Article I
Name and Purpose

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Blackstone -Millville Regional Senior High Student Council.
Section 2. The purpose of this organization shall be to develop leadership skills; promote harmonious relations throughout the entire school; improve student-teacher relationships; improve school spirit and morale; provide a forum for student expression; provide orderly direction of school activities; promote community involvement and promote the general welfare of the school/community.

Article II
The Principal

Section 1. The principal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of this chapter.
Section 2. The principal shall appoint the chapter advisor.

Article III
Faculty Advisor

Section 1. The Advisor(s) shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision of the Council and act as liaison between Faculty, Administration, Students, and Community.
Section 2. The Advisor(s) shall maintain files on membership, chapter history, activities, and financial transactions.
Section 3. The Advisor(s) shall review grades of all Members at the end of each quarter to insure that academic eligibility for participation is maintained.
Section 4. The Advisor(s) shall help the Officers understand and carry out their duties.

Article IV
Membership

Section 1. The Student Council shall consist of a minimum of:
A. Four (4) seniors.
B. Four (4) juniors.
C. Four (4) sophomores.
D. Four (4) freshmen.
E. Two (2) Regional S.A.C. Members.
F. Four (4) Local S.A.C. Members,
G. Delegates may join the Council at the discretion of the Executive Board and Advisor(s).
Section 2. If any member leaves or is dismissed from the Council, the Advisor(s) may appoint a replacement within two weeks to fill the vacancy.
Section 3. The Officers shall not be counted as Class Representatives.
Section 4. In order to maintain a position as a Student Council Member, a student must meet the Academic Eligibility Requirements as listed in the Student Handbook.
Section 5. Any Member who misses more than five (5) meetings, or fails to meet quarterly minimum Community Service Hours requirements will be removed from the Council.
Section 6. Delegates to the Student Council shall not posses voting rights until they have amassed the required Community/Council Service hours as stipulated by the Executive Board/Advisor(s).

Article V
Qualification of Officers

Section 1. The Officers of the Student Council shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Solicitor, Promotions Representative and Delegate.
Section 2. These Officers shall not hold the office of President of a Class or National Honor Society. They shall not serve more than two (2) years in the same office. They shall have been members of the Student Council for at least one year, the President having been a member for at least two (2) years.
Section 3. The President shall be a member of the Junior or Senior Class. The Vice-President shall be a member of the Junior or Senior Class. Other offices may be filled by students in the Sophomore, Junior or Senior Class.
Section 4. All Officer positions will be determined through popular elections to be held annually in May on a date to be determined by the Executive Board and the Advisor(s).
Section 5. Two Delegates to the Student Council Executive Board may be appointed at the discretion of the Advisor(s). Delegates should be chosen on the basis of their showing during the elections (i.e. the runners up for President and Vice-President should be appointed as Delegates to the Executive Board).

