Constitution

And
By-Laws
Grade School Executive Council
GSEC- S.Y. 2023-2024

Junior High School Executive Council

JHSEC- S.Y. 2023-2024

Senior High School Executive Council

SHSEC- S.Y. 2023-2024
 Table of Contents
PREAMBLE..............................................................................................................................................1
ARTICLE I NAME AND SEAT..............................................................................................................3
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP..................................................................................................................3
ARTICLE III DECLARATION OF POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, AND PURPOSES...........................3
ARTICLE IV BILL OF RIGHTS............................................................................................................4
ARTICLE V DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBERS...........................................4
ARTICLE VI ACCOUNTABILITY OF JHSEC AND SHSEC OFFICERS........................................5
ARTICLE VII COMPOSITION OF THE ORGANIZATION..............................................................5
ARTICLE VIII POWER, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES, OF JHSEC and SHSEC
MEMBERS................................................................................................................................................7
ARTICLE IX OFFICER'S QUALIFICATIONS....................................................................................9
ARTICLE X MEETINGS.......................................................................................................................10
ARTICLE XI COUNCIL ADVISER.....................................................................................................10
ARTICLE XII ORGANIZATIONAL FUND........................................................................................10
ARTICLE XIII ELECTIONS................................................................................................................11
ARTICLE XIV VACANCIES................................................................................................................11
ARTICLE XV ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AND RESIGNATION........................................12
ARTICLE XVI AMENDMENT.............................................................................................................13
ARTICLE XVII TRANSITORY PROVISIONS..................................................................................13
ARTICLE XVIII SEPARABILITY CLAUSE......................................................................................13
ARTICLE XIX EFFECTIVITY.............................................................................................................13
 PREAMBLE

We, the Junior and Senior High School Executive Council of St. Joseph's Institute, Inc. - City of
Candon, Province of Ilocos Sur, obtaining fidelity to one God and enlisting the assistance of St.
Joseph, the carpenter, Mary, the ideal model for Christians, and St. Paul, the apostle, shall
establish a unified student council that shall embody and inspire us to become true Christian
student leaders that will also embrace the Paulinian values of the school that will shape us to
perform well in the society, that it further nurtures our moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social
Christian wisdom that we can impart to the students collectively.

ARTICLE I
NAME AND SEAT

Section 1: The organization shall be named Junior High School Executive Council, referred to as
JHSEC, and Senior High School Executive Council as SHSEC, hereinafter this Constitution.

1.2: That all legal obligations incorporated by the student council shall only be
responsible and applied to the commanded subsequent individuals and students of
Junior
and Senior High School Department of St. Joseph's Institute, Inc.

Section 2: The seat of JHSEC and SHSEC shall be in St. Joseph's Institute, Inc., San Juan,
Candon City, Ilocos Sur, which shall hereinafter referred to as SJI, Inc.

ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: The members of the JHSEC shall be all Junior High School students, and SHSEC
shall be all Senior High School Students duly enrolled in St. Joseph's Institute, Inc.

1.2.: The elected representatives of the Junior High School shall be in accordance
with the grade levels.

1.3: The elected representatives that embody the strands of the Senior High
School shall be in accordance with and as the strand represented as follows:

1.3.1: Accountancy and Business Management Strand

1.3.2: General Academic Strand

1.3.3: Humanities and Social Sciences Strand

1.3.4: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Strand

Section 2: The membership shall cease or be terminated upon:

2.1: Issuance of honorable dismissal.

2.2: non-enrollment for the next school semester or year.

2.3: Dropping at least thirty percent (30%) of his/her official subjects.

 ARTICLE III
DECLARATION OF POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, AND PURPOSES

Section 1: The Junior High School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive
Council shall be acquired as a co-curricular organization that fulfills the needs of the students.

Section 2: The Junior High School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive
Council shall promote and uphold the Paulinian Core Values and lead the students justly.

Section 3: The Junior High School Executive 1 Council and Senior High School Executive
Council shall provide activities anchored to the Paulinian core values and school’s philosophy,
vision, and mission to enhance students' socializing aspects and mold a better characteristic to
become a unified community.

Section 4: The Junior High School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive
Council's main and principal function is to advocate the common good, accustomed benefit, and
ideal interests of students, which is objective to enhance the integration of SJI-an Paulinian
leadership and unity of the student body to its co-students in St. Joseph's Institute, Inc.

Section 5: The Junior High School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive
Council shall help the students develop their self-reliance as well as their self-confidence.

Section 6: The Junior High School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive
Council shall be able to develop Christ-centeredness, moral aspects, personal discipline,
leadership, and efficiency among its members, providing beneficial impact as a good example to
the population of the academe.

