Article I—Name

This organization will be called the St. Clair Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.

Article II—Purpose

Section 1.  The purpose of this organization is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character, and to encourage citizenship.

Section 2.  NJHS is a community service organization.  The chapter shall be involved in one or more community service projects during the school year.

Article III—Chapter organization   

Section 1.  The membership consists of the students selected to participate.

Section 2.  Chapter officers include a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. 

Section 3.  The chapter officers along with the adviser make up the executive committee, which administers activities within the chapter during and between meetings.

Section 4.  The faculty council is a five-member board appointed by the principal.  It controls the selection process and handles formal chapter discipline and dismissal. The principal cannot be a member of the faculty council. 

Section 5.  The adviser is a non-voting member of the faculty council.  The adviser is responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision and support of the chapter, its members, and its officers.  The adviser is responsible for ensuring that the membership standards and obligations are maintained.  The adviser acts as a liaison between the chapter and the faculty, administration, students, and community.  The adviser maintains records of membership, history, activities, and finance for an annual report that is to be sent to the national office.  The adviser stimulates membership growth, orders supplies, and advises the chapter on national policies.

Section 6.  The principal appoints the adviser and the faculty council, works with faculty to establish selection procedure, and supports the chapter at all levels.  The principal has final veto power regarding all chapter activities, decisions, issues, and concerns, including selection and dismissal of members.  The principal is also responsible for paying NJHS annual affiliation dues. 

Section 7.  The NJHS is under the sponsorship and supervision of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Article IV—Selection        

Section 1.  The selection procedure will be published on the SCMS website and in SCMS newsletters.  Students with a qualifying GPA will be notified in writing that they are candidates for membership.

Section 2.  Membership is an honor, not a right.        

Section 3.  In order to be selected for membership a student must have attended St. Clair Middle School for one full semester, be in the 7^th or 8^th grade, have a cumulative GPA of 3.4, complete a student information form, and receive a majority vote of the faculty council. 

Section 4.  The purpose of the student information form (Appendix A) is to show evidence of scholarship, service, leadership, citizenship, and character.  This is also demonstrated through teacher evaluation forms (Appendix B). The faculty council will review these forms and vote for selection or non-selection. 

Section 5.  Candidates will be notified in writing of their selection or non-selection.  Reasons for non-selection will be given.

Section 6.  An NJHS member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from that school’s principal will be allowed membership at SCMS and then must maintain this chapter’s standards.  

Article V—Membership

Section 1.  Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony. 

Section 2.  Each member is expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.4.

Section 3.  Each member is expected to provide service to the school and community.  This is accomplished through participation in group- and individual-service projects.

Section 4.  Each member is expected to demonstrate leadership, character, and citizenship in school and outside of school. 

Section 5.  Each member is expected to be in attendance at each meeting, unless they have an excused absence from school on the meeting day. 

Article VI—Dismissal.  Due Process.

Section 1.  Step one.  Students who fail to maintain the above expectations will receive a written warning from the organization.  This includes: a cumulative GPA falling below 3.4, failure to participate in a group or individual service project, failure to demonstrate leadership, character, or citizenship in or out of school (this may be noted by a teacher on a disciplinary referral or in communication with the adviser, etc.), or one unexcused absence from a chapter meeting.

Section 2.  Step two.  Failure to improve or correct behavior as noted and in the time specified will result in a pending dismissal from the organization.  A written notice of the pending dismissal and reasons will be given. 

Section 3.  Step three.  The member has a right to a hearing before the faculty council before final dismissal.  The faculty council may decide to dismiss, not dismiss, and/or to  discipline the member.

Section 4.   Members who are dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.

Article VII—Meetings

The chapter will meet once a month.  Meeting times may be before, during, or after school, as determined by the chapter adviser.  Special meetings may be called by the chapter advisor or executive committee.  Meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order.  A meeting agenda must be decided upon by the executive committee before a meeting.

Article VIII—Officers

Section 1.  The chapter will have an executive committee consisting of the adviser and officers.  The officers shall be president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.  The executive committee will meet before general meetings to set the agenda.

Section 2.  The president will lead executive committee and general membership meetings.  The president will call meetings to order and direct the meetings through the agenda.

Section 3.  The vice-president shall fill in for the president when necessary.  The vice-president will assist the president.  The vice-president will take attendance at meetings and be in charge of issues related to attendance, discipline and dismissal.  This means writing and delivering warnings and notices of pending dismissal from the organization.

Section 4.  The secretary shall record minutes of meetings and read minutes from the previous meeting.  The secretary will be in charge of organization publications, including the website and newsletter articles.

Section 5.  The treasurer shall keep track of fund raising money collected and dispersed and any other financial matters related to the organization.  

Article IX—Procedures for election of officers, removal, and filling vacancies

Section 1.  The officers will be voted on at the first general meeting of the school year.  All students are open to nomination by themselves or fellow members.  Members will first nominate and vote for the office of president, then vice-president, then secretary, and finally treasurer. This ensures that a member losing one election can be nominated for another.  The adviser will choose the method of voting (i.e. hands, ballots, etc.).  The student receiving the most votes for each office will be elected.  A student can only hold one office.  Each position shall be open to voting every year.  In case of a tie, the candidates with the most votes will remain on the ballot for a second vote of the members. 

Section 2.  An officer may be removed from office for failing to meet the requirements of the office or as a disciplinary action of the faculty council in a dismissal case.  If there is a failure to meet the requirements of the office, it is the duty of the executive committee to provide a written warning of removal stating reasons and a timeline for correction.  If the situation is not corrected then a notice of pending removal will follow.  At that time the officer will have a hearing before the faculty council to determine whether or not removal will be final.  Once removed a member may not be elected to an office within the organization again.

Section 3.  If a member is removed or resigns, then the position will be filled through an election at the first general meeting following the removal.

Article X—Ratification and amendment of bylaws

Section 1.  These bylaws are based on and cannot conflict with the National Junior Honor Society Constitution.

Section 2.  These bylaws shall govern the actions of the St. Clair Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.

Section 3.  Any amendment to these bylaws must be approved by a three to one vote of the members present at a general meeting.

Section 4.  The St. Clair Middle School Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap.