Grace M. Elliff Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society
Bylaws
Revised March 2021

Article I Name of Chapter

Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Grace M. Elliff Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society of Secondary Schools (NJHS), which appears on the charter granted by the National Honor Society.

Article II Purpose

Section 1. The object of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy leadership, to encourage the development of character, and to develop citizenship in students of Webb City Junior High.

Article III The Principal, Chapter Adviser, Faculty Council

Section 1. The principal has the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter. This authority extends to the selection and dismissal of members. The principal appoints annually the Chapter Adviser and Faculty Council but may not vote as a member of the Faculty Council or attend meetings of the Council. The principal shall receive appeals in cases of non-selection of candidates, and the disciplining or dismissal of members.

Section 2. The Chapter Adviser shall be a member of the faculty of the school where the chapter is located. The adviser approves chapter activities, maintains chapter records, and attends all meetings and functions. The Chapter Adviser shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the Faculty Council.

Section 3. The Faculty Council shall consist of five voting faculty members appointed annually by the principal. The term shall be one year, members may be appointed to consecutive terms. The Faculty Council shall meet at least once a year to review the procedures of the chapter, and select members, and to consider non-selection, dismissal, other disciplinary actions, and warning cases.

Article IV Definition of Membership

Section 1. Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon a student. Selection for membership is by the Faculty Council and is based on outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, service, and citizenship. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities. Candidates who are not selected may not reapply for membership.

Section 2. Candidates become members at an induction ceremony.

Section 3. To be eligible for membership a seventh-grade student must, at the end of three quarters, have a cumulative GPA of 3.6. This scholastic level of achievement shall remain fixed and shall be for this chapter the required scholastic achievement for admission to candidacy for membership. All students who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard shall be admitted to candidacy for election to membership. Their eligibility shall then be considered on the basis of their service, leadership, character, and citizenship.

Section 4. To be eligible for selection to membership in this chapter, the candidate must have been enrolled for a period equivalent to one semester at Webb City Junior High School.

Section 5. An NJHS member who transfers from another school and brings a letter from the former principal or chapter adviser or presents his/her certificate of membership or membership card to this chapter’s adviser shall be accepted automatically as a member of this chapter. Transfer members must meet this chapter’s standards within one semester in order to retain membership.

Article V Procedures for selection of members

Section 1. The Faculty Council of the chapter selects students who demonstrate outstanding performance in all five criteria of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. The Faculty Council should first identify students with the prerequisite GPA (3.6) after three quarters, and then evaluate the candidate’s performance in the areas of leadership, service, citizenship, and character.

Section 2. The Chapter Adviser shall send a letter confirming candidacy to students meeting the scholarship requirement. The letter will include a Student Activity Information Form that must be completed and returned to the adviser by the date set by the adviser. Students who do not complete and return the information form and confirmation letter by the due date will not be eligible for consideration as a member. The forms will be reviewed by the Faculty Council during the selection process.

Section 3. The Chapter Adviser will provide Faculty Evaluation Forms to each member of the faculty. These forms will be used to support the strength of a student’s candidacy in the areas of service, leadership, citizenship, and character. The forms must be signed, anonymous forms will not be used. Upon reviewing the evaluations and verifying their accuracy, the Faculty Council is still required to undertake a vote on each candidate, selecting each student who receives a majority vote.

Article VI Meetings

Section 1. The regular meetings of this chapter will be held monthly from August through May. Special meetings may be called by the president or adviser.

Section 2. All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order

Article VII Activities of NJHS and its Members

Section 1. This chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year during the September meeting.

Section 2. All members shall participate in these projects.

Section 3. These projects shall have the following characteristics: fulfill a need within the school or community; have the support of the administration and the faculty; be appropriate and educationally defensible; and be well planned, organized, and executed.

Section 4. Each member shall have the responsibility for choosing and participating in individual service projects, or community service. This is in addition to the chapter project. A total of 12 hours will be required. The Chapter Adviser will have the final approval on projects.

Section 5. The officers of this chapter will be a President, a Vice-President of Scholarship, a Vice-President of Service, a Vice-president of Leadership, a Vice-President of Character, a Vice-President of Citizenship, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

President: Preside at chapter meetings, serve as master/mistress of ceremonies at the induction ceremony, serve as liaison between the chapter and principal and Faculty Council. The President will also attend at least one of every committee’s meetings each month. The President is responsible for making sure the
chapter is active and successful throughout the school year.

