Historical note: This Constitution became effective on December 16, 1955, when this Chapter was officially installed as a Chapter of the National Honor
Society. From 1923 through 1955 The Honor Society was an independent organization at Hackensack High School responsible for much of the government of the
school. This is The Constitution as amended through March 17, 1994.
CONSTITUTION
of the
E. T. MARLATT CHAPTER
of the
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
of the
HACKENSACK HIGH SCHOOL
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PUROPSE
SECTION 1. The name of this chapter shall be the E. T. MARLATT CHAPTER of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools, which appears on the
Charter granted by the National Council of the National Honor Society duly signed by the members of the National Council.
SECTION 2. The object of this chapter shall be to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy
leadership, and to encourage the development of character in pupils of Hackensack High School.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Membership in this chapter shall be known as active and graduate. The graduate members have no vote. Active members become graduate
members at graduation.
SECTION 2. Membership in this chapter shall be based on scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
SECTION 3. Candidates eligible to election in this chapter must be members of the junior or senior class. They shall have spent at least one
half year in Hackensack High School. Candidates eligible to election shall have a scholarship average of B, or 85%, or its equivalent
standard of excellence, as their cumulative scholastic average of high school work. This equivalent standard of excellence shall be
determined as follows: A minimum weighted grade point average of 3.30 shall suffice for this standard calculated on all final grades
for all attempted courses, except physical education courses which shall not be counted. The weighted grade point average shall be
arrived at by multiplying each weighted final grade by the number of credits for that course to achieve a course value for each course
attempted. The sum of the course values is then divided by the sum of the credits attempted to calculate the final weighted grade point
average. For Honor Society eligibility, there are three classes of courses: normal, college preparatory, and honors. Advanced Placement
courses will be considered honors courses. For normal courses the weighted grades are: A+=4.2, A=4.0, B+=3.2, B=3.0, C+=2.2, C=2.0,
D=1.0, F=0.0, Z=0.0, W=0.0. For college preparatory courses the weighted grades are: A+=4.7, A=4.5, B+=3.7, B=3.5, C+=2.7, C=2.5, D=1.5,
F=0.0, Z=0.0, W=0.0. For honors courses the weighted grades are: A+=5.2, A=5.0, B+=4.2, B=4.0, C+=3.2, C=3.0, D=2.0, F=0.0, Z=0.0, W=0.0.
Note that courses that are dropped, whether while passing or failing, count the same as failures. This scholastic level of achievement
shall remain fixed, and shall be for this chapter the required scholastic achievement for admission to candidacy for membership in this
chapter, and all pupils who can rise in scholarship to or above such standard level shall be admitted to candidacy for election to
membership. Their eligibility shall then be considered on their service, leadership, and character.
SECTION 4. A student eligible for membership in the National Honor Society based on scholarship as described in Section 3, above, shall fulfill the
service requirement for induction by having a minimum of 15.00 activity points for service activities. Service activities do not include
sports and clubs that are not service oriented. After induction, each member must participate in an individual service project each year,
in addition to the general service activities of the Honor Society. A student eligible for membership based on scholarship and service
will then be evaluated on leadership and character by faculty members, including coaches and activity advisors and sponsors, who know
the student; this evaluation will be written on a standard evaluation form and submitted to the National Honor Society Council through
the National Honor Society Advisor.
SECTION 7. The installation of new members will be held in the fall and spring of each school year. There will be no admittance to the Honor Society
for Seniors at the end of their Senior year.
ARTICLE III
ELECTION OF MEMBERS
SECTION 1. The election of members to this chapter shall be by a National Honor Society Council, consisting of five teachers who are appointed by
the principal and of the advisor who shall serve ex officio as a sixth member but without a vote on the Council. Neither the principal
nor any assistant principal may serve on this council.
SECTION 2. Any member of the faculty may propose to the National Honor Society Council the names of pupils eligible for membership in the chapter.
SECTION 3. Any active member who falls below the standards of scholarship, service, leadership, or character, which were the basis for that member's
election to membership shall be dismissed from the chapter at the discretion and at the recommendation of the National Honor Society
Council.
