Maine West's Student Council is based on a two house system: Upper House, which is somewhat a replica of the U.S. Senate, and Lower House, which is the representative body like the U.S. Congress.

Lower House consists of an elected representative from each homeroom. Upper House has two elected members from each class (totals eight), one representative for every 10 members of a class in Lower House (which usually totals three per class‑12 total), and the Executive Board (15) for a grand total of 35.

As it stands now, an idea is brought up in either the Upper House or the Lower House meeting and is then taken to the other house, which may meet the next day or three days later, for approval. It must pass in both houses before it can be

effective. If it does not, it then is taken to the Executive Board meeting where a compromise is reached and then still must be taken to both houses for approval.

We feel a more effective Student Council would work better on a one house system. Proposals, now, have to be brought up in both houses, which meet on different days, and ideas become delayed for weeks before actual work gets started on them. With a one house system (being mainly the Lower House and the Executive Board) an idea would be brought up in only one meeting and either be passed, or defeated, and done with.

Constitutional changes will be necessary to have such a system ratified, but we feel the time and effort it takes to do so will make Student Council more effective in the long run.