The Constitution of the
Academy of Arts & Academics

~Preamble~

We the people of Academy of Arts & Academics, in order to create and promote a safe, peaceful, respectful, and free learning environment, have created this Constitution. All advisors, teachers, staff, parents, students, interns, volunteers and guests are responsible for the general welfare of the school through their actions and must strive to uphold the ideas and ideals of this document.

~Article I~
The Legislative Branch

Section I.
All Legislative power herein shall be vested in the Community of The Academy of Arts & Academics, which shall consist solely of current A3 students and staff members.

Section II.
Community: Organization and Powers of Impeachment

1. The Community is made of any A3 student and staff.

2. Any person attending may vote, regardless of prior attendance.

3. No representative shall hold a position of higher power within the Community, therefore,
there shall be no Speaker of the House, nor any similar position.

4. One student representative chosen from and by each Writing Group will form a Student Advisory Committee which will be responsible for creating the agenda for Community Meetings and leading discussions

Section III.
Meetings Of The Community

Meetings shall be held at least once a trimester (or three times a year), at whatever time is found most convenient by the members of Community. The A3 Student Advisory Committee will be responsible for publicizing & organizing the meeting agenda. Any member of Community may submit an issue for consideration by the Community through the Student Advisory Committee.

Section IV.
Rules Of Procedure

1. Minutes must be recorded at every meeting and then distributed to each Writing Group within five school days of the Community Meeting. The A3 Student Advisory Committee will be responsible for creating and distributing the minutes.

2. Community Meetings will practice group engagement protocols, including, but not limited to, “Chalk Talk,” “Constructivist Listening,” and “Support Group” protocols. All Community Meetings will be organized to encourage group listening and will adhere to school-wide Community Agreements

Section V.
Privileges and Limitations

1. Representatives of the Student Advisory Committee agree to take part in the committee for four consecutive meetings before rotating off and may serve as long as they wish, at their Writing Group’s direction. At no time can more than half the committee rotate off at the same time.

2. Members of the Student Advisory Committee are required to attend all committee meetings, generally held in the afternoon every other week, or more frequently as needed.

3. The A3 Director & Counselor will serve as advisors to the Student Advisory Committee.

Section VI.
Procedure for passing bills, executive veto

1. As a Legislative body, The Community is charged with passing bills.

2. Any member of The Community may propose a bill to the Legislative body,
whether they are a student or a staff member.

3. A bill must pass through a Community Meeting with a 2/3 majority, after which it must be passed through the Executive branch, also with a majority vote.

4. For a bill to be vetoed there must be a majority vote within the Executive branch in favor of such a veto.

5. A bill may not be re-proposed for one trimester.

Section VII.
Powers delegated to The Community

1. Minutes from all-school meetings shall be read and all information reported at the preceding Writing Workshop class after an all-school meeting is held. Meeting minutes will be posted on the A3 web site.

2. The Community may make, modify, or disband any law applying to students or the student/advisor
relationship so long as it is not unconstitutional, violate school district policy, or against any local, state, or federal laws.

3. The Community reserves the right to declare emergency or follow up meetings
that are not scheduled.

4. The Community may form committees to organize, control, and lead any and all social events, including but not limited to All School Meetings, Presentation Nights, Public Relations Tours, School Dances, and other events called to order.

Section VIII.
Powers denied to The Community

1. The Community may not override decisions made by higher-level laws, including, but not limited to the School Board, School District, Oregon State Government, or US Federal Law.

2. The Community may not be involved in or perform any disciplinary actions, as those are reserved for the Mediators and School Administration.

3. The Community may not override the Executive veto.

4. The Community may not place restrictions on other branches of Government.

~Article II~
Executive branch

Section I
1. The Academy of Arts & Academics Staff shall form the Executive Branch.

2. The Executive Branch shall be responsible for upholding all higher laws.

3. The Executive Branch is permitted to veto laws made by Congress.

4. It is the responsibility of the Executive Branch to enforce the laws.

~Article III~
The Judiciary Branch

Section I
Division of branch, tenure of office

1. The Judiciary branch of Academy of Arts & Academics should consist of a Mediation Council.

2. The Mediation Council will consist of Peer Mediators or other counselors as determined by the Mediation Council.

3. Any student who attends mediation training and remains an active member of the Mediation Council may be a Mediator.

4. Mediators will facilitate communication to resolve individual student/student issues or student/staff issues.

~Article IV~
Governing Body
1. The Academy of Arts & Academics guarantees all students that it is a participatory Democratic, single party government, and will follow all procedures as such.

2. Members of the Student Advisory Committee will serve as signatures on all ASB account business and will follow all guidelines as defined by the Student Body Accounting manual.

~Article V~
Amendment Procedures
Any member of The Community may propose an amendment or bill, whether they are students or staff, to the Legislative Branch. In order to amend the constitution, 2/3rds of eligible Community must vote and the vote must pass by 2/3rd majority.

~FIRST AMENDMENT~
BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. All members have the right to pursue their curiosities, and interests with the responsibility to demonstrate what they have learned.

2. All members have the right to learn and teach in a way that works best for them with
the responsibility to learn and teach in a way that is safe, non-disruptive, and productive.

3. All members have the right to have their body, space, beliefs, feelings respected with the responsibility to respect the body, space, beliefs, property others.

4. All members have the right to speak freely with the responsibility to speak without harming others.

5. All members have the right to be listened to with the responsibility to listen to others.

6. All members have the right to bring someone to mediation with the responsibility to attend mediation when asked at a reasonable time.

7. All members have the right to have a turn with community items with the responsibility to share
community items with others.

8. All members agree to abide by the school-wide community agreement to “Tell the Truth without Blame, Shame, Judgment, or Attacks.”