Section 7: The Junior High School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive
Council shall participate in any local and/or municipal leadership opportunities that the
institution is determined to approach and associate with the addressed congregation.

ARTICLE IV
BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1: Every member has the right to be properly informed about the school and
organization's programs, rules and regulations, and policies.

Section 2: Every member has the right to provide opinions and suggestions necessary with
affixation of responsibility due to authenticity.

Section 3: Every member has the right to convey their viewpoints and criticisms without
restraint but with all due respect and sensibility.

Section 4: Every member has the right to participate in the different programs and activities of
the organization.

Section 5: Every member has the right to address an implication of impeachment if any co-
member of the council disregarded and violated the underlying policies mentioned with due
executive order and process of the board and administration.

ARTICLE V
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBERS

Section 1: Every member shall abide by the rules and regulations in this Constitution.
Section 2: Every member shall abide by the upright authority given by higher powers.

Section 3: Every member must perform his/her obligations and always know his/her rights in
good faith.

Section 4: Every member should know his/her responsibilities as identified according to his/her
position as always; the member should do the task given to him/her on time (please refer to
Article VIII).

Section 5: Every member shall advocate, protect, and keep the uprightness of the organization.

Section 6: Every member must actively participate in the activities and programs that the
organization will establish in the future preparations of relative occasions that might involve the
members as organizers, moderators, managers, and even as instruments of the event's concept.
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Section 7: Every member should always attend meetings and never miss one unless the member
filed an excuse beforehand for the assembly commences.

ARTICLE VI
ACCOUNTABILITY OF JHSSC AND SHSSC OFFICERS

Section 1: All JHSEC and SHSEC officers shall always be responsible for their duties and
responsibilities and serve the institution with utmost commitment, consistency, proficiency, and
dedication.

Section 2: All JHSEC and SHSEC officers shall serve the institution by embodying the
Paulinian spirit and upholding the vision and mission of the school.

ARTICLE VII
COMPOSITION OF THE ORGANIZATION

Section 1: The organization shall be made up of the officers, referred to as the Junior High
School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive Council, and the members, referred
to as the General Assembly.

Section 2: The Junior High School Executive Council and Senior High School Executive
Council which shall hereinafter be referred to as JHSEC and SHSEC shall be the premiere
governing body for the Junior High School and Senior High School department of St. Joseph's
Institute, Inc.

Section 3: The JHSEC shall be composed of the:

3.1: President

3.2: Vice-President

3.3: Secretary

3.4: Treasurer

3.5: Public Information Officer

3.6: Chairman of Ways and Means

3.7: Representatives
 3.7.1: Grade 7 Representative

3.7.2: Grade 8 Representative

3.7.3: Grade 9 Representative

3.7.4: Grade 10 Representative

Section 4: The SHSEC shall be composed of the:

4.1: President

4.2: Vice-President

4.3: Secretary

4.4: Treasurer
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4.5: Public Information Officer

4.6: Chairman of Ways and Means

4.7: Representatives

4.7.1: ABM Representative

4.7.2: GAS Representative

4.7.3: HUMSS Representative

4.7.4: STEM Representative

Section 4: The JHSEC and SHSEC shall have the following controls, functions, and
undertakings:

4.1: To advocate and put into effect the provisions stipulated in this Constitution
and its by-laws that would help in carrying out its duties and responsibilities

4.2: To enforce basic rules and policies of the school’s student handbook.

4.3: To discuss and deliberate issues on academic concerns, projects, agenda,

and campaigns to be informed to the presiding club adviser/s.

4.4: To ensure balance, proficient, and effective representation in all school

programs whose services and decisions affect the welfare of the members.

Section 5: The respective President of JHSEC and SHSEC may call emergency meetings if
he/she deemed it necessary upon the following reasons:
a. Additional ideas for special event purposes;
b. Conducting of irregular amendment meetings; and,
c. Major adjustments to the prior matters discussed in the previous meeting.

Section 6: The JHSEC and SHSEC shall constitute a quorum of not less than two-thirds or
seventy percent (70%) of its members.
Section 7: A final decision must be reached via a majority (50% +1) of those present. Decisions
made outside this provision are tentative and unofficial until majority of JHSEC and SHSEC
members are informed and have agreed.

Section 8: The General Assembly shall be composed of the presiding organization adviser (Club
and Organization Team Leader), Junior High School Executive Council, Senior High School
Executive Council, and all members convened.