Article VI
Duties of Student Council Officers

Section 1. The President shall:
A. Preside over all meetings and functions.
B. Appoint all necessary Committees and Chairpersons.
C. Call special meetings when necessary with the Advisor's consent.
D. Liaison with School Administrator(s).
E. Oversee of all Council records.
F. Act as a member of all Committees (except the Rules Committee).
G. Prepare all agendas.
H. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
Section 2. The Vice-President shall:
A. Assume the duties of the President if necessary; act as Parliamentarian.
B. Be responsible for maintaining order during meetings.
C. Act as coordinator to all Committees/Chairpersons.
D. Record, publish and report (to Advisor(s), Executive Board and Solicitor) names of Members who have
not met Community/Council Service Hours requirements on a quarterly basis.
E. Act as Co-Administrator of all Council functions.
F. Be responsible for all paperwork from all Committees.
G. Act as a liaison of R.S.A.C. and L.S.A.C.
H. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
I. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
J. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
Section 3. The Secretary shall:
A. Give proper notice for all meetings.
B. Take and record attendance at all meetings.
C. Notify members after two meetings have been missed.
D. Be responsible for all record keeping.
E. Record all minutes of all meetings.
F. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
G. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall:
A. Make financial reports on the request of President or Advisor(s) only.
B. Manage Council Fund Raising events.
C. Provide a monthly audit of financial account (s).
D. Manage, as a Chairperson, all Fund Raising activities.
E. Monitor all financial matters.
F. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
G. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
Section 5. The Historian shall:
A. Collect materials relevant to the activities of the Council (photographs, articles, etc.).
B. Assemble materials into a scrapbook illustrating the accomplishments of the Council for that year.
C. Work with the Promotions Representative to keep a log book of all Council activities.
D. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
E. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
Section 6. The Promotions Representative shall:
A. Coordinate all publicity for upcoming events, in the manner of bulletin boards, announcements, cable TV, signs, and other such mediums.
B. Arrange for photographers at any/all Council events.
C. Submit articles to school/local/regional newspapers.
D. Work with historian in keeping a log of all Student Council activities.
E. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
F. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
Section 7. The Solicitor shall:
A. Issue notice of rules/policy infractions/violations to the Rules Committee/Executive Board/ Advisor(s).
B. Compile a list of charges against Members accused of rules/policy violations.
C. Act as Council Representative in all disciplinary matters/hearings.
D. Investigate Members accused of rules/policy violations.
E. Maintain files of Ethics/Rules/Policy complaints.
F. Maintain files on disciplined Members.
G. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
H. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
Section 8. Delegates to the Executive Board shall:
A. Work with the Executive Board as equals with voting power on all decisions.
B. Act as the Members Representative to the Executive Board.
C. Not be a Member of the Rules Committee.
D. Perform additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).
Section 9. All Officers will be issued permanent passes to be used within the building for Council business only.
Section 10. All Members will perform any/all additional duties as directed by the Advisor(s).

Article VII
Discipline of Members

Section 1. Any deviation from the Student Council laws outlined in this Constitution may merit punishment to be determined by the Council Advisor(s). The Council Advisor(s) may direct the Solicitor to investigate any Member to determine if the Member is guilty of wrongdoing. In the event that the Solicitor finds a complaint justified, the Advisor(s) may decree that the Member's pass be revoked; that the Member be forced to perform extra hours of Community Service; that the Member be suspended for no more than one month; or in cases of severe or repeated offense, that the Member be expelled from the B.M.R. Student Council.

