Student Government | James Madison Preparatory School

"Building America's Promising Future, Honoring America's Glorious Past."

5815 S. McClintock Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85283 | map

480-345-2306

America's system of government depends on citizen participation. Madison Prep's student government is no different, and it includes all three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each student is required to participate in the Madison student government and is evaluated based on his/her involvement and effort. Students will receive a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade each trimester.

Students will experience at least two of the three branches of the government during a four-year high school career, and they might, in some cases, change branches during a school year in order to enhance the experiential nature of this learning process.

We are devoting time and resources to actualizing student and faculty participation in each branch, with checks and balances on the limited powers defined for each. Real legislation will be drafted, real compromises will be reached in the passage of bills, and real decisions will be made regarding school functions, social activities, enrichment club activities, student fundraising, and other appropriate student issues in accordance with the School Constitution. The student government also will be responsible each trimester for choosing a community service project for the school population to carry out in the larger Phoenix area community.

As in the American system, the legislative branch will draft and pass legislation, the executive branch will sign or veto passed legislation and enforce signed legislation, and the judicial branch will adjudicate alleged breaches of campus rules. Naturally, school administration will deal with egregious student infractions, transcending the student government. In order to keep the government focused and moving ahead, the president will address the student body with a prepared speech at least once a year.
As in the American system, a free press is essential. In the Madison Prep system, a small number of students and one faculty member will stand outside the student government to report on its activities via The Federalist, the student newspaper.