BURLEIGH MANOR MIDDLE SCHOOL CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE
We the students of Burleigh Manor Middle School, in order to establish and maintain a
student voice in the course of education and enjoyment in the school, encourage
standards for high education, maintain good and open relationships between faculty and
pupils, and increase school spirit and grades to a high level of excellence, hereby ordain
and establish this Constitution for the current and forthcoming student bodies.
Article I
NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization shall be the Student Council of Burleigh Manor Middle
School.
Article II
GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION
1. To represent the students of Burleigh Manor Middle School
2. To maintain a balance between education and fun
3. To promote good citizenship
4. To encourage school spirit.
5. To keep the community involved
6. To improve school programs
7. To organize fundraisers that support school functions
Article III
POWERS OF THE STUDENT COUNCIL
The Student Council shall have power:
1. To collect money for fundraising.
2. To use collected money for purposes directly related to the Student Council.
3. To propose fundraisers, dances, and events in general to the PTA.
4. To advertise events and announce public service statements
5. To sell tickets and facilitate activities involved with Student Council.

Article IV
MEMBERSHIP
Section I
REQUIREMENTS TO RUN FOR OFFICE
1. An original essay, using requirements set by the Student Council Advisor.
2. One poster that will hang in the hallway containing a clear slogan with name and
picture.
3. Televised speech stating reasons why you should be elected for Student Council.
4. Complete and submit a nomination form with two teacher signatures that verifies your
nomination (all candidates can obtain a nomination form from the Student Council
Advisor).
5. Candidates must be entering the eighth grade in the following year.
Section II
ELECTION AND VOTING PROCEDURES
1. All sixth and seventh grade students may vote.
2. Voting will be held during a designated class.
3. Students may vote for up to twelve candidates on a ballot after viewing all of the
candidate videos.
4. Once Student Council and the Student Council Advisor have counted the votes, they
shall be posted in a prominent area of the school.
5. The advisor will keep the order in which the other candidates finished. The candidate
with the thirteenth most votes in the spring election will become the first alternate, but
will not be informed of his/her position.
6. Newly elected students will hold an after-school meeting with the current Student
Council (to be arranged by the Student Council Advisor) to transfer student council
responsibilities.
7. Newly elected students must recite an oath at the meeting.
Section III
OFFICERS OF THE ORGANIZATION
1. Elected officers
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
e. Parliamentarian
2. Appointed Positions
a. Committee chairs
b. PTA liaisons
c. Historian

Section III cont.

OFFICERS OF THE ORGANIZATION
2. Appointed Positions
d. Webpage Master
e. Special Events Coordinator
f. State Legislative Affairs Coordinator
g. Environmental Affairs Coordinator
h. Chief of Staff
i. Public Relations Coordinator
Section IV
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
a. The President is responsible for running the meetings and must oversee all committees.
b. The Vice President must run the meetings when the President is not present and must
also oversee all committees.
c. The Secretary must take notes on anything necessary during all meetings and have a
complete copy of minutes and an agenda every week.
d. The Treasurer must oversee all purchases, and be readily aware of the budget at all
times.
e. The Parliamentarian oversees proposed revisions to the constitution, and suggests and
presents necessary changes to the Student Council.
f. The Historian contributes to the historical record of the Student Council.
g. The Web Page Master manages the Student Council web page.
h. The Special Events Coordinator registers members for activities and field trips
occurring throughout the school year.
i. The State Legislative Affairs Coordinator is responsible for researching bills in the state
legislature pertinent to youth. In addition, the coordinator will be responsible for
coordinating county and state wide lobbying efforts.
j. The Environmental Affairs Coordinator shall implement an energy and recycling
program to secure Burleigh Manors membership in the Maryland Green Schools
Program.
k. The Chief of Staff shall directly supervise all activities and insure that all members are
completing their respective tasks.
l. The Public Relations Coordinator is responsible to publicize all Student Council events
and functions.
Section V
MEMBER REPLACEMENT
1.Conditions for Replacement
a. A member leaves the school for reasons outside his/her control.
b. A member is impeached.
c. A member resigns.

Section V cont.
MEMBER REPLACEMENT
2. Procedures for Replacement
a. The alternate will be notified upon the occurrence of any of the above conditions.
b. If the first alternate is unavailable, the successive alternates will be notified in order of
votes.
c. If the member that left was President, the Vice President will replace that position.
d. For all position other than the President will be replaced by the alternate.
e. The member must be replaced before March 1st.
Section VI
IMPEACHMENT PROCEDURES
1.Conditions for Impeachment
a. A grade lower than a C on any report card will result in the temporary suspension of
the representative from Student Council.
b. The member will be reinstated to their position as soon as his or her grade improves to
a C or higher with validation from the teacher of the class in question.
c. A member who violates any school or county policy is eligible for removal from the
council at the advisor and/or principals discretion.
Article V
MEETINGS
Section I
Meeting schedule and times
1. All meetings will be held after school unless otherwise stated. (The Student Council
Advisor must be present at all meetings).
2. If meetings are to be cancelled for inclement weather or other purposes, they will not
be rescheduled.
Section II
Agenda and Rules of Order
1. An agenda must be written for each meeting by the Secretary, which shall be posted
outside the Student Council Advisors room.
2. The secretary must give a copy of the agenda to the Student Council Advisor for
copies to be made for the entire council.
3. Rules of order shall be determined at the beginning of each academic year and must be
modeled after parliamentary procedure.

Section II cont.
Agenda and Rules of Order
4. The percentage of members needed to pass a vote will also be determined by the
Student Council at the beginning of each new academic year.
5. In order to bring constructive comments to the Student Councils attention, a
maximum of three students may present their concerns, within two minutes, to the
Student Council at the beginning of each meeting.
Article VI
COMMITTEES
Section I
The Student Council Advisor will choose committee leaders who will form the
committees. Then the leader of the committee will select the number of students for that
particular committee.
Section II
All committees will be ad hoc, meaning that they only exist for a one purpose.
Section II cont.
The president, with the approval of the rest of the Student Council and Student Council
Advisor, will appoint a chairperson for the committee.
The committee will be disbanded following the conclusion of its function.
Article VII
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Section I
The Student Council, staff, and students of Burleigh Manor Middle School, when
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution.
Section II
To approve a proposed amendment, three fourths of the Student Council must agree, as
well as two thirds of the represented homerooms.

Article VIII
RATIFICATION
Section I
The Student Council will vote on the approval of the Constitution with a three-fourths
vote.
Section II
The represented homerooms will approve with two-thirds vote.

Adopted: April 2004

First Ratification: March 2008
Second Ratification: June 2009
Third Ratification: February 2011