Constitution of the National Honor Society

Introduction:The following version of the NHS Constitution was approved for all

chapters on May 2,2008 by the NASSP Board of Directors. This is the most recent

edition for use bychapters. Changes have also been approved for the NJHS Constitution.

Chapter advisers areasked review this newly-revised document. An explanation of the

procedural changecalled for in Article IX (Selection of Members) is provided in the

September 2008edition of Leadership for Student Activities magazine and in the Adviser

Zone. While otherchanges contained herein will have minimal impact on the policies and

procedures of localchapters, advisers are asked to print out this latest edition and replace

the copy found intheir NHS Handbook or in other local chapter records. Compliance

deadline: June 30,2009. All chapters should be using the current edition of the national

handbook, mostrecently published with copyright of 2005.

ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Adapted September 28, 2012

ARTICLE I: NAME ANDPURPOSE

ARTICLE II: THENATIONAL COUNCIL

ARTICLE III: STATEORGANIZATIONS

ARTICLE IV: LOCALCHAPTERS

ARTICLE V: THEPRINCIPAL

ARTICLE VI: THECHAPTER ADVISER

ARTICLE VII: FACULTYCOUNCIL

ARTICLE VIII:MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE IX: SELECTIONOF MEMBERS

ARTICLE X: DISCIPLINEAND DISMISSAL

ARTICLE XI: CHAPTEROFFICERS

ARTICLE XII:EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ARTICLE XIII:MEETINGS

ARTICLE XIV:ACTIVITIES

ARTICLE XV: OFFICIALINSIGNIA

ARTICLE XVI: CHAPTERBYLAWS

ARTICLE XVII:AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE I: NAME ANDPURPOSE

Section 1. The nameof this organization shall be the National Honor Society of

Secondary Schools(NHS) – Allegany-Limestone Chapter.

Section 2. Thepurpose of this organization shall be to create enthusiasm for scholarship,

to stimulate a desireto render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in

the students ofsecondary schools.

Section 3. NHS is aprogram of the National Association of Secondary School Principals

(NASSP), 1904Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1537, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit

association.

ARTICLE II: THENATIONAL COUNCIL

Section 1. Thecontrol of this organization shall be vested in the NASSP Board of

Directors

Section 2. Thereshall be a National Council to advise the NASSP Board of Directors

regarding NHS and itspolicies and procedures.

Section 3. TheNational Council shall consist of eleven members appointed by the Board

of Directors of theNational Association of Secondary School Principals, one

representative chosenfrom each of the NASSP administrative regions, two at-large

principals orassistant principals (from any region), and the NJHS Representative, a

chapter adviser froma middle level school. Regional representatives shall alternate terms

between principalsand advisers according to the schedule developed by the national

office. The executivedirector of NASSP shall be an ex-officio member of the National

Council. The NASSPdirector of student activities shall be an ex-officio member and

shall serve assecretary of the National Council.

Section 4. Membersshall be appointed for a term of no more than three years.

Section 5. A simplemajority of members shall constitute a quorum of the National

Council.

ARTICLE III: STATEORGANIZATIONS

Section 1. Localchapters may choose to organize state associations.

Section 2. Any stateassociation of National Honor Society chapters shall conform to this

Constitution and shallwork with NASSP in furthering the purposes of this organization.

Section 3. All stateassociations shall be affiliated with the National Honor Society.

Section 4. The stateaffiliate shall not serve as an appeal board for local chapter nonselection

or dismissal cases.

Section 5. Bylaws ofthe state associations must be approved by NASSP and must be

consistent with theNHS Constitution.

ARTICLE IV: LOCALCHAPTERS

Section 1. Anysecondary public school is eligible to apply for a charter for a local

chapter. Nonpublicsecondary schools accredited or approved by state departments of

education or byaccrediting agencies approved by NASSP are eligible to apply for a

charter for a localchapter. Each school shall have its own chapter except in cases where a

school's sizeprecludes the formation of a full Faculty Council. In such cases, a chapter

can be shared as longas all other constitutional requirements can be met. A middle level

unit in the samebuilding with a high school unit will be appropriate cause for two

separate chapters(one for the National Junior Honor Society and one for the National

Honor Society). [Seepage 28 of the 2005 NHS Handbook for clarification of this last

provisionof Section 1.]

Section 2. Eachchapter shall pay a chartering fee determined by the NASSP Board of

Directors (Paid when created).

Section 3. Eachschool with a chapter shall pay an annual affiliation fee approved by the

NASSP Board ofDirectors. Needs to be submitted each spring forannual affiliation – currently $85. Formmust be printed out and submitted to Mrs. Pam Redden in the Business Office.

Section 4. The annualindividual member dues paid to a chapter or state affiliate, if any,

shall not exceedtwenty dollars inclusively. The exact amount shall be determined by the

executive committeeof the chapter and shall be subject to the approval of the chapter

membership.Chapter has repeatedly decided to raise monies in lieu of collectingdues.

