Marjory Stoneman Douglas Debate Team Website

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Debate Team

2005 FFL State Champions

Contact Information

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
5901 Pine Island Road
Parkland, FL 33076

Phone:
(754) 322 - 2150
Ms. McCormick

Douglas Web Site

diane.mccormick@browardschools.com

Webmaster

Patrick Meyer

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Debate Team Constitution

Team Mission Statement

In order to make our goals clear and keep them in the minds of future classes, we, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Debate Board, adopt this constitution to accomplish success, spirit, and sportsmanship on behalf of the Debate Team. We exist to provide opportunities for high school students to develop a variety of speaking skills to the best of their abilities, provide a sense of team morale, and cooperating to achieve even greater unity, friendship and fun, and to provide a healthy level of competition that brings out the best in our members.

Team Member Qualifications

Definition of Team Members

Team Members are the ONLY students eligible for competitions (and thus, the only ones eligible for honors credit and course completion).

Financial Requirements

Pay annual team dues ($15.00); Team funds will pay for new member fees.
Pay all tournament attendance and drop fees (in order to attend a tournament, each Member must have paid all prior tournament expenses) unless board approves of a full subsidy.
Participate FULLY in the two team semester fundraisers or pay designated opt-out fee.

Attendance Requirements

Attend two full division meetings per quarter.

Judging Requirements

Provide two judges during the course of the year (Eligible Juniors and Seniors may judge at after-school tournaments).
Multiple day tournaments will satisfy a student's two judging requirements, providing the judge appears on both or all tournament days.

Team and Board Meetings

Board meetings must be held once a month.
1. A determined Majority of the Members must be present in order to hold votes during the meeting.
Team meetings (Not division) will be held when needed.
1. These meetings will be informative for the members of the team and will be held when requested by the board or coach.

Officer Board Mission Statement

The debate board is assembled for the purpose of serving administrative duties and to provide a leadership body for the debate team. The board also provides structure and order to ensure that the team can accomplish its goals. Furthermore, this leadership allows for a liaison between the coach of our team, the students, and the administration.

Board Positions

Voting Positions - The 2005-2006 School Year will have the following positions and their listed responsibilities:

Team President - General Leader of the Team
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. Runs and schedules team meetings.
2. Schedules and coordinates team functions.
  1. Team functions: social activities (with the exception of the End of the Year Banquet), and overseeing workshop program.
3. Works with Tournament Coordinator on team trips and tournaments.
Board President - General Leader of the Board
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. Runs and schedules board meetings.
2. Prepares Board Meeting agendas.
3. Works with coach to facilitate administrative duties.
  1. Administrative duties: tournament and league registration, fundraising project approval from School Administration.
Co-Vice Presidents - Assistant General Leaders of the Team and Board
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. Takes over Coach responsibilities when he or she is not present at tournaments (i.e. Handing out lunch tickets, taking team attendance)
  1. Because of the weighty responsibilities of the Co-Vice Presidents when the Coach is not present, the Co-Vice Presidents must be the first to arrive at a tournament at ALL times, at all tournaments, and the last to leave.
2. The Co-Vice Presidents will be appointed projects to oversee, and they must fulfill those duties.
3. Creates and posts sign-up sheets (on poster board) for all tournaments at least TWO WEEKS prior to the tournament.
4. Takes attendance at team meetings and submits that attendance to the Recording Secretary.
Varsity Captain - General Leader of Varsity Members
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. If, at any time, a Varsity Member wants to switch Division Group to another event, they must receive approval from the Varsity Captain.
2. Maintain a list of ALL team members (Varsity and Novice) and their respective Divisions.
3. Oversee the Novice Captain's projects.
Novice Captain - (2nd Year Debater) General Leader of the Novice Members. Representative of the JV Class.
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. If, at any time, a Novice Member wants to switch Division Group to another event, they must receive approval from the Novice Captain.
Treasurer - General Leader of Financial Expenditures
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. Creates and organizes all fundraising projects (to be given to Board President to attain School approval).
2. Provides financial report at EACH Board Meeting.
3. Collects team dues ($15.00) and other fees from EACH Team Member, Varsity and Novice.
4. Proposes and oversees all Team purchases with Resource Manager.
5. Works with the Coach to determine which Members have paid for what tournament and what debts are owed and submits that information to the Recording Secretary.
Recording Secretary
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. Takes detailed notes at all Board meetings.
2. Types Board minutes and distributes to all Board Members.
  1. Makes sure to have a copy of the minutes signed by all members after each meeting, whether for special submission to administration and/or make sure every board member is up to date on what has passed.
3. Maintains a list of contact information for all Team Members.
4. Maintain a list of Team Members, with a spreadsheet of information determining who is a Member in Good Standing.
  1. See Team Member Requirements to determine what constitutes a Member in Good Standing.
Two Point Secretariesy
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. Enters Team points on nflonline.org after each tournament.
  1. The Point Secretaries will decide among themselves how to enter points.
2. Must enter all points that were not recorded points for previous years by October 25th of the current year.
Resource Manager
Elected by a majority in team elections.
1. Operates Team Website.
  1. Must have computer skills to perform task, previous resource manager must teach the newly elected one how the team website operates.
2. Makes recommendations to board for resource purchases.
  1. Board may also request the purchase of resources from the resource manager.
  2. Must set up a budget proposal and is the proponent for the second constitutional category of appropriations along with the treasurer.
3. Makes sure resources are updated and older publications stored/organized for future use. Maintains resource library in all forms, including current events articles, newspapers, scripts, and magazines.
4. Makes sure copy machine is properly functioning and asks board for ink cartridge purchases. Regulates the usage of the machine.
Novice Class Representatives
Appointed by coach one month into the school year.
1. There is one Novice Class Representative nominated by the coach from every debate one class, position determined by the person most involved and interested in the team.
2. They (Depending on the total number of classes) attend all board meetings and vote with the sole purpose of enforcing the novice agenda and what best fits their needs.
3. This position is not to be lobbied by any other varsity or JV position, and if such occurs, the novice representative can inform the Parliamentarian who will inform the coach.
Parliamentarian of the Debate Board & Constitution
Appointed by board one month into the school year.
Must be from Varsity class (Debate III or IV).
1. The Parliamentarian is the voice of reason on the board, whose primary purpose is to make sure that votes and the board are inline with the constitution.
2. Must approve of every vote before it occurs (Except impeachment votes) and can submit and absentee approval (not vote) if he/she will not be in attendance of the meeting.
3. Is to serve as the liaison between the coach and the board concerning issues that are in conflict between the two parties.
  1. Tells the coach when he/she believes there is a problem on the board and recommends a solution, as well as takes the problems that other board members may be having to the coach.
4. Keeps a record copy of all material and minutes from the board meetings as well as a copy of the constitution at all times.
  1. Honorary Position - May attend all Board Meetings and voice their opinions and requests, yet have no voting power.
Tournament Coordinator
Appointed by board one month into the school year.
1. Must work with board on team traveling plans for tournaments outside our district.
  1. Airline tickets, hotel reservations, transportation, activities, itinerary.
2. Creates an estimated price for each trip by an assigned deadline.
3. Is the leading coordinator for any tournament hosted at Douglas and maintains temporary authority during these events.
4. May be assigned any additional tasks the board decides to take on concerning tournaments and travel arrangements.

