RHS Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy 

Official Constitution 
 
From burning forests to disappearing animal populations, it is evident that our environment is 
suffering. If we don't educate others and lead change against this, we will never be able to see the 
potential our actions have to solve some of the world's biggest issues. Change can start at a local level 
with a group of people and an idea. This club started as just that. 
 
The Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy Club at Ripon High School actively tries to combat world 
issues regarding the environment in two ways. One is igniting education about these issues and 
bringing awareness to them. The other is brainstorming with curious minds to create potential solutions 
for world issues. 
 
ARTICLE I 
NAME AND IDENTIFICATION 
 
Section A: ​The name of this club shall be the RHS Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy. 
 
Section B: T
​ his club will teach students to cherish the environment around them and protect it. The 
students who actively participate will learn about many scientific ideas from other people in the club. 
Members will also walk away with life skills, learning more about how to be a responsible leader and use 
both a voice and knowledge to start change. When successful, this club’s knowledge base will spread 
across the community of Ripon and more will gain the knowledge able to be reaped by the club. 
 
ARTICLE II 
MEMBERSHIP 
 
Section A: ​All duly registered students at Ripon High School shall hold membership in their association. 
Those trusted and affiliated with students at Ripon High may not officially become members but may 
participate in certain off-campus events that may happen within the club, with the approval of the club 
president and/or vice president, the club advisors, and the Ripon High principal. 
 
Section B: ​This club shall not discriminate its membership or participation on the basis of race, color, 
religion, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin. 
 
Section C: ​In an effort to be fair, all people in the club no matter position have equal voice in decisions. 
Members shall be entitled to one vote in all club decisions. If one is regularly active but happens to not 
attend for the meeting of voting, they will be contacted at a later time and still counted into the overall 
votes. 
 
Section D: T
​ he club may only have direct correlation with another official group if that group is a part of 
the San Joaquin County or Ripon Unified School District Office of Education. The exception of this rule 
applies when the group in question is approved by the Ripon High principal, our club’s president and/or 
vice president, and the club advisors. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
SOURCE OF POWER AND SUPERVISION 
 
Section A: ​There shall be a group of faculty advisors (at least one active at all times) appointed by the 
current president of the club as designated representatives for carrying our projects of the 
Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy. 
 
Section B:​ There shall be no head advisor but rather a team of advisors that have the discretion to choose 
how they would like to work together, but all will work towards the common goals shared in the advisor’s 
power of moderation. 
 
Section B: ​All student power is derived from the Board of Trustees and is delegated at the highest level by 
the principal; the principal may directly or through the advisor revoke student power of any member at 
any time and for any just cause. 
 
ARTICLE V 
GOVERNMENT 
 
Section A: ​Legislative and Administrative Powers of the Senate: 
The Student Government legislates and acts within a framework of power delegated to the club by the 
Principal of Ripon High. Since the Principal is directly responsible to the Superintendent of Schools and 
to the Board of Education, it is recognized that he or she has the right and privilege of review, veto and 
revocation of the powers and actions of the club. These rights and privileges shall be extended to the 
Advisor in charge, acting as the Principal’s delegate in the club affairs. Administratively, the club shall 
enjoy the powers and responsibilities of the central governing unity to the other divisions of this 
association. 
 
Section B:​ The RHS Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy shall have the power to initiate and pass 
legislation within the club that may indirectly affect school life outside the club but cannot directly affect 
it with such things as events and fundraising unless otherwise approved of by RHS Leadership using 
required procedure forms. 
 
Section C: ​Advisors 
 
Advisors have the highest power within the hierarchy of the club. Advisors were appointed by the 
founder at the beginning of this club and can continue to be advisors for as long as they choose. The 
advisor serves a unique position because in taking this role, they also agree to becoming a member of the 
club. This means that they will be consulted upon for assistance in any project the club is in need of it 
for. If there was ever a permanent absence of a member of the team of advisors, the club has the choice 
to appoint somebody new. Things that need to be taken into account are the characteristics of an advisor 
that could not only help moderate the club but also help with any projects the club chooses to do. Leading 
experience and scientific knowledge as well as passion are three of the most desirable characteristics in 
an advisor for this club.  
 
