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For grade schools, see student council

A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, or guild of students is a student organization present in many colleges and universities. For colleges and universities see Students' union Student council is a curricular or Extra-curricular activity for The word student is etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation Verb "studēre" An organization (or organisation &mdash see spelling differences) is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals which controls its own performance and College ( Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an Educational Institution. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects In the latter, said organization is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social and organizational activities of the student body. A campus is traditionally the land on which a College or University and related institutional buildings are situated Definition In the absence of agreement about its meaning the term "social" is used in many different senses referring among other things to attitudes

Many students' unions are run by students for students, independent of the educational facility. The purpose of these organizations is to represent students both within the institution and externally, including on local and national issues. They are also responsible for providing a variety of services to students. Students can get involved in its management through numerous and varied committees, councils and general meetings, or become one of its elected officers.

The largest Students' Union building at Oklahoma State University, which doubles as a student activity center ("student union" in the USA)
The largest Students' Union building at Oklahoma State University, which doubles as a student activity center ("student union" in the USA)

Many students' unions are highly politicised bodies, and often serve as a training ground for aspiring politicians. For the Sports Complex in Laredo Texas, see The Student Activity Center. For the Sports Complex in Laredo Texas, see The Student Activity Center. A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person Campaigning and debate is often very vigorous, with the youthful enthusiasm of the various partisans, a student media that is itself often partisan, inexperienced, and under no financial pressure to slant coverage to please a broad readership, and a general lack of serious consequences for decision all encouraging political gamesmanship. A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group Gamesmanship is the use of dubious (although not technically illegal methods to win a Game, such as Golf or Snooker. Other unions however are less politicised. Students' Unions generally have similar aims irrespective of the extent of politicization, and focus on providing facilities, support and services to students as well as political goals.

Students' unions often officially recognize and allocate an annual budget to other organizations on campus. Budget (from French bougette, purse generally refers to a list of all planned expenses and revenues In some institutions, postgraduate students are within the general students' unions, whereas in others they have their own Postgraduate Representative Body. A national postgraduate representative body exists in many countries representing Postgraduate students/researchers undertaking their Doctorate ( PhD) or In some cases graduate students to lack formal representation in student government.

Contents

Australia

Main article: Student unionism in Australia

In Australia, all universities have one or more student organizations. Australia's universities are home to a variety of different Student union groups providing a range of political commercial and other services to students For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. This is a list of universities and other Higher education institutions in Australia. As of July 2006, membership and union fees are voluntary by law.

Australian student unions typically provide such services as eateries, small retail outlets (e. g. , newsagencies), student media (e. g. , campus newspapers), advocacy, and support for a variety of social, arts, political, recreational, special interest and sporting clubs and societies. Most also operate specialized support services for female, LGBT, international and indigenous students. LGBT (also GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender / transsexual The term Indigenous Peoples or autochthonous peoples can be used to describe any Ethnic group who inhabit a geographic region with which they have the earliest historical Many have expressed concerns over the introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU). Voluntary student unionism (VSU is a policy under which membership of &ndash and payment of membership fees to &ndash University student organisations is voluntary

The National Union of Students of Australia represents most student unions at a national level. With VSU becoming law, its future is in doubt.

Canada

In Canada, membership in a college or university students' union is mandatory. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Included in Canadian students' tuition fees is anywhere from an additional $10-$300 fee to pay for the services of the union. Tuition means instruction or teaching. In American English, the term tuition is often used to refer to a fee charged for educational instruction The money raised from dues is often used to support a staff and office. Student elections usually happen around March as the student bodies elect their unions' executives. Student voter turnout for student elections varies widely depending on the part of the country, and the size of the institution. The largest student union in Canada is the Alma Mater Society (AMS), at the University of British Columbia, with around 45,000 members.

Canadian student unions are not-for-profit organizations and often provide numerous services not only to their own students, but to the educational institution and community at large. Running things like newspapers, radio stations, various consumer businesses, clubs, societies and cultural groups, concerts, bars, various entertainment, athletic programs, financial support, scholarships, medical and dental plans are quite common throughout Canadian schools. Student unions are also well known for their political involvement.