SECTION 4. If an active member resigns or is dismissed, the member's emblem and certificate of membership shall be returned to the advisor of the
chapter or the principal of the school.
SECTION 5. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given a letter indicating the status of his membership
signed by the principal.
SECTION 6. An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter.
This transfer member must maintain the membership requirements for this chapter in order to retain his membership.
SECTION 7. Candidates become members when they are inducted at a special induction ceremony at which they must be present. Members who resign or are
dismissed are never again eligible for membership or its benefits.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The officers of this chapter shall be a president, a vice-president, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, and a treasurer.
SECTION 2. A majority of votes cast shall be necessary to elect any officer of this chapter.
SECTION 3. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at the meetings of this chapter.
SECTION 4. The vice president shall fill the chair of the president in his absence.
SECTION 5. The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, a record of all business, and all records on file.
SECTION 6. The treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of the chapter, and shall keep an accurate account of receipts and disbursements in
accordance with school regulations.
SECTION 7. The corresponding secretary shall take care of all correspondence to and from the chapter and shall serve as a cabinet representative or
other representative of the National Honor Society at all meetings of the Student Council and other organizations as deemed appropriate
and shall report to the chapter all actions taken at such meetings.
ARTICLE V
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SECTION 1. The executive committee shall consist of the elected officers of the chapter and the advisor.
SECTION 2. The executive committee shall have general charge of the meetings and business of the chapter, but any action on the part of the executive
committee may be subject to the review of the chapter.
SECTION 3. All accounts of the treasurer must be audited annually by an auditing committee appointed by the executive committee of the chapter.
ARTICLE VI
FACULTY SUPERVISION
SECTION 1. The activities of this chapter shall be subject to the approval of the principal.
SECTION 2. The principal may appoint a member of the faculty to act as advisor for the chapter.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
SECTION 1. The regular meetings of this chapter shall be held on the third Thursday of each month school is in session. The regular meetings of the
executive committee shall be on the second Thursday of each month school is in session.
SECTION 2. The May meeting of this chapter shall be for the election of officers.
SECTION 3. Special meetings, approved by the executive committee, may be called by the president.
SECTION 4. All meetings shall be open meetings and shall be held under the sponsorship of the principal or some member of the faculty selected by him.
SECTION 5. 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 chapter.
ARTICLE VIII
EMBLEM
SECTION 1. Each member of this chapter shall be entitled to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.
SECTION 2. Any member who withdraws or is dropped from the chapter shall return the emblem. (See Article III, Section 4.)
SECTION 3. Each member agrees that, whether the emblem comes to him as a gift, a personal purchase, an award, or from whatever source, the title to
the emblem shall rest with the chapter of which he is a member; and, therefore, the emblem can, on motion of council, be commandeered.
Furthermore, each member agrees that his acceptance of the emblem shall be considered affirmation of this stipulation in regard to the
title of the emblem.
SECTION 4. All insignia and emblems must be procured from the Secretary of the National Honor Society. These official insignia and emblems are
registered in the U. S. Patent Office and may not be copied by anyone.
ARTICLE IX
DUES
SECTION 1. The annual dues for each member shall be five dollars.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the chapter, provided that the proposed amendment has been approved by the
executive committee, and that notice to members has been given at least one month prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon.
BY LAWS
1. Members missing 60% of the meetings per semester will be contacted by the Executive Committee of the National Honor Society. They will refer
their findings to the Faculty Council. Students have the right to one appeal to the Faculty Council. The Faculty Council has the power to dismiss
the student from the National Honor Society. (1975)
2. Students transferring to Hackensack High School. These students may obtain a list of their club and other activities in their previous high schools.
This list should include a note from the sponsors of the clubs indicating the student's participation. Participation would include the amount of
work and types of activities the student did for the club. This information should be given directly to the advisor of the National Honor Society.
The decision concerning the total number of honor points to be awarded will be determined by a Faculty Committee. (1975)
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