no less that one-third (33%) of the general Student Body of that Class, or by vote of three-quarters (75%) of the Class Council, with a written statement describing how that Officer is deserving of conviction.	Sec. 2 An Officer is impeached by petition of no less than one-third (33%) of the general Student Body of that Class, or by vote of two-thirds (67%) of the Class Council, with a written statement describing how that Officer is deserving of conviction.
Sec. 3 After the petition or vote has been verified, the Class Council shall hold a trial to decide on the conviction or acquittal of the impeached Officer. The President shall preside at the trial; should the President have been the one impeached, the Vice President shall assume that responsibility.	Sec. 3 After the petition or vote has been verified by the SGO Advisor, Class Advisor, Assistant Principal, and a delegate from the SGO, the Class Council shall hold a trial to decide on the conviction or acquittal of the impeached Officer. The President shall preside at the trial; should the President stand impeached, the Vice President shall assume that responsibility.
Sec. 4 At the trial, the right of the impeached Officer to speak in his own defense shall not be denied. The presiding Officer at the trial shall determine a list of individuals who wish to give testimony at the trial. These in turn shall address the Class Council with their testimony.	Sec. 4 The presiding Officer at the trial shall determine a list of individuals who wish to give testimony at the trial. These in turn shall address the Class Council with their testimony. The right of the impeached Officer to speak in his own defense shall not be denied.
Sec. 5 After all testimony has been heard, the Class Council shall vote on the matter of conviction; a vote of greater than one-half (50%) of the Council needed for conviction.	Sec. 5 After all testimony has been heard, the Class Council shall vote on the matter of conviction or acquittal; a vote of greater than one-half (50%) of the Council needed for conviction.
Sec. 6 If the impeached Officer is acquitted, he shall return to his normal duties. No Officer shall be impeached twice for the same offences.	Sec. 6 If the impeached Officer is acquitted, he shall return to his normal duties. No Officer shall be impeached twice for the same offences.
Sec. 7 If the impeached Officer is convicted, he shall immediately by removed from office. An Interim Officer shall be appointed until new elections can be held. If the President is convicted, the Vice President shall be promoted to the office of President, and a new Vice President shall be chosen by the aforementioned method.	Sec. 7 If the impeached Officer is convicted, he shall immediately be removed from office, and a replacement chosen.
	Sec. 8 Should an Officer be absent from no less than three class meetings in a row without reasonable excuse, and not be fulfilling his duties, the Class Council may vote to remove him and install a new Officer. At the second week of absence, the Class Council must vote to send the absent Officer a warning. Upon the third absence, a three-quarters (75%) vote is required to remove the Officer.
Sec. 8 Should an Officer resign or a vacancy otherwise be realized, the position shall be filled by the process described in the preceding section	Sec. 9 (1) Should an Officer be impeached and convicted, be removed, resign, or should a vacancy otherwise be realized, the Class Council shall vote to either hold a general election of the Student Body of that Class between new candidates, or to choose the new Officer from within the Class Council. If the latter method is chosen, only members of the Class Council may be considered for replacement, and the Class Council shall vote to install him. (2) Whichever method is used, if it is the office of the President that is vacant, then the Vice President shall be promoted to the office of President, and a new Vice President shall be chosen by the method in the preceding section. No office shall remain vacant for more than twenty days.
Sec. 9 A Commons Representative can be expelled by vote of at least three-quarters (75%) of the Class Council.	Sec. 10 A Class Representative can be expelled by vote of at least three-quarters (75%) of the Class Council, or by petition of no less than one-third (33%) of the general Student Body of that Class. The Representative shall be replaced by the victor of an Election of the general Student Body of that Class.
Article VI. SGO/Class Relations Sec. 1 The SGO may not move to interfere in the internal affairs of the Class Government. That nonwithstanding, the motions of the SGO take precedence over those of the Class Government, including clauses of the Constitutions.	Article VI. SGO/Class Relations Sec. 1 The SGO may not move to interfere in the internal affairs of the Class Government. That nonwithstanding, the motions of the SGO take precedence over those of the Class Government, including clauses of the Constitutions.
Sec. 2 The affairs of the SGO and those of the Class Government shall be independent and separate.	Sec. 2 The affairs of the SGO and those of the Class Government shall be independent and separate.
Article VII. Administration/Class Relations Sec. 1 The Administration is defined as the District Board of Education, the School Principal, Assistant Principal, and other senior adult members of the District or High School faculty and staff.	Article VII. Administration/Class Relations Sec. 1 The Administration is defined for these purposes as the District Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, the School Principal, and Assistant Principal.
Sec. 2 The Class Government may not violate any federal, state, county, local, or any other laws or statutes, and may not violate any explicit district or school policy, nor may it encourage such illegal behavior.	Sec. 2 The Class Government may not violate any federal, state, county, local, or any other laws or statutes, and may not violate any explicit district or school policy, nor may it encourage such illegal behavior.
