Pocatello High School
Speech and Debate Constitution
Article I Mission
The purpose of the Pocatello High School Speech and Debate Team is to provide a platform
for developing and practicing the principles of organized and intellectual speaking. All
members of the team serve this purpose by studying public speaking techniques and applying
those techniques to argumentation and individual speaking situations. This experience will
include competition at high school speech and debate tournaments.
Article II Membership
Any student enrolled in the Pocatello High School Competitive Speech and Debate class is
automatically part of the team. The team membership will adhere to the Pocatello/Chubbuck
School District # 25 Student Athletic Code of Conduct. Team members recognize speech and
debate as an IHSAA supported activity and will follow guidelines and rules established for
competition by the IHSAA and the Idaho Speech Arts Association.
All team members are invited to qualify for the National Speech and Debate Association
membership through participation and using the point system provided by the NSDA.
Article III Election of Officers
Students are nominated for an office by fellow team members or self-nomination.
Nominated students must have a minimum GPS of 2.0 and be in good standing with the team
coach.
Students may run for only one officer position. The positions are for the offices of president,
Vice president, secretary/treasurer, historian and event captains. Officers should be the most
experienced, demonstrate leadership abilities, and be members of the NSDA. Leaders must
demonstrate maturity and collegiality when instruction other students on the team. Team
Leadership must be in good standing with the team coach.
The teacher/coach will determine the number of officers and captains, depending on the size of
the team and the quality of the candidates.
Article IV Voting
Only members of the NSDA may vote.
Voting will be private.
Seniors will not vote.
Article V Campaigning
There will be no posters, buttons, or any other campaign materials.
There may be a question/answer session for candidates and the voters The speech and
debate teacher/coach will direct the session.
Article VI Positions and Duties
All elected and appointed positions:
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Take priority over all other extra-curricular activities, part-time jobs, and community
commitments.
Attend all officer/captain meetings. ( No less than one every other week)
Failure to attend meetings may result in a dismissal from office.
Help maintain a sense of unity throughout the year.
Participate in all fundraisers, tournaments, get-togethers
Attend and compete in all in-town tournaments.
Accept the responsibility of being a role model for your team at all times.
Reasons for removal from office: misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance.
President
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Set schedule for all officer meetings.
Prepare and typed agendas for all meetings
Preside at all meetings using parliamentary procedure or protocol.
Serve as a liaison between the team and the school administration.
Accept team trophies on behalf of our program.
Determine tournament themes and inspirational items.
Set goals and lead planning meetings for calendar
Organize competition calendar
Vice President
Make sure to finalize all entries to tournaments.
Run meetings if the president is not present
Take minutes if the secretary is not present
Organize social calendar, fund raising projects, service projects, and team dinners.
Make sure all tournament participants have travel notices.
Schedule team members for concession stand and to be tournament runners
Secretary/Treasurer
Take minutes at meetings.
Make sure national points are recorded
Collect money and keep records of membership
Direct the design and purchasing of T-shirts and supplies
Historian/ Webmaster
Take videos and pictures throughout the year
Maintain the team bulletin board area in room 127
Maintain a team website.
Captains
Must be knowledgeable in their event
Be willing to share their expertise
Lead labs after school
Acquire and share information and materials per event needs
Demonstrate the highest standards of character, integrity, and leadership
Article VII Terms of Office
All terms are for one school year, beginning in August and ending with the spring election of
the same school year.
Any office that is vacated during the year will be filled through appointment by the
teacher/coach.
Article VIII Competition Requirements
Students will compete in all local meets. As this is a team, competition is required; not
optional. All novice students will be encouraged to compete in multiple events, both speech
and debate. In January, all novice will be required to compete in one debate and two speech
events for the remaining tournaments. All varsity will be required to compete in two speech
events and one debate style.
Participation in the district, state, and national tournaments is at the discretion of the coach.
Students are given the opportunity to choose their respective events; however, a student may
be asked to compete in a particular event based on the discretion of the coach
Judges. Students will be asked to help find judges for tournaments.
Judge procurement may be considered in grading and offering extra credit.