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CONSTITUTION OF THE VINCENT MASSEY

COLLEGIATE STUDENT COUNCIL

 

I. NAME This document shall be called the “Constitution of the Vincent Massey Collegiate Student Association” and shall contain within it the constitution of the Vincent Massey Collegiate student council.

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II. MEMBERSHIP

A. All students, upon payment of their student fees shall be members of the Student Council.

B. Potential membership is open to all members of the registered student body within VMC.

 

III. PURPOSE OF STUDENT COUNCIL

A. To work with the Administration and staff in establishing and operating a well-balanced and worthwhile co-curricular program at Vincent Massey Collegiate.

B. To initiate and manage social activities throughout the school year.

C. To promote and foster a healthy and enthusiastic school spirit.

D. To organize, plan, administer, and finance the projects incidental to Student Council.

E. To assume responsibility for the management of all funds collected on behalf of the Vincent Massey Collegiate Student Council.

F. To stimulate an unbiased view of politics and current affairs within the student body.

 

  1. STRUCTURE OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL

    1. There shall be a governing body of the Vincent Massey Collegiate Student Council which shall be called the Student Council. No person may hold more than one voting office on Student Council. The Student Council shall be composed of:

      1. President

      2. Vice –President

      3. Secretary

      4. Treasurer

      5. Student Relations Representative

      6. Arts Representative

      7. Sports Representative

      8. Grade Councilors

      9. Staff Advisors

 

  1. The Student Council Executive shall be composed of:

    1. President

    2. Vice-President

    3. Secretary

    4. Treasurer

    5. Student Relations Representative

 

  1. The Student Council governing body (listed as A.) shall be the only voting members of Student Council unless an Executive vote is required.

 

  1. Duties and Responsibilities of Student Council

 

  1. Teacher Advisors:

    1. At least one teacher advisor will represent staff interests on council.

    2. At least one teacher advisor must attend all Student Council meetings where motions are to be made. Teacher advisors are to represent the Staff and to contribute any opinions they may have. They shall be members of the Student Council and all the committees thereof.

 

  1. Executive:

    1. The Executive may be convened at any time by the President or in his/her absence, by the Vice-President.

    2. The Executive must present to the Student Council any and all plans for carrying out the purpose of the Council. In matters of urgency, the Executive is entitled to make immediate decisions, but such decisions must be presented and discussed at the next meeting of Student Council.

    3. All Executive members are responsible for keeping a binder filled with a detailed account of his/her duties during the year. This information is to be passed on to future executive upon the completion of spring elections and no later than the conclusion of the school year.

    4. All Executive members must be maintaining full-time student status.

 

  1. President:

    1. Preside over all meetings of the Student Council and at any general meetings of the Student Council.

    2. Create an agenda prior to each meeting of the Student Council.

    3. To monitor progress and maintain smooth operations of all council meetings and general assemblies.

    4. To hold the first general meeting of the Student Council before the 1st of October.

    5. Maintain operations as dictated by the Constitution.

    6. Sign any necessary council documentation as required (i.e. constitution)

    7. Perform all duties incidental to that office as assigned by council and/or staff advisors.

    8. Chair meetings necessary for student council.

    9. Represent the Student Council in and outside the school in a positive and informative manner.

 

  1. Vice-President:

    1. Preside over all meetings of the Student Council and any general meetings of the council in the absence of the President.

    2. Assist the President in the performance of the duties of the presidential office.

    3. Shall act as a liaison between the Student Body and the Student Council Executive.

    4. Assist other Executive officers where needed.

    5. Preside over the meeting concerning the Vote of Confidence.

    6. Keep well informed of the Council and presidential duties to promote a smooth transition in the absence of the President.

 

 

 

 

  1. Secretary:

    1. Keep proper Minutes of each meeting of the Student Council in a loose-leaf notebook, binder, or approved electronic manner.

