Article XVI

Amendments

SECTION 1. This constitution may be amended at any meeting of the National Council or by mail by an affirmative vote of four members of the National Council.

Article XVII

Bylaws

SECTION 1. Each chapter shall write bylaws to amplify sections of this constitution and to clarify operating procedures of the chapter. Bylaws do not need the approval of the National Council but must be consistent with this constitution.

SECTION 2. The bylaws shall contain information concerning the election and duties of officers, the schedule of meetings, member obligations, dues, and the like activities.

SECTION 3. The following bylaws pertain to the Ron Reaves Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society of the Clara Driscoll Middle School. They serve to amplify sections of the national constitution and to clarify operating procedures of this chapter.

SECTION 4. Name and Purpose

The name of this chapter shall be the Ron Reaves Chapter of the National Junior Honor society of the Clara Driscoll Middle School.

The purpose of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for superior scholarship; to develop citizenship; to stimulate a desire to serve; to promote leadership; and to install exemplary qualities of character in the pupils of the seventh and eighth grades of this school.

SECTION 5. Faculty Supervision

The principal shall appoint a teacher(s) who will serve as the chapter adviser(s).

A faculty council of 5 faculty members appointed by the principal will meet with the principal for the selection or dismissal of members. Chapter advisers are ex-officio members of the faculty council.

All activities of the chapter shall be subject to the approval of the principal.

Membership in this chapter shall be based upon scholarship, character, leadership, citizenship, and service.

Selection of new members will take place once each year at the end of the first semester of each school year. The first semester of the current year, along with the semester average of 6th and/or 7th grade(s), will be the grading periods used as the basis for determining election to the chapter.

The selection of members in this chapter shall be by the faculty council.

To be eligible for membership in this chapter, the student must have been in attendance at least one semester in this school.

Candidates must have a minimum grade point average of 5.5, on a weighted scale, determined by averaging all academic and elective course grades. The 5.5 is compatible with the North East District’s Point Honor System as outlined in Board Policy. Previous years and current year averages will be used. The student must have all "S’s" or no more than one "N" (from one teacher) in citizenship for that semester. The student may have no record of suspension or other serious disciplinary measures for that grading period. Candidates shall then be considered for membership on the basis of citizenship, service, leadership, and character by a faculty ballot. All qualifications should be given equal weight in the evaluation process of the candidate. The Faculty Council will make the final selection.

Students who meet the above criteria will be notified in writing only after the entire selection process is completed. All candidates will be formally invited to become members. A pinning ceremony will take place at school. Those candidates who return the invitation shall be inducted into the Society with impressive and appropriate ceremonies.

SECTION 7. Membership

A member of the National Junior Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter upon presentation of a letter signed by his/her former principal or chapter adviser certifying membership. In order to retain membership, a transfer member must then maintain membership requirements for this chapter.

SECTION 8. Probation/Dismissal

Any member who falls below the Honor Point of 5.5(average of all subjects) or who receives an N or U in citizenship will be promptly warned and put on probation. During the probationary period, the member is to have inactive standing thus attending no meeting or serving on committees. The member cannot function in an officer capacity. The member and his/her parents will be notified in writing of the probationary status.

If during the next nine week’s regular grading period of the school year, the member fails to meet the above standards or to remove the deficiencies in citizenship, his/her case will be reviewed by the faculty council for dismissal. A reasonable amount of time will be given to correct the deficiency, except that in the case of flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws a member does not necessarily have to be warned.

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

SECTION 9. Officers

The officers of this chapter shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer who are major officers. Minor officers will be parliamentarian, and historian.

Officers shall be selected at the second regular meeting of the chapter following the spring induction ceremony.

It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings, using Robert’s Rules of Order.

It shall be the duty of the vice-president to fill the chair of the president in the absence of the president. In case of the permanent absence of the president, the vice-president will assume the presidency. The vice-president position will be filled by appointment according to advisor interview results.