Constitution of the National Honor Society

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ARTICLE I Name and Purpose

Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Annandale 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 enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, and to encourage the development of character and good citizenship in the students in Annandale High School.

ARTICLE II Membership

Section 1. Membership in this chapter shall be based upon scholarship, service, leadership and character, as defined in FCPS Regulation 232.3.

Section 2. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and graduate. The graduate members have no vote. Active members become graduate members at graduation.

Section 3. Sophomores, juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.5 or above shall be eligible for membership in the National Honor Society.

Section 4. Members of the sophomore, junior and senior classes may be elected to full membership after the completion of one semester at Annandale High School.

Section 5. Transfers: A student who is a member of the National Honor Society at a previous school shall be automatically admitted to membership in the National Honor Society at the new school.

Section 6. Inductees must participate in the induction ceremony for active membership to be granted. Existing members must participate in the fall induction ceremony for the new members as a requirement of membership.

Section 7. Members must complete 10 hours of community service per semester. Semester one - September to February. September two - February to end of May.

ARTICLE III Election of Members

Section 1. The election of members to this chapter of the National Honor Society shall be by a faculty council committee consisting of the principal, or designee, and his/her designated committee.

Section 2. The following procedures shall be used in the selection of members: (FCPS Regulation 2332.3).

(a) Guidance department shall identify students on the basis of grades.

(b) Guidance department shall determine the student's residence eligibility.

(c) After students have been declared eligible, the National Honor Society form and instructions for completion shall be mailed to the home of eligible students.

(d) The completed forms shall be returned to the Faculty Honor Committee through the counselors.

(e) The Faculty Counsel will review all forms and make the final selections.

(f) Any applications that are denied by the Faculty Honor Committee will be reviewed by the current National Honor Society officers and sponsors. Any applications that are considered to be acceptable will then be returned to the applicants for revision. The final decision will then be made by the Principal.

ARTICLE IV Officers

Section 1. The officers of this chapter shall be a president, vice -president, secretary, treasurer, historian, and parliamentarian.

Section 2. Officers for the following year shall be nominated at a meeting of the current sophomore and junior members of the National Honor Society, at a time designated by the current officers and sponsors.

Section 3. Only current juniors, who are members of the National Honor Society, are eligible to be nominated for an office. Sophomores may nominate candidates.

Section 4. A simple majority of the notes cast shall be necessary to elect an officer of this chapter. Only current sophomores and juniors who are members of the National Honor Society shall vote in the election of officers who will serve during the following school year.

Section 5. The election shall be conducted by a secret ballot, with each eligible member casting one vote.

Section 6. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at each of the meetings of this chapter.

Section 7. The Vice-President shall fill the chair of the President in his/her absence, maintain the constitution, and oversee service hours and contracts.

Section 8. The Chapter Secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, a record of all business; distribute e-mails, and all records on files.

Section 9. The Treasurer shall receive and dispense all funds of the chapter and shall keep an accurate account of receipts and disbursements in accordance with school regulations.

Section 10. The Historian shall maintain the scrapbook and oversee the mailing lists.

Section 11. The Parliamentarian shall keep the web site updated.

ARTICLE V Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive committee shall consist of four members of the chapter council and the officers of the chapter.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have general charge of the meetings and business of the chapter, but any action on the part of the Executive Committee shall be subject to the review of the Principal.

Section 3. All accounts of the Treasurer must be audited annually by the school finance officer and presented to the members.

ARTICLE VI Supervision

Section 1. The activities of this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the principal.

Section 2. The principal shall appoint two sponsors of the chapter who will have full supervision of the activities of the chapter subject to the approval of the principal.

ARTICLE VII Meetings

Section 1. There shall be a minimum of two meetings of the entire chapter during the course of the school year, to be scheduled as needed.

Section 2. The fall induction of new sophomores, juniors, and seniors shall be held during the last two weeks or October of the first two weeks of November. The spring induction of seniors only shall be held during the last two weeks of March or the first two weeks of April.

Section 3. Meetings, approved by the sponsors, may be called by the President.

Section 4. All meetings shall be open meetings and shall be held under the supervision of the sponsor or the Principal.

Section 5. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order in all points not expressed in the constitution of this chapter.

Section 6. Attendance at all meetings is mandatory.

ARTICLE VIII Pins and Membership Cards

Section 1. Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the pin and possess the membership card adopted by the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.

Section 2. Any member who withdraws or is dropped from the chapter shall return the pin and the membership card to the principal.

Section 3. Each member agrees that whether the pin and card come to him/her as a gift, a personal purchase, an award, or from whatever source, the title to them shall rest with the chapter of which he/she is a member. Therefore, they can, on motion of the council, be commandeered, with appropriate reimbursements being made if necessary. Furthermore, each member agrees that his/her acceptance of the card and pin shall be an affirmation of this stipulation in regard to the title of each.

Section 4. All insignia must be procured from the national secretary of the National Honor Society.

ARTICLE IX Induction Fee

Section 1. Membership fees, to be paid by all members at the beginning of each year or after new members are inducted, shall not exceed twenty dollars per year. The amount shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee of the chapter. The amount shall be subject to change.

ARTICLE X Probation

Section 1. Members shall be placed on probation for failure to meet academic or service requirements.

Section 2. A member who's GPA falls below 3.5 or members who fail to complete one service project per semester shall be placed on probation.

Section 3. Members' GPA will be checked at the conclusion of each academic year. For seniors only, an additional GPA check will be made at the conclusion of first semester.

Section 4. Members shall be notified in writing of their probationary status.

Section 5. Members have one semester to rectify probationary status. After that time, if the required conditions are not met, the member will be dismissed from the National Honor Society. Once dismissed, a member is ineligible for future membership.

ARTICLE XI Amendments

Section 1. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the participating membership, provided that the proposed amendments has been approved by the Executive Committee, and that notice to members has been given prior to the meeting at which the amendment will be voted upon.

Section 2. Any provisions or modifications of rules or policies made by NASSP will be automatically reflected in the constitution. Such modifications may relate to grade point average required for eligibility or any other matter relating to the National Honor Society.

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