Overview of Government Structure

Students, teachers, administrators, and the education department at the National Constitution Center developed a school governance model that consisted of a executive branch, faculty senate, house of students, and school court. This government models the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches at the federal level. Powers are separated and a system of checks and balances is enumerated in the school’s constitution. This constitution was written by the first class of students in 2006-07 school year and has been amended since in their freshman-level Constitution course. Applying the concept of federalism and the Article VII supreme law of the land in the U.S. Consitution, our constitution expresses that policies within the school cannot contradict those of the Philadelphia School District. Being that many of the district's policies are broad in nature creates avenues for student and administrative interpretations. In addition, the principal maintains an independent office yet is part of the Constitution. For example, the principal is part of the bill signing process and his/her veto can be overturned. Congress consists of the Faculty Senate which all staff members are part of and a House of Students where two representatives from each homeroom work together to build school programs and policies. Another unique aspect of our school’s government is that a 9 member court, consisting of two faculty judges and the rest students, can interpret laws created within the school as well as take part in peer mediation. With the support of our partner Ballard & Spahr, we are building a functioning court room where Appellate Judge Rendell, an advisor to our school, will sit and conduct court proceedings.

This model of school governance, which will be described in great detail in the following blogs, was created to give students real power in the school, provide an avenue to practice civic engagement that values proactive attitudes and behaviors, and train students in the art of governing.