Article VIII
Removal and Punishment of Members and Officers

Section 1. The temporary leave or removal, as well as punishment, of an Executive Officer or any Council Member may be deemed necessary if he or she is not performing the required duties of his/her position(s). Offenses meriting suspension/removal/expulsion include academic ineligibility, failure to complete required quarterly Community Service hours, or any other offense by which the Council Member does not honor their commitment to the Council. Said offenses to be determined at the Advisor(s) or the Executive Board and/or the Solicitor.
Section 2. B.M.R. Student Council Ethics/Rules/Policy Violations Complaint(s) Procedures.
1.) An Ethics/Rules/Policy Violations Complaint must be filed on a Standard form.
2.) The Complaint must include all relevant information.
3.) The Complaint must specify alleged offense.
4.) The completed Ethics Complaint form will be submitted to the Rules Committee upon introduction at a General Council meeting by motion and second (no vote needed).
5.) The Rules Committee will take the Complaint and appoint the Solicitor to investigate.
6.) The Solicitor will:
A. Investigate veracity of complaint.
B. Interview witnesses.
C. Deputize up to three (3) other Council Members to aid in the Investigation.
D. Gather documentation/evidence.
E. Consult the Secretary and Advisor(s).
F. Consult Teachers and Administrators.
G. Submit oral and written reports to full Rules Committee.
H. Recommend a course of action.
8.) The Rules committee will hear the Solicitor's report and hold a vote on whether or not to proceed with a Hearing (majority vote).
9.) If a Hearing is called for by a Rules Committee vote, the Solicitor will act as Counsel for the Rules Committee (non-voting). The Chairperson of the Rules Committee will act as moderator (voting). All hearings, documents, and activities will be recorded and entered into the record by a member of the Student Council to be appointed by the Chairperson of the Rules Committee and/or the Advisor(s).
10.) The Hearing procedure is as follows:
A. The Chairperson of the Rules Committee calls Rules Committee to order.
B. Charges are read by Solicitor.
C. Solicitor presents case/evidence/closes.
D. Defendant presents case/evidence/closes.
E. Questioning period may proceed at the discretion of the Chairperson.
F. Secret ballot taken on guilt/innocence (majority vote).
G. Votes counted/verdict read by Chairperson/punishment read.
11.) Decision sent to floor for vote of full Student Council.
12.) If majority votes to acquit , charges dropped.
13.) If majority votes to convict/expel, Student is removed from the Council, suspended, etc.
14.) Student has a right to an appeal before the Executive Board. Proper form must be submitted with relevant information included, stating reason(s) for the appeal. The Advisor(s) will grant/deny the appeal based on the evidence presented. The Advisor(s) decision on the appeal will be final.
15.) If an appeal is found by the Advisor(s) to have merit, the Executive Board will convene a Hearing. The Solicitor will act as Student Council Representative (non-voting), the Hearing format will be the same as listed above (majority vote). The Student Council President shall Act as Moderator (voting). The decision of the Executive Board is final.
16.) All hearings, documents, and activities will be recorded and entered into the record by the Secretary.
Section 3. The succession of Officers, due to temporary absence or removal, shall be as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Solicitor, Promotions Representative. Permanent removal or resignation of an Officer will result in an the appointment of a willing Council member to the vacant position by the Advisor(s).
Section 4. In the event that an Officer should resign from office, the Advisor(s) will appoint a new Officer in the same manner as in the case of Officer removal. A resigned Officer may not hold office for the duration of the school year. If a Member resigns from Council; a Committee Chairpersonship, or any other position or title elected/volunteered/appointed to, he/she will be removed from Council for the remainder of the school year. Exceptions to this rule may be made at the discretion of the Advisor(s). Letters of Resignation should be presented to the Advisor(s) and Executive Board, requesting an honorable dismissal.

Article IX
Committees

Section 1. Special Committees may be formed by order of the Executive Board and/or Advisor(s) to direct certain activities. The Committees shall consist of volunteers/appointees from the Council body. The President of the Student Council shall be a Member of all Committees (except the Rules Committee).
Section 2. Any Member(s) who signs up for a position on a Committee, but fails to attend the meeting of that Committee, shall have no input on any matter that was discussed by or decided upon by that Committee at that meeting. The appointment of Committee Chairpersons (majority vote of Committee or by Advisor(s)), will ensure the enforcement of this provision.
Section 3. Committee Chairpersons will initiate action to remove Members from a Committee. Members are removed from a Committee by a simple majority vote from the Members of that Committee. Committee Chairpersons may be removed from a Committee by a vote of the Student Council Body and/or by the Advisor(s).
Section 4. If a Member resigns from Council; a Committee Chairpersonship, or any other position or title elected/volunteered/appointed to, he/she will be removed from Council for the remainder of that school year. Exceptions to this rule may be made at the discretion of the Advisor(s). Letters of Resignation should be presented to the Advisor(s) and Executive Board, requesting an honorable dismissal.

Article X
Meetings and Attendance

Section 1. The Student Council shall meet every other week at a time, day, and place to be determined by the Advisor(s) and the Executive Board.
Section 2. Special Sessions may be called at any time by the President, Advisor(s), or Principal. Special Sessions may also be held by attaining a vote from two-thirds of the Student Council Members, upon the notification of the Advisor(s).
Section 3. Three incidents of tardiness of five (5) minutes or more to Meetings will constitute one unexcused absence.
Section 4. A Member will be dismissed from Council if he or she misses five (5) meetings in the course of one school year.
Section 5. Parliamentary procedure will be required during all Council meetings.