Most student governments are charged by their student body to protect their best interests at the university, municipal, provincial and federal government levels. Generally, student unions in Canada are members of either the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations or the Canadian Federation of Students, the two federal lobby groups representing post-secondary students. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA was formed in 1995 as an alliance by several post-secondary institutions' Students' unions who had withdrawn from the The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS is the largest student organization in Canada. One exception is the Province of Quebec, which has its own federations, the largest youth group in Quebec, called Quebec Federation of University Students (Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec or FEUQ). CEGEP students are represented by the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec or FECQ, while the Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante or ASSE is a more radical organisation grouping students from both levels of education. A CEGEP (ˈseɪʒɛp or /ˈsiːʤɛp/ French: Cégep) is a post-secondary education institution exclusive to the province of Quebec in

Denmark

In Denmark the higher education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and university colleges of applied sciences (e. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Higher education is Education that is provided by universities, vocational universities, Community colleges Liberal arts colleges g. nursing and engineering schools or teachers' colleges). Universities are characterised by scientific research and the highest education based thereon. University colleges of applied sciences are oriented towards working life and base their operations on the high vocational skill requirements set by it. These vocational institutions offer 3-4 year 'professional bachelor degrees'. Besides that there are a number of art schools. Universities belong under the Ministry of Science, University Colleges belong under the Ministry of Education, and the Art Schools belong under the Ministry of Culture. There are 12 universities at the moment, but in 2006 there is a major merger process going on to make fewer, bigger institutions. The student unions at universities (and some of the art schools' student unions) are generally members of the National Union of Students in Denmark which represents these students on the national level.

Every university has a student union (In Danish, Studenterråd). Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Membership is not mandatory. The student unions are funded by the university and the Ministry of Science on the basis of the percentage of votes received every year at the university election. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws. The student unions are responsible for all representation of the students and elect the student members of different administrative organs. They usually coordinate and finance the activities of smaller, more specialized student organizations. For the financing of their activities, some student unions exact a membership fee and/or engage in different businesses.

In the Ministry of Culture institutions there are also local student organisations. In the Ministry of Education institutions, The student activities are very much related to a student division of the Labor Union in the different areas. For instance, the teachers' students are organised in the national labor union for teachers and so forth.

Upper-Seconday schools The Upper-Seconday schools(In Danish, Gymnasier), It is in Denmark a law that there has to be a studentscouncill at the Upper-Secondary schools. Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the The studentscouncils are organized in the organisation DGS. 1sh of January 2008 120 of the 145 gymnasier where paying members.

Finland

In Finland the higher education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and universities of applied sciences (polytechnics). Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Higher education is Education that is provided by universities, vocational universities, Community colleges Liberal arts colleges Universities are characterised by scientific research and the highest education based thereon. Universities of applied sciences are oriented towards working life and base their operations on the high vocational skill requirements set by it.

Universities - ylioppilaskunta

Every university has a student union (In Finnish, ylioppilaskunta). Finnish ( or suomen kieli) is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland (92% As of 2006) and by ethnic Finns outside Membership is mandatory by law for all students studying for Master's or Bachelor's degree. Visiting (non-degree) students are ineligible to join a student union [1]. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly (varying from 20 to 60 members) elected every second year using an open list election. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organised by its by-laws. The student unions are considered a part of Finnish administration, however, and their decisions can be appealed against to the Ministry of Education, although this is extremely rare. In such case, the claimant must prove that the decision has violated the law or by-laws.

The student unions are responsible for all representation of the students and elect the student members of different administrative organs, including the board of the university. According to the law, there must be student representation in every administrative body of the university. The student unions are also responsible for the health care of the students and usually coordinate and finance the activities of smaller, more specialized student organizations. For the financing of their activities, the student unions exact a membership fee and engage in different businesses. Differences in the scale of such businesses are mirrored in the fees exacted by the student unions. Generally, the older universities have wealthier student unions. For example, at Helsinki University of Technology, the student union owns and governs the dormitory village on the campus and rents some of their properties to the university itself, while The Student Union of the University of Helsinki owns several buildings in the very centre of the Helsinki city and has assets of more than 0. Helsinki University of Technology ( TKK) ( Finnish: Teknillinen korkeakoulu; Swedish: Tekniska högskolan) is the premier technical 5 billion euros.