Board Voting Procedures

Majority
1. There must be 9 of the 15 voting board members present to hold a vote during a meeting.
2. In the first month of the year, there must be 7 of the 11 voting board members present to hold a vote during a meeting.
3. Constitutional Amendments, Impeachments, Subsidy Allocations, and Appointments require a 2/3 vote before and after the first month. All additional votes require a simple majority.
4. If a board member is not present at a meeting, he/she cannot give or transfer his vote to another member. Eliminating one board member from having multiple votes in a given meeting.

Exceptional Board Member Cases with Co-Vice Presidents Position
a. If one Member in a "Co" position resigns or becomes impeached, the other member maintains the position. The board will appoint a new Vice President to fill the position following the resignation or impeachment (Requires a 2/3 vote, like any appointment position). It cannot be the same person who resigned or was impeached.

Requirements and Procedures for Impeachment
a. Qualifications for Impeachment
A. Behavior Contract
1. Each Board Member must sign a Behavior Contract (created by a Team or Board President). The Contract will confirm that the Board Member must fulfill their Duties or will become vulnerable to Impeachment.
B. Prerequisites for Impeachment
1. He or she fails to meet his or her defined responsibilities.
2. He or she misses 2 consecutive Board meetings or 4 meetings per semester.
3. He or she fails to behave properly at board meetings or tournaments.
4. He or she is not longer enrolled in the Debate class.
C. If a board member (Honorary, Division Leader/Assistant Leader, or otherwise) meets any or all of these requirements, he or she is eligible for impeachment.
D. Procedures for Impeachment.
1. The Member in Question must first qualify for Impeachment.
2. Only board members may submit impeachment proposals.
a. These are submitted to the Coach, who relays the proposal to the Board at the next meeting. The Parliamentarian will read the constitution aloud to make sure impeachment claim is valid.
3. 2/3 (Or determined Majority) of the Board Members (excluding the Member being impeached) must vote affirmatively in order for the impeachment to take place.
a. The Member in question may not be present during the voting procedures in order to ensure unbiased opinions.
4. The Board will appoint a replacement among Members of the Team depending on the position that was impeached. This must be ratified by 2/3 (Or determined Majority) of the Board.

Requirements to Run For Board Positions in Elections
a. All candidates, except novice representatives, must be returning debaters who are enrolled in the class for the following year. The Novice Captain may only be a debate two student the year following the election.
b. Candidates must be in good standing with the debate team, and have no outstanding debts.
A. "Good standing" is determined by each applicant’s behavioral record at tournaments and at school, determined by the coach. (Only in EXTREME cases should an applicant be denied running privileges).
c. Exceptional Candidacy Circumstances with "Co" Positions
A. If, prior to an election, one of the two Members on a Co-President or Co-Vice President wishes to resign, he or she must do so 24 hours before the application deadline.
B. Once the Election Committee has recognized the resignation, the ticket between the two Members will be terminated, and both must either forego the election or re-register with the same Committee.
1. The re-registered Member may choose a different Member to create another "Co" ticket.