Section 5. Dulychartered local chapters shall conform to this Constitution as set forth by

the NASSP Board ofDirectors. Failure to do so may result in the loss of the charter.

ARTICLE V: THEPRINCIPAL

Section 1. Theprincipal shall reserve the right to approve all activities and decisions of

the chapter.

Section 2. Theprincipal shall annually appoint a member of the faculty as chapter

adviser, who mayserve consecutive terms. Mrs. Kathleen Zeznick is the current advisorreplacing Mr. Frank Martin who served from 2012-2012 and Mrs. Tammy Hollowellwho served from 2009-2012. Appointmentmemo will be placed in current documents – tab A.

Section 3. Theprincipal shall annually appoint a Faculty Council composed of five

members of theschool's faculty who may serve consecutive terms.

Section 4. Theprincipal shall receive appeals in cases of non-selection of candidates, and

the disciplining ordismissal of members.

ARTICLE VI: THECHAPTER ADVISER

Section 1. Thechapter adviser shall be responsible for the direct, day-to-day supervision

of the chapter andact as liaison between faculty, administration, students, and

community.

Section 2. Thechapter adviser shall maintain files on membership, chapter history,

activities, andfinancial transactions. The chapter adviser shall send the annual report to

the national office.

Section 3. Thechapter adviser shall regularly review each member for compliance with

Society standards andobligations.

Section 4. Thechapter adviser shall help the chapter officers understand and carry out

their duties.

Section 5. Thechapter adviser shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the

Faculty Council.

Section 6. Thechapter adviser shall be a member of the faculty, appointed annually by

the principal, andmay serve consecutive terms.

ARTICLE VII: FACULTYCOUNCIL

Section 1. TheFaculty Council shall consist of five voting faculty members appointed

annually by theprincipal. The chapter adviser shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth

member of the FacultyCouncil. No principal or assistant principal may be included on

the Faculty Council.(See commentary on pages 14 and 15 of the 2005 NHS Handbook

regardingthe functions of the Faculty Council.)

Section 2. The termof the Faculty Council shall be one year. Members may be appointed

to consecutive terms.

Section 3. TheFaculty Council shall meet at least once a year to review the procedures of

the chapter, selectmembers, and to consider non-selection, dismissal, other disciplinary

actions, and warningcases.

Section 4. TheFaculty Council will develop and revise, when necessary, all chapter

procedures forselection, discipline, and dismissal of members, all of which must remain

in compliance withthis Constitution and NHS policies.

ARTICLE VIII:MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membershipin local chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection

for membership is bya Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship,

character,leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to

continue todemonstrate these qualities.

Section 2. Membershipshall be known as active, honorary, and graduate. Active

members shall becomegraduate members at graduation. Graduate members shall have no

voice or vote inchapter affairs.

Section 3. TheFaculty Council shall reserve the right to award honorary membership to

school officials,principals, teachers, NHS advisers, adults, students with disabilities, or

foreign exchangestudents in recognition of achievement and/or outstanding service

rendered to theschool in keeping with the purposes of the National Honor Society.

Honorary members shallhave no voice or vote in chapter affairs.

Section 4. Candidatesbecome members when inducted at a special ceremony.

Section 5. Memberswho are seniors in good standing are eligible to be nominated by

their chapters tocompete in the National Honor Society Scholarship Program.

Section 6. An NHSmember who transfers to another school and brings a letter from the

principal or chapteradviser to the new school adviser shall be accepted automatically as a

member in the newschool's chapter. Transfer members must meet the new chapter's

standards within onesemester in order to retain membership.

Section 7. Memberswho resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership

or its benefits.

ARTICLE IX: SELECTIONOF MEMBERS

Section 1. To beeligible for membership the candidate must be a member of those

classes ( junior,senior) designated as eligible in the chapter bylaws. Candidates must have beenin attendance at the school the equivalent of one semester. 1

Section 2. Thenational minimum standard for scholarship shall be a cumulative

scholastic average ofat least 85 percent, B, or 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or the equivalent

standard ofexcellence. Candidates shall then be evaluated on the basis of service,

leadership, andcharacter. 2

Section 3. Theselection of each member to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the

High School FacultyCouncil. Prior to notification of any candidates, the chapter adviser shallreview with the principal the results of the Faculty Council’s deliberations.

Section 4. Adescription of the selection procedure shall be published in an official school

publication that iswidely available in a timely fashion to all students and parents of the

school. The selectionprocedure shall be determined by the Faculty Council and shall be consistentwith the rules and regulations of NHS.

Section 5. NASSPshall not review the judgment of the Faculty Council regarding

selection ofindividual members to local chapters.