Sec. 3 Should the Administration come to the conclusion that the Class Government is taking part in any activity unbecoming of an upright Government, they shall state in writing their woes and grievances against the Class Government and deliver it to the Class President.	Sec. 3 Should the Administration wish to override an action of the Class Government which they see as unfit, they shall make a written complaint and deliver it to the Class President, as well as the Class Advisor.
Sec. 4 That statement having been delivered, the Class Council shall elect an appropriate number of Ambassadors to mediate and discuss with representatives of the Administration to resolve the disagreement.	Sec. 4 That statement having been delivered, the Class Council shall elect no more than five representatives to negotiate and discuss with representatives of the Administration to resolve the disagreement.
Sec. 5 In the extreme case that no agreement can be reached, and having exhausted all diplomatic means, the Administration and the Class Government must seek third-party arbitration.
Sec. 6 Neither the Administration nor any other outside body may cause the clauses of this Constitution to be violated, nor may they induce others to relinquish the rights granted in this Constitution. The Class Government must not be forced to partake in any action contrary to its will, binding arbitration and court action excepted.	Sec. 5 Neither the Administration nor any other outside body may force the clauses of this Constitution to be violated, nor may they induce others to relinquish the rights granted in this Constitution. The Class Government must not be forced to partake in any action contrary to its will, binding arbitration and court action excepted.
Article VIII. Nondiscrimination Policy Sec. 1 This Government may not discriminate with regard to age, disability, ethnicity, financial status, gender, national origin, physical appearance, race, religion, sexual orientation, views and beliefs, nor any means heretofore or hereafter devised, either for or against minorities.	Article VIII. Nondiscrimination Policy Sec. 1 This Government may not discriminate with regard to age, disability, ethnicity, financial status, gender, national origin, physical appearance, race, religion, sexual orientation, views and beliefs, nor any means heretofore or hereafter devised, either for or against minorities.
Sec. 2 The use of the pronoun "he" in this Constitution does not in any way imply that said persons must be male.	Sec. 2 The use of the pronoun "he" in this Constitution does not in any way imply that said persons must be male.
Article IX. Amendments Sec. 1 This Constitution shall be inherited by all incoming freshmen classes. It shall be legal and binding for all Class Governments operating in North Shore High School from the day they begin operation as freshmen to the day they graduate as seniors.	Article IX. Amendments Sec. 1 This Constitution shall be inherited by all incoming freshmen classes. It shall be legal and binding for all Class Governments operating in North Shore High School from the day they enter school as freshmen to the day they graduate as seniors.
Sec. 2 Each individual class may amend their own Constitutions separately. An amendment may be proposed by either a two-thirds (67%) vote of the Class Council or by petition from one-half (50%) of the general Student Body. The amendment must then be affirmed by a majority vote of the general Student Body of that Class. Amendments passed in this way only affect the involved class.	Sec. 2 Each individual class may amend their own Constitutions separately. An amendment may be proposed by either a two-thirds (67%) vote of the Class Council or by petition from one-third (33%) of the general Student Body of that Class. The amendment must then be ratified by a majority vote of the general Student Body of that Class. Amendments passed in this way only affect the involved class.
Sec. 3 The base Constitution inherited by the incoming freshmen classes may also be amended. Upon being proposed by either a two-thirds (67%) vote of a Class Council or by petition from one-half (50%) of the general Student Body of a class, the proposed amendment must be ratified by each of the four Class Councils. Ratification must be supported by a two-thirds (67%) vote of each Class Council. After this, the amendment must be affirmed by majority vote of the general Student Body of the entire school. Amendments passed in this way become part of the Constitution inherited by all incoming freshmen classes thereafter.	Sec. 3 The base Constitution inherited by the incoming freshmen classes may also be amended: (1) The amendment must first be proposed by either a two-thirds (67%) vote of a Class Council or by petition from one-third (33%) of the general Student Body of a Class. (2) Next, the proposed amendment must be ratified by each of the four Class Councils. Ratification must be supported by a two-thirds (67%) vote of each Class Council within 15 days of the original proposition. Any Class Council not having voted after the 15-day period expires forfeits their power of veto. Any amendment that does not pass the ratification stage may be offered instead as a Section 2 amendment. (3) After this, the amendment must be affirmed by majority vote of the general Student Body of the entire school. Amendments passed in this way become part of the Constitution inherited by all incoming freshmen classes thereafter.
Article X. Ratification Upon extensive review and debate by the SGO, the SGO shall vote to approve this Constitution, a majority vote needed to approve it. The Constitution must then be ratified by majority vote of the four Class Councils, and affirmed by majority vote of the general Student Body of the entire school. This Constitution will become legal and binding for all classes on the last day of the month following its final affirmation.	Article X. Ratification Upon extensive review and debate by the SGO, the SGO shall vote to approve this Constitution, a majority vote needed to approve it. The Constitution must then be affirmed by majority vote of the general Student Body of the entire school. This Constitution will become legal and binding for all classes on the last day of the month following its final affirmation.