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 minumum 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 achive 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 which 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 which 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)