CONSTITUTION OF THE HONORATUS CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY OF BROOKINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Revised May 2004

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1

The name of this chapter shall be the Honoratus Chapter of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools, which appears on the charter granted by the National Council of the National Honor Society, duly signed by the members of the National Council.

Section 2

The object of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character in students of Brookings High School.

Article II: Membership

Section 1

Membership in this chapter shall be based on Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

Section 2

Membership of this chapter shall be known as active and graduate. The graduate members have no vote. Active members become graduate members upon graduation.

Section 3

Candidates shall have spent at least one semester in Brookings High School and shall be members of the senior class.

Section 4

Candidates shall be qualified scholastically as follows:

(a) Candidates must have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.70.

(b) Semester grades shall be used in determining averages.

(c) Eligibility will be reviewed three times: At the end of first semester junior year, second semester junior year, and after first semester senior year. For students to be eligible after the first semester of their senior year, they must document twenty hours of community service completed after their junior year in addition to the other requirements.

Section 5

This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed and shall be required scholastic achievement for admission to candidacy for election to membership. Their eligibility shall then be determined by their Service, Leadership, and Character.

Article III: Election of Members

Section 1

The election of members to this chapter of the National Honor Society shall be made by a majority vote of the chapter faculty council; in no case should the faculty council be made up of fewer than five teachers who are chosen by the principal.

Section 2

Any student who is eligible for membership in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Character and Service will be notified of their admission to candidacy for election to membership by the officers and advisors of the Brookings High School National Honor Society.

Section 3

Any member who falls below the standards which were the bases of his/her election shall be promptly warned. If during the next semester marking period of the school, the member fails to meet the standards used as bases for his election to the Society, his case shall be passed upon by the faculty council. A National Honor Society member must maintain the standards for membership in order to retain his/her membership. A member will be allowed only one warning period. Once a member is dismissed from membership, he or she is never again eligible for membership in the National Honor Society. Standards include but are not limited to:

(a) Character (academic dishonesty, violations of law, etc.)

(b) GPA drops below minimum requirement.

Section 4

When a member is dismissed, he must be notified in writing and his emblem and membership card returned to the advisor or principal. Notice of his dismissal must be indicated on the Annual Report submitted to the National Secretary at the end of the school year.

Section 5

Any member who is dismissed shall have the right to a hearing before the faculty council.

Section 6

An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his membership and signed by the principal.

Section 7

An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter. This transfer member must maintain the membership requirements for this chapter in order to retain his membership.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1

The officers of this chapter shall be president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer.

Section 2

A majority of votes cast shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter.

Section 3

It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of this chapter.

Section 4

The vice-president shall fill the chair of the president his/her absence.

Section 5

The chapter secretary/treasurer shall keep the minutes of meetings, a record of all business, and all the records on file. He/She shall, with the approval of the principal of advisor, certify to the National Council the names of all members for the current school year on the Annual Report submitted to National Headquarters. The chapter secretary/treasurer shall also receive and disburse all funds of the chapter and shall keep an accurate account of receipts and disbursements in accordance with school regulations.

Article V: Executive Committee

Section 1

The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the chapter and the chapter advisor.

Section 2

The executive committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the chapter between its business meetings, make recommendations to the chapter, and determine and perform such other duties as are specified in the chapter bylaws. All actions and recommendations of the executive committee shall be subject to the review of the chapter membership.

Section 3

The executive committee shall have the responsibility for ensuring that chapter activities and procedures follow school policy and regulations.

Article VI: Supervision

Section 1

The activities of this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the principal, the chapter advisor, and the faculty council.

Article VII: Meetings

Section 1

The meetings of this chapter shall be held as necessary during the regular school year.

Section 2

The officers of the chapter shall be elected at the last regular meeting of the year.

Section 3

All meetings shall be open meetings and shall be held under the sponsorship of the principal or some member of the faculty selected by him.

Section 4

It is mandatory that all members be present at meetings.

(a) No member can exceed a limit of two (2) unexcused absences.

(b) Absences are to be excused by the Chapter advisor.

(c) Any member exceeding two absences will be subject to expulsion by the Advisory Committee.

(d) Members will be counted as tardy if late. Three tardies will be one unexcused absence. After ten minutes into the meeting, members will be counted absent.

Section 5

A majority of votes shall be cast to conduct the business of the chapter.

Article VIII: Activities

Section 1

This chapter shall determine and complete one or more service projects each year.

Section 2

All members must participate in the chapter service project.

(a) Members who do not participate will be subject to expulsion following review of the Chapter Advisors.

Section 3

The service project shall have the following characteristics:

(a) Fulfill a need within the school or community.

(b) Have the support of the administration and faculty.

(c) Be appropriate and educationally defensible.

(d) Be well planned, organized, and executed.

Section 4

Each member of this chapter shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in service projects which reflect his or her particular talents or interests. This is in addition to the chapter projects in which all members contribute.

Section 5

This chapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.

Article IX: Emblem

Section 1

Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.

Section 2

Any member who withdraws or is dismissed from this chapter shall return the emblem.

Section 3

Ail insignia must be procured from the national secretary of the National Honor Society, NASSP, 1904 Association Dr., Reston, VA 22091-1537

Article X: Ratification

Section 1

This Constitution shall be ratified after discussion within the chapter concerning its contents and receiving two-thirds of all votes cast.

Article XI: Amendments

Section 1

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided that the proposed amendment has been approved by the Executive Committee of the chapter and by the national secretary of the National Honor Society and that notice to members has been given at least one month prior to the meeting in which it is to be voted upon.