Election Procedures
a. Qualifications for Voting
A. Must be a returning member of the Team and have satisfied all Team Member requirements.
b. Procedures
A. Two outgoing Senior Team Members will facilitate the elections.
1. They will create ballots, determine election date, collect and create candidate applications, count votes, and announce winners.
c. Members are elected based on a PLURALITY vote.

Division Meetings (Workshops)
a. Definition
A. Each Division, organized by Speech or Debate Event, will focus on enhancing its Members speaking abilities by providing both group and individual attention for participants.
b. Leadership
A. Each Division will have a Leader and an Assistant Leader, appointed by a determined Majority on the Board.
1. Leaders and Assistant Leaders will be chosen based on commitment to the team, skill, and responsibility.
2. The Leader will schedule the Division meetings and coordinate helpful activities for the Division.
a. The Leader must attend three out of four of its meetings per month.
3. The Assistant Leader has minimal authority when the Leader is present, but does gain full authority in the Leader’s absence.
4. Either a Leader or an Assistant Leader MUST be present at each Division Meeting.
5. Both the Leader and the Assistant Leader are subject to impeachment if they do not fulfill their responsibilities.
B. Mandatory Division Requirements
1. Each Division must meet 4 times a month as a MINIMUM.
2. The Division must show signs of progress among its members, to ensure that time is being used effectively.
3. The meeting dates and times must be written clearly in the Debate Room at least two days prior to the meeting.
4. Each Division must create a distinctive name for itself.
5. Every Member of the Division must be registered with his or her respective Captain (Varsity or Novice). His or her respective Captain must approve any change of Division as well. The registered change must be attained through an approval form (to be created by the Debate Board) and in the Captain’s possession.
C. Member Requirements for Division Meetings
1. Each Division Member must attend 2 out of 4 of its monthly meetings and fully participate at these meetings.
2. The Leader or the Assistant Leader will report any behavior problems to the Coach.
3. Each member must sign in to verify that they have attended the meeting.
D. Miscellaneous
1. The Team President oversees the Division Program, with the Varsity Captain and the Novice Captain overseeing their respective constituents.
2. The Team President reserves the right to mandate extra meetings to prepare for upcoming tournaments or in any necessary situation.

XII. Debate Monetary Appropriations & Regulations
a. The collection of funds (via through dues, fundraising, fees, or sponsorships) is to be used for the continuation and ultimate progression of the team. The funds will be dispersed in four expense categories, and used in the order established.

1) Team Continuation Expenses
(To be covered first and foremost before anything else)
* Inclusive of NFL, CFL, & FFL dues (Team, coach, and memberships)
* Any outstanding debts to school, persons, or any forensic league.

2) Speech & Student Resources
(All expenses of the first category must be paid or pending payment to
spend in this category)
* Inclusive of material resources (magazines, scripts, videos, educational products)
* Need-Based Improvement Items (Items board would like to see purchased)

3) Subsidy of local/regional level tournaments
(All of the first & second categories must be paid or pending payment to spend in this category)
* The amount set aside for the subsidy of local/regional level tournaments shall be equivalent to the amount collected from 3/4 of the team dues and 1/2 of the two team semester fundraisers.
* How it is divided up amongst the local tournaments is up to the board to appropriate.

4) Subsidy of state/national level tournaments

(All of the first two categories must be paid or pending payment, as well as
The 3rd category shall be considered before spending on the fourth)
* The amount set aside for the subsidy of state/national level tournaments
shall consist of every raised dollar after the predicated costs of the first,
second, and third categories.
* Unless the financial situation improves, or conversely becomes financially
unrealistic, the amount that can be spent on these tournaments is capped at
$1,500.00 per semester. This amount is determined by the board every
semester given the financial situation.
b. This categorical system shall operate under the premises of these following rules:

1) At no point do the debate account funds drop below $1,000.00 unless 100% of the board approves with the consent of the coach, or at the sole discretion of the coach.

2) The board will strive to have $2,000.00 by the end of the school year. It can be lower only if every effort to cut funding for state/national level subsidies was attempted.

3) Additional fundraisers, sponsorships, tournament revenues, etc... not
directly inclusive in the categories should be planned subsides of the
state/national tournaments. There is to be no excessive spending in the
first three categories that would limit the amount spent on the fourth
Category to what the board and/or coach would consider unsatisfactory
and inequitable.
4) If team funds are allocated to state/national level tournaments that are not officially sponsored by the team, the board must be presented with all the travel expense information (Lodging, method of transportation, etc..) before allocating a specific amount for the trip. This to prevent individuals from taking advantage of team funds.