Section D: A
​ ppointment of Leading Roles 
 
It should be expected that every member of the club will be presented with at least one option for a 
leading position unless they openly choose not to accept. 
 
The current list of positions is: 
 
1. President 
2. Vice President 
3. Secretary 
4. Historian 
5. Treasurer 
6. Senior Class Representative 
7. Junior Class Representative 
8. Sophomore Class Representative 
9. Freshman Class Representative 
 
All members of the club shall serve as voting members in all decisions. 
The duties of these positions are outlined in the bylaws of this constitution. 
 
The club president and vice president as well as the advisors have the power to add/remove a position 
from this list if it is seen as suitable to fit the needs of this club’s functions. 
 
Section E: R
​ unning of Meetings 
 
1. A meeting plan will be followed and meetings will be publicized to all members of the club. This 
means sent to advisors by email and sent to other club members via the Remind app. 
 
2. Meetings will be held on Zoom when virtual every Friday and will be held in a specific 
classroom, currently undecided, on an undecided but consistent basis. 
 
3. If a meeting is not held, the president will send an update message to all members to still keep 
people informed. This will contain information on important club events of the week. 
 
4. The records of the Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy must be maintained as public 
record subject to audits and inspections. 
 
5. Adequate fiscal control must be maintained for the handling of all student funds at 
all times as per the California Education Code. 
 
6. All holders of leading positions must read and abide by constitution laws. 
 
ARTICLE VI 
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 
 
Section A:​ The legislative powers of Organization of Speech and Debate shall be vested in the Leadership 
Council. 
 
Section B:​ The Leadership Council shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, 
Historian, and Class Representatives. In the first few years that the club is active, members may be 
appointed by the founders. In all succeeding years, members will be elected solely by the club leaders and 
advisors. 
 
 
 
 ARTICLE VII 
FINANCES 
 
Section A:​ All of the RHS Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy’s funds will be expended so as to 
benefit the student body, the club itself, or anything the club is supporting in accordance with the 
California Education Code and the Board of Education regulations. 
 
Section B:​ All expenditures must be approved by the Senate and signed by the Treasurer, 
President, Director, and ASB Bookkeeper. 
 
Section C:​ All requests for expenditures of student funds require the signature of the designated 
Treasurer and Advisor. 
 
Section D:​ All class or club money must be deposited with the Student Body 
Bookkeeper daily to meet California Education Code requirements and to maintain security. 
 
Section E:​ An annual balanced budget will be prepared by the ASB Treasurer and Activities 
Director before the end of the fiscal year. This budget will determine and direct the financial 
programs of the ASB for the year. 
 
Section F:​ Any club or class that borrows money from the ASB must repay any 
outstanding debt and all obligations to the ASB before the end of the school year. 
 
Section G:​ Any Club or Class that does not comply with the rules of the ASB Loan Policy may 
not receive the services offered by the ASB. 
 
Section H:​ Funds left over at the end of each school year will carry over to the following school 
year to benefit activities held by the RHS Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy. 
 
ARTICLE VIII 
POWERS 
 
Section A:​ All powers granted in the Constitution are derived from the Principal as prescribed in the 
California State Education Code and exercised with her/his consent or approval. He or she may at any 
time declare this constitution either wholly or in part suspended or to be null and void. He/She has the 
power to remove from office any officer at any time for any just cause. 
  
ARTICLE IX 
ELECTIONS 
 
Section A: ​If there was ever a permanent absence of a member of the team of advisors, the club has the 
choice to appoint somebody new. Things that need to be taken into account are the characteristics of an 
advisor that could not only help moderate the club but also help with any projects the club chooses to do. 
Leading experience and scientific knowledge as well as passion are three of the most desirable 
characteristics in an advisor for this club.  
 
Section B: ​Timeline for Elections 
 
The president and vice president shall be decided for the upcoming school year in spring of the previous 
year. This decision must happen no earlier than the last week of April and no later than the third week of 
May. 
 