The university student unions organise extra curriculum activities, such as parties, sports events and access to sports facilities. They own a large number of cafeteria chains and even a multinational travel agency. Nearly all student unions publish one or more magazines, and some larger student unions offer nursing services for mothers while they go to the lectures. They are also a very active political power, commenting anything from municipal plans to national abortion laws. Student unions have organised demonstrations with up to 100,000 demonstrators and also run campaigns to affect the national and local politics during the elections. The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) pushed meal support into legistlation in the 1970s, which nowadays provides all higher education students meals costing only €2. The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL in Finnish Suomen ylioppilaskuntien liitto ry) is the largest national organisation providing benefits and services This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. 35, not depending in the chain where one eats at. SYL also was able to negotiotiate even up to -50% discount on public transportation for the students.

The Helsinki university student union status was written into laws by the Russian emperor Alexander II in 1868. And some of the university organisations' status is still nowadays effective with the 1800's laws. Later on, during the civil war of Finland, the student unions held significant role in flourishing the Finnish culture, and the Finnish national anthem was first sung by the university students. Many of the Finnish presidents and high-ranking politicians have started their career in universities' student union politics.

The student unions are members of the The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) [1], which represents the university students on the national and the international levels (a member of ESIB). History On the 17th October 1982 seven National Unions of Students (NUSes from Norway the United Kingdom Sweden Iceland France Denmark and Austria gathered in Stockholm to create SYL also takes part in the national law making process in topics related to the universities, students economical issues and the education. Part of the student unions are politically active, while in others, nations and subject association groups are dominant in the general assembly. Corporation refers to different kinds of student organizations worldwide Some of the student unions are active in municipal, global and local political questions, whereas some of the student unions see the protection of their students economical situation and educational rights as their only mission.

Polytechnics / Universities of Applied Sciences

Every university of applied sciences also has a student union, and its status is guaranteed by law (according to the law it is a public corporation like ylioppilaskunta). The student unions are much younger in this sector because the dual model system that makes the higher education in Finland came in 1996. Membership in opiskelijakunta differs from ylioppilaskunta, because the membership is not mandatory and every student can decide if he or she wants to join the student union.

In Finland, the student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws which are confirmed by the rector. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly elected every year. The student union represents all students and is responsible in electing the student members of different administrative organs. The student union finances its operations mainly with membership fees, financial support from the university and small business operations.

The student unions are members of the organization The National Union of Finnish Polytechnic Students (SAMOK) [2]. SAMOK represents students on both the national and international level (a member of ESIB). History On the 17th October 1982 seven National Unions of Students (NUSes from Norway the United Kingdom Sweden Iceland France Denmark and Austria gathered in Stockholm to create Student unions in Finland are not politically active and the candidate lists for general assembly elections are not divided into political parties such as usually the case in universities.

Secondary schools / Junior highs student council

Some junior high schools have an elected student body, which keeps in contact with the rector and the staff. The Junior high students have a national central student organisation Suomen lukiolaisten liitto.

Conscription army - Reserve Officer School

The Finnish conscription army conscripts, whom have been recruited as the aspiring officers-in-reserve form a Reserve Officer School student council. The Finnish defence doctrine relies on the principle of territorial defence which means that the whole of Finland must be defended in all cases As a curiosity, it is being a democratically governed and is an autonomous organization of conscripts within a military structure.

