Article I: Name, Purpose, and Governance

Section 1. Name: This organization shall be called Troupe # 7224. The troupe has been chartered by Clarksburg High School. The charter affiliates it with the International Thespian Society (ITS), a division of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).
Section 2. Purpose: The troupe is the honors component of the school’s theatre program.
Its purpose shall be the advancement of standards of excellence in theatre. More specifically, the troupe will encourage students to attain a better mastery of the theatre arts and will reward those who achieve it with induction into the troupe. Thespians achieving honor ranks shall receive recognition of their exemplary accomplishment.
Section 3. Governance: This troupe constitution and its bylaws are two components of a hierarchy of documents that govern the Educational Theatre Association and its membership. The documents affecting troupes, in order of authority, are: the Educational Theatre Association Code of Regulations and Membership Policy, the troupe handbooks, the troupe constitution, and troupe bylaws. This constitution may not be altered in any way that conflicts with a superceding document or school policies and procedures.

Article II: Organization and Officers

Section 1. Membership: Membership is achieved by complying with all induction criteria as defined in the troupe handbook. The ITS Thespian point system is the official guideline for awarding induction points. Any changes to induction criteria, including the Thespian point system, must be adopted as a troupe bylaw. In addition to the required 10 points from the International Thespian Society, Clarksburg High School has decided that an additional 10 points are necessary to demonstrate a true dedication to theater and the program thereby making the total points required for induction at 20.
Section 2. Officers: The Thespian troupe shall have the following officers: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and clerk/scribe. Duties shall be defined in the troupe’s bylaws.
Section 3. Elections: The troupe shall elect officers for the next school year in the last full month of the current school term.

Article III: Meetings and Participation

Section 1. Meetings: Thespian troupe meetings shall be held monthly throughout the school year. Special meetings may be called by the troupe director, any officer, or by a quorum of Thespians.
Section 2. Quorum: A quorum shall be a majority of the troupe’s active membership.
Section 3. Denial of participation: Any Thespian who causes deliberate dissension or disruption of any production or business meeting may be denied participation in troupe activities by a vote of two-thirds of the troupe’s membership and the consent of the troupe director. Any member who is found to be participating in illegal activities will be denied participation in all troupe activities for the year without a vote. Any member requesting reinstatement of participation rights may have them restored with the consent of the troupe director and two-thirds of the troupe’s membership.

Article IV: Dues and Fees

Section 1. Dues: There shall be no mandatory dues for Thespian induction except as provided by the Educational Theatre Association Board of Directors for induction. Currently the induction fee is $30
Section 2. Fees: Troupes may approve additional fees for local Thespian troupe participation. This requires consent of the troupe director and a two-thirds vote of the active troupe members at a regular troupe meeting. The school and its troupe director may also assess user fees in accordance with school policy.

Article V: Bylaws

Section 1. Purpose: Bylaws provide additional guidance for the governance and operations of the troupe. No bylaw may be in conflict with the EdTA Code of Regulations, EdTA policies, troupe handbook, troupe constitution, or school policy or procedures.
Section 2. Adoptions and amendments: The troupe director may adopt or amend bylaws as deemed appropriate. Bylaws may also be added or amended by approval of a simple majority of the troupe’s active membership and the consent of the troupe director.

Article VI: Amendments

Section 1. Exclusions: Article I may not be amended.
Section 2. Procedure: Articles other than Article I may be amended by approval of two- thirds of the troupe’s active membership with the consent of the troupe director. This constitution and its amendments shall be subject to change according to any or all requirements of the International Thespian Society.