ARTICLE VIII
POWER, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES, OF JHSEC and SHSEC MEMBERS

Section 1: The President shall:

1.1: Be the Chief Executive Officer of the council;

1.2: Be the official spokesperson of the council at any function, meeting, or

assembly;

1.3: Administer the meetings of the council and General Assembly;

1.4: Observe the internal and external affairs of the council;

1.5: Initiate the implementation of all decisions and planned activities of student
council; 4

1.6: Submit a letter of approval to the school's administration office that shall
present and recommend further plans and programs for the school and the student
body;

1.7: Monitor directly or indirectly, the performance of all officers and committees
of the council;

1.8: Receive and review reports from the officers of the council;

1.9: Ensure communication and maintain leadership in performing

responsibilities, achieving its goals, and representing JHSEC and SHSEC
in all organizational functions;

1.10: Attend General meetings concerning big programs of the institution; and

1.11: Be responsible for assisting the council Public Information Officer of the
official High School Executive Council page of the institution, St. Joseph’s
Institute, Inc.

Section 2: The Vice President shall:

2.1: Report everything directly to the President;

2.2: Be the supervisor and right hand of all happenings of the Junior High School
Executive Council and Senior High School Executive Council under the
order of the President;

2.3: Assume the duties and responsibilities of the President in the absence,
temporary incapability, resignation or grave matter of the President;

2.4: Keep an eye to the internal and external events that would be set upon;
 2.5: Claim the seat for Presidency when the office will be permanently
vacated;

2.6: Govern the representatives on their duties;

2.7: Ensure that all activities are well organized and prepared;

2.8: Assist the President in all matters; and

2.9: Perform other responsibilities assigned by the Council.

Section 3: The Secretary shall:

3.1: Keep all important documents organized;

3.2: Assist the council President in constructing a proposal letter for future
activities and programs of the organization;

3.3: Pass the proposal letter on time;

3.4: Prepare the Minutes of the Meeting;

3.5: Record the attendance of the members during meetings;

3.6: Pass the Minutes of the Meeting to the COTL;

3.7: Notify the council members of the meeting agenda two to three days before
the meeting;

3.8: Read the previous minutes of the meeting before the meeting starts; and

3.9: Attend General meetings concerning big programs of the institution and jot
down information regarding the meeting.
Section 4: The Treasurer shall:
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4.1: Report directly to the President of the council and COTL;

4.2: Manage budget plans for school events under the discretion of the President;

4.3: Collect, update, and liquidate all data in regards with the JHSEC and SHSEC
funds every month and in every fund-raising activity;

4.4: Require financial documents (ledger, financial reports, etc.) necessary for the
maintenance of an effective monitoring system;

4.5: Secure cash-on hand through regular updates on financial documents;

4.6: Monitor fund-raising activities done by the student council;

4.7: Present accurate data in all documents and reports;

4.8: Perform and accomplish said tasks with precision; and

4.9: Perform other duties deemed necessary by the JHSEC and SHSEC.

Section 5: The Public Information Officer shall:

5.1: Be in charge of the dissemination of information to the student body;

5.2: Be responsible for the handling of the official High School Executive
Council page of the institution, St. Joseph’s Institute, Inc. FB Page;
 5.3: Be responsible for the displays and updating of the official Facebook page of
the institution to publicize and advertise programs, campaigns and activities of the
council and the institution;

5.4: Coordinate with the administration, the faculty, the council, and the student
body with regards to the information;

5.5: Be at all times updated at the events happening at the school;

5.6: Deliver legitimate news from a legitimate source to the student body;

5.7: Develop a good relationship and communication to every member of the club
and the moderator; and,

5.8: Perform other functions as deemed necessary by the council and the club
moderator.

Section 6: The Chairman of Ways and Means shall:

6.1: Report directly to the President;

6.2: Establish annual goals, the means to achieve them and plans for monitoring
and evaluating the success of student council in achieving these aims;

6.3: Report regularly to the council the goals, the progress in achieving them, and
the activities of the student council;

6.4: Respond to the needs of the council; and

6.5: Perform other functions as deemed necessary by the council.

Section 7: The Representatives shall:

7.1: Disseminate posted and verbal announcement from the administration and
school page;

7.2: Supervise his/her represented school – grade level or strand in terms of

discipline;

7.3: Solve simple and difficult problems

6 with the assistance of class officers;

7.4: Update students and teachers about the upcoming events in the school
according to the given public information;

7.5: Inform any teacher or student council when there are suggestions for the
school’s activities coming;

7.6: Provide or construct minor solutions to problems needed to be fixed without

the assistance of other student councils;

7.7: Support students through academic purposes in line with relative subjects
without cheating nor constant coaching; and

7.8: Perform other functions as deemed necessary by the JHSEC and SHSEC.

