Constitution of the Loomis Chaffee Student Council

Est. 1916

Written 1999

Updated 2010

Updated 2020

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Loomis Chaffee Student Council, hereafter referred to

as Student Council.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of Student Council is to ensure that each member of the Loomis Student Body is

represented in the school's administration, to encourage among our students a commitment to

local and global initiatives, to maintain a sense of unity and well-being on campus, and, above

all, to further the development of the best self and the common good at Loomis Chaffee.

Article III. Membership

Section I. Representation

The membership of the Student Council will be decided on the basis of a ratio. There shall be
one (1) representative for every twenty (20) students in a constituency, inclusive of the

representative. If there is a remainder in one constituency of ten (10) or more, another

representative will be added. If there is a remainder of less than ten (10), another representative

will not be added. If a constituency has any number less than twenty (20) students, inclusive,

they shall have one (1) representative.

Section II. Constituencies

The student body will be divided into nine (9) constituencies for the purpose of electing the

representatives. The constituencies are as follows: boarding seniors, boarding juniors, boarding

sophomores, boarding freshmen, day seniors, day juniors, day sophomores, and day freshmen,

and post-graduates.

Article IV. Organization

Section I. Makeup

Student Council will be divided into two (2) main sections, which will include the Student

Council Officers (hereafter the Officers) and the Representative Body. Student Council may also

vote to select any member of the Student Body for External Committees.

Section II. Student Council Officers

The Officers will be made up of four positions: the President, two (2) Vice Presidents, and a

Secretary-Treasurer. Each Officer also counts as a representative of their constituency, and

therefore has the same voting power as a representative.

Section III. Terms of Office

The term of office for representatives and officers is from their election until the next election in

May. The new council, with the consent of the old council, can begin its work in official capacity

after the elections.

Article V. Meetings

Section I. Frequency

Meetings will be held on a regular basis, as prescribed in the bylaws.

Section II. Quorum

A quorum for all council meetings is two-thirds of all legislators unless otherwise deemed

appropriate by the President.

Article VI. Bylaws

Section I. Purpose

The student council shall adopt a set of bylaws that will govern its internal operations. The

bylaws of the student council will govern areas such as agenda preparation and distribution,

minutes, meeting schedules and committee operations. The bylaws will also clearly state the

responsibilities of each member of the Student Council and the Officers.

Section II. Creation

At the beginning of each school year, the Officers will draw up and present to Student Council a

set of bylaws. A simple majority is needed for the adoption of a new set of bylaws at the opening

session. Until such action is taken, the bylaws of the previous year will remain in effect.

Section III. Amendment

The bylaws may be amended by the student council at any time by a two-thirds vote. Any

member of the council can bring forward an amendment to the bylaws.

Article VII. Adoption and Ratification/ Amending the Constitution

Section I. Amendment Voting

An amendment may be added to the Constitution by a three-fourths vote of the student body. The

necessary quorum for this action will be one-third of the student body.

Section II. Amendment Proposals

An amendment may be proposed by any member of the student body. The student must submit

the proposal in writing to an officer of the council. The proposal will be placed on the agenda

for discussion. With the support of at least one-half of the student council members, the

amendment may be submitted to the student body for a secret ballot.

Section III. Changes to the original Constitution

Changes to this Constitution that are not an amendment must follow the same voting process as

listed in Article VII. Section I.

Section IV. Immutability

This article (Article VII) cannot be amended by the procedure described above. This article can

only be amended by a unanimous vote of the council followed by three-fourths vote of the

student body with a one-third quorum.

Article VIII. Constitutional Review

Section I. Review

The Constitution must be reviewed by the officers every ten years. This would be every school

year ending in a zero. Any amendments or changes deemed appropriate at the time will follow

the process listed in Article VII.

Article IX. Election of Officers

Section I. Eligibility

Officers must be elected from the pool of incoming senior representatives who have served a full

term as described above.

Section II.

Officers will be elected by the new and old council as a whole at its first meeting in the spring.

The President is to be elected first, followed by the Vice Presidents and then the

Secretary-Treasurer. Running for one position does not disqualify you from running from later

positions.

Section III. Voting procedure

The election will be conducted with secret ballots. Officer positions will be elected by ranked

choice voting.

Section IV. Quorum

Elections for Officers must be conducted with a three-fourths quorum of the Student Council.

This overrides Article V. Section II. quorum requirements.

Article X. Election of Representatives

Section I. Eligibility

Representatives of each constituency must be a member of said constituency.

Section II. Voting Procedure

The election for representatives will be conducted with secret ballots. Positions will be elected

by rank choice voting.

Article XI. Impeachment of a Representative

Section I. Impeachment of a Representative for Underperformance

If a representative is not performing their duties as specified in the bylaws, the officers may

bring up an impeachment vote if three of the four agree. An impeachment vote of a

representative must be carried out with a two-thirds quorum of the council and must be passed

with a two-thirds vote.

Section II. Impeachment of a Representative for Disciplinary Action

If a representative receives a level two or higher, the Officers must call a vote to judge that

representative’s position on the council. An impeachment vote of a representative must be

carried out with a two-thirds quorum of the council and must be passed with a two-thirds

majority.

Section III. Replacement

If a representative is impeached for any reason, their spot on the council must be filled within the

next month from the day of impeachment according to the methods prescribed in the

Constitution and bylaws.

Article XII. Impeachment of Officers

Section I. Impeachment of an Officer for Underperformance

Any member of the council can propose the impeachment of an officer if they feel that the

officer is not fulfilling their duties as prescribed in the bylaws. An impeachment vote must be

carried out with a three-fourths quorum of the council and must be passed with a two-thirds

majority. If an officer is impeached, they will retain their position as a representative.

Section II. Impeachment of an Officer for Disciplinary Action

If an officer receives a level two or higher, the other officers must call a vote to judge that

officer’s position as an officer. An impeachment vote of an officer must be carried out with a

three-fourths quorum and must be passed with a two-thirds majority. If an officer is impeached,

they will retain their position as a representative and will be judged according to Article XI.

Section III. Replacement

If the President is impeached, a new President will be chosen from the two Vice Presidents by a

two-thirds majority vote of the Student Council. Further replacement of Officers will happen as

outlined by the bylaws.