Freedom High School

Chapter Bylaws 

of the 

Freedom High School Chapter 

of the 

National Honor Society 

ARTICLE I:  NAME  

The name of this chapter shall be the Freedom High School Chapter of the National Honor Society (Oakley, CA). 

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE 

The purpose 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 students at Freedom High School. 

ARTICLE III: POWERS 

Section 1: This chapter operates under the direction of and in full compliance with the National Constitution of NHS. See www.nhs.us/constitutions. In addition, this chapter will maintain active affiliation with the national organization on an annual basis. 

Section 2: This chapter will remain an active member of the state association, by paying annual dues and participating in state functions when possible 

Section 3. The chapter adviser is given the authority to supervise the administration of chapter activities, as delegated by the school principal. 

Section 4: Final authority on all activities and decisions of the chapter resides with the school principal. [For reference, see Article V, Section 1 of the National Constitution.] 

Section 5: Nondiscrimination. Our chapter of NHS maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified candidate or member on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, and disability. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all practices, including the chapter administration and the selection, discipline, and dismissal of members.  

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1.  Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based on the criteria of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. 

Section 2.  Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and alumni.  Active members become alumni members at graduation. Alumni and honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs. 

ARTICLE V:  SELECTION OF MEMBERS   

Section 1.  The selection of members to this chapter shall be by a majority vote of the faculty council which consists of five faculty members appointed by the principal. The chapter adviser shall be the sixth, nonvoting, ex officio member of the faculty council. 

Section 2.  The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the school year.  

Section 3.  Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur: 

a. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility. 

b. All students who are eligible scholastically (i.e., candidates) shall be notified and asked to complete and submit the candidate information form for further consideration.  

c.  Candidates may be asked to acquire a staff recommendation as part of the application process. 

d. The faculty council shall be requested to evaluate candidates determined to be scholastically eligible using the official input form provided by the chapter adviser.  

e. The faculty council shall review the candidate information forms, faculty input, and other relevant information to determine those who fully meet the selection criteria for membership.  

f. The Principal or Principal designee will provide the final consent of new members.

Section 4. Candidates become members when inducted at a special ceremony. 

Section 5.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given an official letter indicating the status of his/her membership. 

Section 6.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter.  The faculty council shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership. 

ARTICLE VI: OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS  

Section 1.  Annual dues for this chapter shall be a recommended donation of $20 per member. Dues will be payable to the chapter within 30 days of induction.  [Note: Dues are not a required function of the chapter. Dues cannot exceed $20 per member per year as noted in the National Constitution.]   

Section 2.  Each member of this chapter who is in good standing with regard to the membership standards and member obligations shall be entitled to wear the emblem adopted by the National Honor Society. 

Section 3.  Any member who withdraws, resigns, or is dismissed from the chapter shall return the emblem to the chapter. 

Section 4. Chapter members who are seniors in good standing shall be granted the privilege of wearing the honor stoles at graduation.  Graduating seniors in good standing will have completed 4 semesters of active membership.  Including completed and verified point trackers and community service hours during each of the 4 semesters. An overall cumulative grade point average at or exceeding 3.5, at the conclusion of the fall semester senior year, effective class of 2027 and beyond pass 1 A.P. level academic course, and the reconfirmation of acceptable progress at the conclusion of the 3rd quarter progress report. 

Section 5.  Redemption, students who fail to maintain active member status, are allowed a one-time redemption opportunity.  These students must complete any missing requirements from the point tracker or community service expectations.  The students must also complete requirements during the subsequent semesters. 

ARTICLE VII:  OFFICERS 

Section 1.  The officers of the chapter shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and historian. 

Section 2.  Student officers shall be selected prior to the last meeting of each school year.  All returning members in good standing with the chapter are eligible to run for a position as an officer. Any active member can nominate an eligible member as a candidate for office. 

Section 3.  Voting shall be by secret ballot and advisory in nature. Those receiving the most vote totals will be the preferred candidate during the selection and appointment process.  Selection is determined from votes received, review of the faculty advisors, and confirmation from the club advisor.  

Section 4.  It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meetings of the chapter and serve as the official representative of the chapter at school and community functions. 

Section 5.  The vice president(s) shall preside in the absence of the president and shall also keep a record of members’ contributions to leadership and service. 

Section 6.  The secretary(s) shall keep the minutes and attendance records for meetings and be responsible for all official correspondence. 

Section 7.  The treasurer(s) shall keep the record of business expenses, dues, and all other financial transactions of the chapter. 

Section 8. The historian(s) shall manage and maintain photos and a social media presence.

Section 9.  Officers and the faculty adviser(s) shall collectively be known as the chapter’s executive committee. The executive committee shall establish annual goals for the chapter and have general charge of the meetings and the business of the chapter, but any action by the executive committee is subject to the review of the chapter members.  Additional  

ARTICLE VIII:  MEETINGS 

Section 1.  Regular meetings of this chapter shall be monthly during the school year, with the exception of December. Special meetings can be called by the president with approval of the adviser. 

Section 2.  This chapter shall conduct its meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order. 

Section 3. Members are expected to attend all chapter meetings. 

ARTICLE IX:  ACTIVITIES 

Section 1.  The chapter shall determine one or more service projects for each year. 

Section 2.  All members shall regularly 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 an individual service project which reflects his or her particular talents and interests and as approved by the chapter adviser. This is in addition to the chapter projects to which all members contribute. 

Section 5.  The chapter shall publicize and promote its projects in a positive manner. 

ARTICLE X:  DISCIPLINE and DISMISSAL of MEMBERS 

Section 1.  Any member who falls below the standards of scholarship, service, leadership, or character  may be considered for discipline or dismissal from the chapter of the National Honor Society.  A member of the National 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 (currently 3.25) 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 (one semester) 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 DWI, 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 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 afterwards 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 Honor Society. 

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

ARTICLE XI: RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, and REVIEW.  

Section 1: These bylaws will be approved upon receiving a two-thirds affirmative vote of all active members of the chapter, a majority affirmative vote of the faculty council, and approval by the administration.  

Section 2: These bylaws shall be reviewed and if necessary, revised within five years from the date of approval noted on this document.  

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS 

These bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the chapter, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given to members at least one month prior to the vote. The exceptions are Articles IV, V, VI, and X, which are developed by the faculty council with the approval of the principal. 

Updated on 4/17/2025