ARTICLE IX
OFFICER'S QUALIFICATIONS
Section 1: Any member seeking a position should be a bona fide SJI-an Paulinian with an
average of 88 and above with Good Moral Character.

Section 2: Any member seeking a position should be an officer representing his/her

interpersonal skills that enables him/her to work with people of all levels of an organization,
motivating others. Moreover, he should have written and spoken communication skills that allow
him/her to inform and advise other officers.

Section 3: Any member seeking a position should be of good moral character and has not been
found guilty of any disciplinary action in the school.

Section 4: Having a productive leadership, community perspective, and relationship at all levels.
An officer must be empathetic and sympathetic to different issues and value concerns that could
develop the institution.

ARTICLE X
MEETINGS

Section 1: Organizational meetings shall be approved and attended by the presiding Club and
Organization Team Leader (COTL).

Section 2: The COTL or the school's representative chairperson involved in cases or concerns
related and objective to such matters may call upon a special meeting to attend and discuss all
matters that need immediate action regarding the given proposition.

Section 3: The Secretary should write the minutes of the meeting and check the attendance of the
members.

Section 4: The Public Information Officer should take pictures during the meeting for
documentation.

Section 4: The members should listen and participate actively during meetings.

Section 5: The member who is absent during the meeting must compose an explanation letter to
be submitted to the council President and approved by the COTL regarding his/her absence
except if he/she excused himself/herself beforehand (please refer to Article V Section 6).

ARTICLE XI
COUNCIL ADVISER

Section 1: The Club and Organization Team Leader (COTL) shall act as the organization adviser
of JHSEC and SHSEC.

Section 2: The COTL shall approve and supervise all the approved activities of the Student
Council.

Section 3: The COTL shall call for a meeting 7a month before an event in preparation for the
school's upcoming activities.

Section 4: The COTL, together with the Student Council, shall check all the school’s facilities or
equipment before and after every activity or event of the school.

Section 5: The COTL shall know that the constitutions and By-laws are performed and followed
properly.
 ARTICLE XII
ORGANIZATIONAL FUND

Section 1: The initial fund of the JHSEC and SHSEC shall be derived from the previous student
council’s funds and One Hundred pesos (PHP 100.00) membership fee paid by all members
during the first official meeting taking place in/out the school premises. The JHSEC and SHSEC
Treasurers shall take charge of the collected fees.

Section 2: Other funds shall be derived from legitimate fund-raising activities of the
organization and other ways, legal, known, and unanimously approved by the COTL and the
Principal of the school.

Section 3: The JHSEC and SHSEC Treasurers must have a ledger for recording and totaling
transactions measured in terms of a monetary unit of account by transaction description, with
debits and credits in separate columns. The JHSEC and SHSEC funds must regularly be updated
in the ledger, liquidated, and reported to the Club and Organization Team Leader every end of
the quarter.

Section 4: Withdrawals of organizational funds shall be made only in accordance with the
budget plans. Withdrawals shall only be effective through the full discretion of the Treasurer,
approval from the President, and authorization from the Club Adviser.

ARTICLE XIII
ELECTIONS

Section 1: The election of officers shall take place on the first week of April.

Section 2: The election should be done one week after the campaign period has begun through
online voting, promoting unbiased and accurate computation of votes. If any electric disruption
or interruption may occur before and during the voting proper, the votes will have to manual vote
through pen and paper.

Section 3: There shall be at least two (2) party lists or as an independent candidate.

Section 4: The election result shall be released and announced to the student body after the
election and shall be publicly presented with the official tabulation and/or computation of the
votes.

Section 5: The elected officer's term shall commence after being elected and ends during the
given school year.

Section 6: Any candidate that runs for a specific position to be elected and seated as a member
of St. Joseph's Institute, Inc. Student Council should pass and file a certificate of candidacy with
2x2 picture with plain background before the election system commences. As of order, the
candidate would be given the authority and validity to run for that specific position with the due
process according to the qualifications proposed and presented in the constitution.

6.1: The following requirements shall be reviewed by the Club and Organization
Team Leader (COTL).
6.2: Failure to submit the following shall result in disqualification.

Section 7: Campaign period should start once the candidates in their respective positions are
approved and reviewed by the COTL.

7.1: No candidate shall campaign prior to or after the declared time and date.

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 7.2: Only the candidates are allowed to enter the room during the campaign
period. Campaign managers are not allowed.

Section 8: Campaign activities shall be limited to the following:

8.1 Room to room visit with a limit of 45 minutes, with campaign proper of 30
minutes and 15 minutes of open forum. Time will start on the first candidate to
enter and will end after the candidate leaves the room.