    2. Keep an attendance record of all the meetings of the Student Council.

    3. Within three days of each Student Council meeting, and after being approved by the President and Vice-President, shall post a copy of the Minutes in a location visible to the Student Body (email or hard copy form)

    4. Provide a brief review of Minutes from previous meeting at the start of each Student Council meeting.

    5. Collect all Executive binders at the end of the school year and submit them to the next President.

    6. Preside over all meetings of the Student Council and any general meetings of the council in the absence of the President and Vice-President.

    7. Gather and maintain a comprehensive means of contact information for all members of student council. A final working copy must be supplied to President as well as Teacher Advisors.

 

  1. Treasurer:

    1. Responsible for the handling of funds, tabulations, bookkeeping, and all other financial aspects concerning Student Council.

    2. The Treasurer shall handle funds collected at school functions.

    3. Responsible for keeping a book containing the financial situation of the Student Council.

    4. Announce at each meeting how much money is left in the Student Council account if one is established. The Secretary must record this figure in the Minutes.

    5. Ensure that purchases made by council members are submitted properly to the VMC Administrative office with all supporting documentation.

 

  1. Relations Officer:

    1. Shall act as a liaison between Vincent Massey Collegiate and the surrounding community and media.

    2. Build relations between the Student Council and the other committees (ex: Grad committee, TAG, etc). Keep the council updated on various events around the school led by other committees.

    3. Responsible for contacting, in advance, groups required to assist the Student Council in certain events.

    4. Provide leadership role in promoting activities and events as set out by Student Council.

    5. Establish and maintain relationship with TECH crew for activities and events.

 

  1. Arts Representative and Sports Representative:

    1. Shall act as a liaison between Student Council and representative focus.

 

  1. Provide leadership role in contacting, in advance, teachers within these focus areas for information pertaining to student council activities and events.

  2. Provide Student Council with any relevant information regarding various activities and events pertaining to these focus areas.

  3. Provide leadership role in creating and fulfilling activities and events that incorporate these special areas of focus, such as, but not limited to:

Club fairs, Pep Rallies, Coffeehouses, Arts showcases, etc.

 

  1. Grade Councilors

Responsibilities are to be divided equally amongst the councilors at the meetings of Student Council, regardless of Grade.

 

Student Council will determine how many Grade Councilors are deemed necessary based upon student demographics and need. This number will be voted upon prior to spring student elections.

 

  1. Each councilor is to do his/her specific duties as well as to provide assistance to the other councilors and their duties.

  2. Publicize all Student Council activities.

  3. Responsible for contacting sponsors, writing thank-you letters, and gathering prizes for special events.

  4. Publicize all Student Council functions.

  5. Responsible for the Student Council column in the Vincent Massey Collegiate newspaper.

  6. Organize specific projects, present proposals to the Student Council, and manage these projects subject to the monetary restrictions established by Student Council.

  7. Duties will be appointed throughout the year on a volunteer/need basis.

 

  1. Nominations and Elections

 

  1. All candidates running for positions must have an academic record of 70% or better, based on the most recent report card of the school year.

    1. Special cases will be given consideration by the Student Council in consultation with the Student Council Advisors and/or Administration.

  2. Students running for Executive positions of President and Vice-President need to have at least one (1) previous year of experience on Student Council.

    1. Discrepancies of past experience will be handled by a: Executive b: Teacher Advisors.

  3. Each nominee, prior to acceptance for campaign initiation, will be required to obtain sixty (60) signatures from the Student Council, one (1) Student Council Advisor, and one (1) teaching staff signature.

  4. When the list of candidates has been compiled, the list shall be submitted to the Administration for approval. The administration has the right to disqualify a candidate, given reason or probable cause.

  5. The list of candidates for the Executive offices must be completed and made public to the Student Council ASAP.

  6. All candidates must be notified simultaneously of their acceptance as candidates for their respective offices.

 

  1. The election for Student Council Executive offices and Grade Councilors shall be held by secret ballot. This will be held within May on a date set by Executive, in consultation with the Administration.