Vice Presidents: VPs will keep charge of and represent their respective committees; leading monthly meetings, planning events in a certain area at school or in the community, and inviting the President to their meetings. VPs will be responsible for keeping attendance, records of their committee’s activities, and reporting to the chapter during the chapter’s monthly meetings.

Vice-President of Scholarship: The VP and members will work with other organizations in the school to promote a culture of high scholarship success.

Vice-President of Service: The VP and members will provide a culture of service to the school where it is needed. This group will lead in activities that help others.

Vice-President of Leadership: The VP and Members of the leadership committee are expected to help in the planning of chapter events and lead in the set-up or takedown. They do not necessarily do ALL the work. They lead it.

Vice-President of Character: –The VP and members Lead in opportunities designed to better the characters of the students in NJHS and the larger school community.

Vice President of Citizenship: VP and This committee will work to establish events or partnerships with community organizations to allow NJHS members opportunities for civic involvement. Oversee monthly pledge duty.

Secretary: The Secretary of Chapter Affairs operates as second in command and presides over events where the president is not able to be present. The Secretary is in charge of the five vice presidents and is responsible for making sure they are regularly meeting with their committees and holding VPs accountable. The Secretary will keep the minutes and roll call at all meetings. Will participate in the induction ceremony.

Treasurer: Keeps records of all financial matters, and participates in the induction ceremony.
 

Section 6. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chapter Adviser and the chapter officers. The Executive Committee administers activities within the chapter and recommends committee structure and projects.

Article VIII Election of Officers

Section 1. Members may put their names into nomination at the May meeting (after the induction ceremony).

Section 2. Candidates will be voted on, by secret ballot, at the following meeting. Installation of officers will take place immediately following the election. The election will be decided by popular vote.

Section 3. Officers shall be held to the same standards as all members.

Section 4. In the event an officer cannot complete the term of office, a special election will be called by the Chapter Adviser.

Article IX DISCIPLINE and DISMISSAL of MEMBERS

Section 1. Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, service, leadership, character, or citizenship may be considered for discipline or dismissal from the Grace M. Elliff chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. A member of the National Junior Honor Society is expected to maintain his/her academic standing and take an active role in service and leadership to his/her school and community.

Section 2. If a member’s cumulative grade point average falls below the standard in effect when he/she was selected 3.6, he /she will be given a written warning and a reasonable time period for improvement. If the cumulative grade point average remains below standard at the end of the warning period the student will be subject to further disciplinary action by the faculty council that includes consideration of dismissal from the chapter.

Section 3. Violations of the law or school regulations can result in immediate consideration of the dismissal of a member (see Section 5 below). These violations include, but are not limited to stealing; destruction of property; cheating; truancy; or possession, selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school or school-related activities or in the community.

Section 4. Offenders of the school conduct code (such as use of profanity, failure to comply, unexcused absences, excessive tardiness, etc.) will receive a written warning notification. A conference may be requested by either party (faculty council or student/parent). If the member is involved in another violation of the school conduct code, the member may be considered for dismissal.

Section 5. Chapter officers, as representatives of the chapter, can be removed from their positions as a consequence of disciplinary action taken by the faculty council.

Section 6. In all cases of pending dismissal:

a. The member will receive written notification from the adviser/faculty council indicating the reason for consideration of dismissal.

b. The member has the right to respond to the charge(s) against him/her at a hearing before the faculty council prior to any vote on dismissal (in accordance with due process identified in Article X of the National Constitution). The member has the opportunity to present his/her defense either in person or via a written statement presented in lieu of the face-to-face hearing. Following the hearing, the faculty council will then vote on whether to dismiss. A majority vote of the faculty council is needed to dismiss any member.

c. The results of the faculty council vote will be presented to the principal for review and then stated in a letter sent to the student and parents. Dismissed members must surrender any membership emblems to the adviser.

d. The faculty council’s decision may be appealed to the building principal and afterward according to provisions of the school district discipline policies.

e. A member who is dismissed or resigns may never again be considered for membership in the National Junior Honor Society.

Section 7. In lieu of dismissal, the faculty council may impose disciplinary sanctions upon a member as deemed appropriate.

Article X Rules of Order

Section 1. This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order in all points not expressly provided for in the constitution of this organization.

Article XI Bylaws

Section 1. The chapter bylaws may be revised or amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the chapter, provided that the proposed revision or amendment has been approved by the executive committee of the chapter and is consistent with the national constitution. Members must be given notice at least one month prior to a meeting at which a vote is taken. The exceptions are Articles IV, V, and X, which are developed by the faculty council with the approval of the principal.