8.2: E-posters can be posted in the official SJI FB page and tarpaulins can be
posted or presented in the designated bulletin boards inside the campus.

8.3: Virtual campaigning will be allowed as well on personal accounts of students.

8.4: All campaign materials should be presented 2 days before the campaign
period to the Board of Election Committee for approval.

Section 9: Approved tarpaulin sizes are provided for party and individual candidates. Group
Tarpaulin size is 3x4 and Individual Candidate Tarpaulin size is 2x3.

9.1: Senior High School candidates shall post their tarpaulins in front of the gym,
while JHSEC and GSEC will be in the quadrangle.

Section 10: Any candidate running for their respective positions can be charged for the following
sanctions for the following violations committed:

10.1: Campaigning before and after the declared time and date
First offense: Warning
Second offense: Disqualification

10.2: Any forms of bullying to its other candidate

First offense: Disqualification

ARTICLE XIV
VACANCIES

Section 1: The JHSEC and SHSEC advisers and presidents shall take immediate action for the
vacancies of the position of any members.

Section 2: Any vacancy in JHSEC and SHSEC, except for the President presumed by the Vice
President, shall be filled within thirty (30) days from the day the position is vacant. Immediately
upon appointment, the appointed officer shall serve the remaining period.

2.1: The appointee should be a student enrolled in St. Joseph’s Institute Inc.

2.2: If there are two appointees, the decision shall be made upon secret balloting
of JHSEC and SHSEC officers and advisers. The majority of tallied votes shall
decide the final appointed officer.

Section 3: For any vacancy, the JHSEC and SHSEC advisers shall certify the officer's
appointment to the vacant position.
 ARTICLE XV
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AND RESIGNATION

Section 1: A JHSEC and SHSEC officers’ power, rights, and responsibilities, shall be taken
away from his/her respective position on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violations
and betrayal of public trust.

Section 2: The following are the reasons to be impeached:

2.1: Culpable violations of the Constitution and By-Laws.

2.2: Violated major offenses stated in the student handbook.

2.3: Abuse or misuse of power and authority.

2.4: Any inclusion of illegal movements in the community.

2.5: Five absences from all meetings unless there is a legitimate reason, such as
emergencies, health concerns, the accomplishment of backlogs, and
important appointments.

Section 3: Any member or officer of the JHSEC and SHSEC may file a formal complaint letter
addressed to their Adviser.

Section 4: The JHSEC and SHSEC adviser shall review the complaint and recommend to the
JHSSC and SHSSC whether the aforementioned member should remain an officer, be
impeached, or be asked to resign.

Section 5: A ratio of a half (1:2) vote of the JHSEC, SHSEC, and council adviser, through secret
balloting, shall be necessary to decide after the case of impeachment. The decision shall be final.

Section 6: The officer charged shall be informed fourteen (14) days before the impeachment
case proceedings to have the opportunity to be heard with or without counsel in his/ her defense.

Section 7: If the officer charged is under disciplinary investigation, the member shall be asked
not to attend meetings in voting or resolution.

Section 8: If the officer charged is the President, then the Vice President shall assume all
presidential duties.

Section 9: Resignation shall be written and subject to the approval of the JHSEC and SHSEC
officers, council adviser, and School Administration.
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Section 10: Any impeached officer or student council member shall be ineligible for any elective
position during his or her remaining years of enrollment at this institution.

ARTICLE XVI
AMENDMENT

Section 1: Any amendment of the Constitution and By-laws can be proposed to the council
adviser of JHSSC and SHSSC.

Section 2: The proposal can be approved by a voting on a meeting with a tally of 1:2, majority of
the one side.
Section 3: The Constitution of By-laws can be changed/ revised after the approval of the club
adviser.

Section 4: The proposal should be printed and passed to the COTL for the amendment.

ARTICLE XVII
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 1: The composition of the Constitution and By-laws includes the preamble, and the 19
articles must be operative until other sets of officers’ vote for the revision of this Constitution
and By-laws (please refer to Article XVI Section 2).

Section 2: All existing resolutions, codes, and policies stated in this constitution shall remain
operative until amended, repealed, or revoked.

Section 3: The term of compelling officers shall be extended until such time that matters
pertaining to their terms of office require a representation of the members.

ARTICLE XVIII
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE

If any provision of this constitution is declared invalid, the remainder, thereof not affected
thereby, shall continue in full effect.

ARTICLE XIX
EFFECTIVITY

This Constitution shall take effect in the school year upon ratification by the JHSEC and SHSEC
officers and the Council advisers.

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