    1. Secondary election of Grade 9 and Grade 10 Grade Councilors will be held in similar fashion no later than October of current school year.

  2. All candidates must make election speeches at Town Hall, an open meeting of the Student Body on the day of the election.

 

 

Voting will proceed as follows

  1. Students are to mark an “X” opposite the name of their preferred candidate for each office.

  2. For the positions of Councilors, students are to make an “X” opposite their four preferred candidates.

  3. If in voting a student should mark the ballot in any other manner than with a single “X”, the ballot shall be deemed spoiled and not counted.

  4. The candidates receiving the largest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected to that office.

  5. In case of a tie, there shall be a second election for that office within one week of the first election.

 

  1. President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Relations Officer, and Arts/Sports Representatives may run for the same position more than once

  2. Student Council will be responsible, in co-operation with the Staff Advisors, for conducting the election and preparing and counting the ballots. They alone shall count the ballots. The number of votes each candidate receives shall be kept secret.

  3. Student Council members running for positions will be prohibited from counting ballots or taking any part in ballot determination.

  4. Winners of positions will be kept confidential until Administration and Teacher Advisors have met collectively with all candidates to reveal results. Results will then be provided to the entire student body.

  5. The newly elected Executive shall consult their present Student Council counterpart ASAP for the purpose of learning council procedure and their duties.

 

  1. Removal from Office

    1. A member of the Student Council may be removed from office by a three- quarter-majority vote of the Student Council (as established in IV.A)

    2. Should a member of Student Council fail to attend any five meetings during the school year without reason satisfactory to the Executive, he/she shall be dismissed from membership on Student Council.

    3. Student Council Staff Advisors shall be notified of any intention to remove a person from office.

    4. A vote of confidence for the President is required at the first meeting of the Student Council in January of each year. This vote is required in order for the President to carry on in office for the remainder of the year.

 

The vote of confidence will proceed as follows:

 

  1. The vote of confidence must be held in January before the commencement of Semester 2;

  2. The Vice-President will preside over the portion of the meeting concerning the vote of confidence;

  3. A non-confidence vote may be called for any time after January 15th if a majority of Student Council members support such a motion;

  4. Three-quarters of Student Council must be present in order for the vote to take place;

  5. The vote will be by secret ballot and to be marked “FOR” or “Against.” Should the majority of the ballots be marked “Against,” his/her office shall be maintained.

 

  1. General Meetings

    1. Student Council Executive may call a regular meeting of the Student Council at any time. B. The order of business shall be as follows:

      1. The meeting is called to order by the presiding officer;

      2. Roll called;

      3. Minutes of the previous meeting are read;

      4. Minutes are approved after making corrections or deletions;

      5. Business arising out of the Minutes discussed;

      6. Correspondence and communications read and dealt with;

      7. Reports of Committees made;

      8. Unfinished business held over from previous meeting discussed;

      9. New business discussed;

      10. Motions made and Notice of Motions received;

      11. Elections held and appointments are made;

      12. Meeting closed by a Motion.

 

  1. Constitutional Review

    1. Every three (3) years, or at the discretion of the Student Council, the Student Council shall undertake, or the Constitutional Review Committee shall be formed, to review the Constitution and recommend any changes it deems necessary.

    2. Any amendments proposed by the Constitutional Review Committee shall be submitted to the Student Council Advisors for further review and approval.

    3. Any Amendments approved by the Student Council Advisors shall be presented to the Student Council for its examination at least five (5) days prior to voting on them.

    4. To be adopted as part of the Constitution of the Vincent Massey Collegiate Student Council, any amendments must receive the support of at least two- thirds of the voting members of the Student Council.

    5. After the Constitution has been amended, the Constitution must be signed by the current Student Council President. This must be witnessed by two-thirds of the Student Council Executive.

    6. A copy of the Constitution shall be kept in electronic form for future editing purposes.

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