Article XI
Voting

Section 1. Before any vote can occur in Council, the issue must be presented on the floor by the Council President.
Section 2. All votes will be cast from the floor, unless a secret ballot is deemed necessary by the members of Executive Board and/or Advisor(s).
Section 3. Simple majority votes are required for passage of any item on the agenda, with the exception of amending this Constitution.
Section 4. The Secretary will record and log the results of all votes taken.

Article XII
Elections

Section 1. Officers for the next school year shall be elected by majority vote of the present Council not later than the first full week of May.
Section 2. Each Candidate for running for Executive Board Membership in the Student Council shall meet the Academic Eligibility Requirements set forth in the Student Handbook before taking out nomination papers.
Section 3. Each Candidate for Executive Board Membership shall file nomination papers with the Advisor(s) not later than one week prior to the election date.
Section 4. Each nomination paper shall be processed by the Executive Board and/or Advisor(s), which shall have the power to declare any invalid nomination paper null and void.
Section 5. Elections for Council Members shall be held during the month of May, the exact date to be determined by the Executive Board/Advisor(s).
Section 6. Not less than fifteen (15) signatures of Council Members in good standing must be submitted on a nomination paper (standard form) before a Member is allowed to run for an Executive Board Position/elected office.

Article XIII
State and National Organization

Section 1. The Blackstone - Millville Regional High School Student Council shall be a member of the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils.
Section 2. The Blackstone - Millville Regional High School Student Council shall be a member of the National Association of Student Councils.

Article XIV
Community and Council Service Hours

Section 1. Consistent with the purpose of this organization (see Article 1 Section 2), Student Council Members will be required to perform Community Service Hours. The number of Community Service hours to be performed per quarter will be decreed at the beginning of the school year by the Executive Board and/or the Advisor(s).
Section 2. Activities that qualify as Community Service Hours will be determined on a quarterly basis by decree of the Executive Board and/or the Advisor(s). A list of these activities will be published and posted in a central location at the beginning of each academic quarter.
Section 3. The number of Council Service hours to be performed per quarter will be decreed at the beginning of the school year by the Executive Board and/or the Advisor(s).
Section 4. Activities that qualify as Council Service Hours will be determined on a quarterly basis by decree of the Executive Board and/or the Advisor(s). A list of these activities will be published and posted in a central location at the beginning of each academic quarter.
Section 5. Members who complete Community/Council Service Hours must record them on the proper form. Community/Council Service Hours not recorded on the proper form shall not be accepted. The Vice-President will be responsible for counting and reporting the number of Community/Council Service Hours submitted on a quarterly basis. The Vice-President and the Advisor(s) have the right to reject any Community/Council Service Hours claimed if they have probable cause to doubt the veracity of the claim.
Section 6. Any member who does not meet the minimum Community/Council Service Hours requirements as decreed by the Executive Board and/or Advisor(s) in any given quarter will be removed from Council. Exceptions may be granted for cause at the discretion of the Executive Board and/or the Advisor(s).
Section 7. Elected and Delegate Members of the Executive Board are exempt from Council Service Hours requirements. Community Service Hours requirements must be completed per Article XVI Section 1.
Section 8. Delegates to the Student Council must perform three (3) more Council/Community Service hours than elected members during the first academic quarter. Delegates who have not completed the required hours will be removed from the Council. Those Delegates who have completed the required hours will become Members of the BMR Student Council with full voting privileges.

Article XV
Amendments

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those present at a meeting called for that purpose, provided that the proposed amendment has been presented to the membership at least one meeting prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon.
Section 2. This Constitution may not be amended without the approval of the Principal.