No other positions will be decided until the next year. The secretary and treasurer have the option to 
carry on in their position into the beginning of the next year temporarily until these positions are 
officially decided. If the current secretary and/or treasurer cannot carry into the next year, the president 
and vice president assume responsibility for these two positions until officially decided upon. 
 
Section C​: All Board Members must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and earn no semester 
failing grade along with no Ds present on quarter assessments by certified staff. In order to apply 
to be a student in leadership you must have the following criteria met by 3rd quarter records: 
 
1. Maintain a 2.0 grade point average 
2. No Fs on report/progress grades to apply for an elected position 
3. Go through the application process. 
 
Section D:​ In all years after the first few years that the club is founded, Officers are to be selected once 
they present a 2-3 sentence minimum summary of why they think they are best fit for said position. 
From there, the advisors and leadership team will make a decision by vote as to who should fill that 
position for the school year. The same goes for appointment of the president and vice president although 
advisors at this time are allowed to make a recommendation that could influence who does/doesn’t get 
picked. 
 
 ARTICLE X 
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE 
 
Section A: Removal: I​ f a cause for concern with any leader in this club is brought about, this will be 
immediately investigated. The team of advisors will be the first to be consulted first and further action 
will be taken as necessary and found just, which could result in one being not allowed in a position of 
leadership in the club. Any vote for removal will not be handled by any officer in the club and power is 
given solely to the advisor team to handle such situations of removal. Actions towards removal will 
always be kept confidential to anybody else in the program besides the president, vice president, and 
advisors. 
Section B: Attendance: ​Any officer absent from over 50 percent of the club’s properly publicized 
meetings, failure to participate in general related activities and work sessions including field trips may 
be subjected to dismissal with the majority vote by the team of advisors. 
 
Section C: Conduct:​ Any incidents involving drugs or alcohol will result in removal from office. Failure 
to fulfill the duties of office, fighting, using obscene language, extreme changes in 
behavior, open defiances of school authorities, forgery, documented cheating or vandalism will 
result in probation or removal from office 
 
Section D: Grades:​ The Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy’s members whose grade point average 
drops below a 2.0 or receives an “F” on any quarter grade report will be placed on probation for the 
following quarter. If deficiencies are not corrected, the member will be removed from office at the end 
of the probation quarter. 
 
Section E: Oath of Office:​ Oath of office is part of the application at the beginning of the school year. 
This is a requirement to be considered for a position in the club and must be included in the 2-3 sentence 
minimum summary given by new candidates. An oath is not directly stated but is assumed. The criteria 
is that the candidate for the position must agree to uphold the constitution of the club, lead alongside 
the club’s mission statement, and have the best interests of both Ripon High School and the club in 
mind. 
 
Section F:​ Abrupt Vacancies of Offices 
 
If at any time in the school year a person is forcefully removed from their position of leadership or has to 
leave suddenly for other reasons, an election process for the empty position starts again. Refer to Article 
IX for the election process for this. 
 
The only exception to this rule is for the president position and this position will be filled by the current 
vice president. 
 
ARTICLE XI 
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION 
 
Section A:​ The members of this club can express a concern about the constitution at any time. They will 
be redirected to the president, vice president, or any one of the advisors to talk about any change they 
would like to see to the constitution. 
 
Section B: ​When a member of the Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy club expresses a need for a 
part of the constitution to be modified, there will be a special “questions and concerns” topic in the 
subsequent meeting’s schedule. This will be a collaborative period of time where members will decide 
what would make the constitution better and then vote on it. 
 
ARTICLE XI 
APPROVAL 
 
Section A:​ This constitution will be in effect as soon as the first meeting of the club. 
 
 
 
 
Ripon High School 
Constitution & Bylaws 
Solution-Based Environmental Advocacy 
 
 
 
Approval: 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
President 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Vice President 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Treasurer 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Secretary 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Historian 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Class Representative 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Class Representative 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Class Representative 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Class Representative 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Advisor 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Advisor 
 
 
 
 
_________________________________________________ __________________________ 
Activities Director