ARTICLE X: DISCIPLINEAND DISMISSAL

Section 1. TheFaculty Council, in compliance with the rules and regulations of the

National HonorSociety, shall determine the procedure for dismissal. A written

description of thedismissal procedure shall be available to interested parties. 3

Section 2. Memberswho fall below the standards that were the basis for their selection

shall be promptlywarned in writing by the chapter adviser and given a reasonable

amount of time tocorrect the deficiency, except that in the case of flagrant violation of

school rules or thelaw, a member does not have to be warned.

Section 3. TheFaculty Council shall determine when an individual has exceeded a

reasonable number ofwarnings.

Section 4. In allcases of pending dismissal, a member shall have a right to a hearing

before the FacultyCouncil. (Note: This hearing is required and is considered "due

process"for all members –Ed.)

Section 5. Forpurposes of dismissal, a majority vote of the Faculty Council is required.

Section 6. A memberwho has been dismissed may appeal the decision of the Faculty

Council to theprincipal and thereafter under the same rules for disciplinary appeals in the

school district.

Section 7. NASSPshall hear no appeals in dismissal cases.

(Note: Refer toArticle VIII, Section 7 regarding the permanent consequences for

memberswhen dismissed.)

ARTICLE XI: CHAPTEROFFICERS

Section 1. Theofficers of the chapter, their duties, and the method of their election shall

be determined by themembers of the chapter, approved by the Faculty Council and the

principal, anddescribed in the chapter bylaws.

Section 2. Newofficers shall be installed at a special ceremony.

ARTICLE XII:EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Theexecutive committee shall consist of the officers of the chapter and the

chapter adviser.

Section 2. Theexecutive committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the

chapter between itsbusiness meetings, make recommendations to the chapter, and

determine and performsuch other duties as are specified in the chapter bylaws. All

actions andrecommendations of the executive committee shall be subject to the review of

the chaptermembership.

Section 3. Theexecutive committee shall have the responsibility for ensuring that chapter

activities andprocedures follow school policy and regulations.4

ARTICLE XIII:MEETINGS

Section 1. Eachchapter shall have regular meetings during the school year on days

designated by theexecutive committee and in accordance with school policy and

regulations.

Section 2. Theregularity of the meetings (i.e., weekly, monthly, or bimonthly) shall be

designated in thechapter bylaws.

Section 3. Thechapter president or other designated student leader may call special

meetings approved bythe executive committee.

Section 4. Chaptersshall conduct meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly

Revisedin all points not expressly provided for in this Constitution orthe chapter bylaws.

ARTICLE XIV:ACTIVITIES

Section 1. Eachchapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year.

Section 2. Allmembers shall regularly participate in these projects.

Section 3. Theseprojects shall have the following characteristics: Fulfill a need within

the school orcommunity; have the support of the administration and the faculty; be

appropriate andeducationally defensible; be well planned, organized, and executed.

Section 4. Eachmember shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in an

individual serviceproject that reflects his or her particular talents and interests. This is in

addition to thechapter projects to which all members contribute.

Section 5. Eachchapter shall publicize its projects in a positive manner.

ARTICLE XV: OFFICIALINSIGNIA

Section 1. Thisorganization shall have an official emblem. The emblem shall be uniform

and its distributionand rules for its use shall be determined by the NASSP Board of

Directors.

Section 2. Eachactive, graduate, or honorary member in good standing with the chapter

shall be entitled towear this emblem.

Section 3. Any memberwho resigns or is dismissed shall return the emblem to the

chapter adviser.

Section 4. Allinsignia must be procured from the national office of the National Honor

Society, 1904Association Drive, Reston, VA, 20191. All insignia are registered with the

United States Patentand Trademark Office and may not be copied by anyone without

written permission ofthe NHS national office. (See also, Logo Usage Guidelines as

found at www.nhs.us/logo.)

Section 5. The mottoof the National Honor Society shall be Noblesse Oblige.

Section 6. Theofficial colors of the National Honor Society shall be blue and gold.

Section 7. A graduatemember may purchase a replacement for a lost emblem by

verifying membershipto the national office.

ARTICLE XVI: CHAPTERBYLAWS

Section 1. Eachchapter shall write bylaws to amplify sections of this Constitution and to

clarify operatingprocedures of the chapter. Bylaws do not need the approval of NASSP

but must beconsistent with this Constitution.

Section 2. Thechapter bylaws shall contain information concerning the election and

duties of officers,the schedule of meetings, member obligations, dues, and the like.

(Note: See the NHSHandbook and the “Adviser Zone” at www.nhs.us/bylaws for

additionalinformation regarding the appropriate content of chapter bylaws.)

ARTICLE XVII:AMENDMENTS

This Constitution maybe amended by the NASSP Board of Directors based on input

from the NASSP staffand the NHS & NJHS National Council.

Notes:

1. Article IX,Section 1. Some candidates may be ineligible for induction because of the

semester ruling. Manystudents, including students of military parents, are required to

move with parents orguardians that have transferred in their work. The present school

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