France

The French higher education system is centrally organized, so that local university bodies have restricted decision-making power. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. As a consequence, student unions are generally established at national level with local sections in most universities. The largest national student unions have a strong political identity and their actions are generally restricted to the defense of their vision of higher education rather than the particular interests of the student body of a single university. Union membership is regarded as an essentially political decision, without any particular advantage for students. The strength of unions can be best measured by their effectiveness in national protests rather than by membership figures. The most important student unions in France are: the left-leaning Union nationale des étudiants de France (National Students Union of France, UNEF) , the conservative Union Nationale Inter-Universitaire (National Inter-Universitary Union, UNI), the pro-European Confédération étudiante [3] (Student Confederation), and the Fédération des associations générales étudiantes [4] (Federation of General Students Associations, FAGE) regrouping different disciplinary associations. The National Union of Students of France ( Union Nationale des Étudiants de France or UNEF) is the main national students' union in France. Union Nationale Interuniversitaire ( UNI) or "Inter-University Union" is a French Right-wing union of University students created in

In the Grandes écoles, the premium league in the French higher education system, students are generally members of the official Student Offices (Bureau des Elèves) in charge of the organization of social activities and sports events. The Grandes écoles ("Graduate schools" literally in French "Grand Schools" or "Elite Schools" of France are higher The constitutions of these societies, which work in close partnership with the school administration, usually prevent union members from running for executive positions in order to keep the school independent from political groups that would eventually harm to the school prestige.

Greece

In Greece every university department has its corresponding Student Union (in Greek: Σύλλογος Φοιτητών) and all students belonging to the department have the right to register as members. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The main objective of a student union is to solve students' problems that can either be related to academic life or have a general political and social nature. Furthermore, Student Unions organize and support numerous activities such as political debates, demonstrations, university occupations, educational lectures, cultural and artistic events, conferences and so on.

The structure of a Student Union is rather simple and comprises two bodies: The General Assembly and the Board of Directors. The General Assembly consists of all student-members of the Union. It takes place on a regular basis and is the only decision-making body. During the General Assembly, many topics of student interest are discussed and the decisions are taken after open vote. The Board of Directors makes sure that the decisions of the General Assembly will be materialized. Moreover, the members of the Board of Directors, among which is the Union's President, participate in various university administrative bodies as representatives of all students in the Union.

Every year in early spring the Student Elections take place nationwide, during which students vote for their representatives.

All Student Unions in Greece are members of the "National Student Union of Greece" (ΕΦΕΕ - Εθνική Φοιτητική Ένωση Ελλάδας).

Ireland

Most of Ireland's universities and colleges[2]have students' unions which were established to represent the students in the context of internal college issues and on wider student related issues and also a means of solidarity with other movements globally. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world An on going campaign of virtually every students' union in Ireland is to prevent the reintroduction of tuition fees which were abolished in 1995. Most of the students' unions are affiliated with the Union of Students in Ireland. The Union of Students in Ireland (Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn is the national representative body for third-level Students' unions in Ireland. The students' unions are operated in accordance with the rules set down in their constitution which invariable enumerates a strong democratic and inclusive procedure for the governance on the union.

India

India has developed a complex tradition of student politics dating from the era of Congress Party domination. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. Student unions are organised both within universities, like the Student Council of IISc and across universities, but affiliated with political parties, as in the case of NSUI, ABVP, SFI, etc. The Student Council of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India is an elected body of the Institute student community The latter compete in elections to control posts in the former. Examples of activist unions include the Delhi University Students Union. The Delhi University Students Union, generally abbreviated DUSU, is the umbrella student organisation at the University of Delhi.

Japan

In Japan, the student body is called 学生自治会 (gakusei-jichi-kai). In Japanese, the word 学生自治会 (gakusei-jichi-kai) means students' self-government-organizations. The student body in Japan promotes extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities are activities performed by Students that fall outside the realm of the normal Curriculum of school or university education Usually, a cultural association, 文化会 (bunka-kai), and a sports association, 体育会 (taiiku-kai), are included within a student body as autonomous organizations. A student belongs to one or more students' organizations, and he or she does extracurricular activities through these students' organizations. However, the extracurricular activities of universities and colleges have been declining since the 1990s. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999

Malaysia

Malaysia has 20 public institutions of higher learnings. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Each of them has one Student Representative Council (Malay: Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar or MPP) which is the ultimate legislative body among the students. The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the The MPP holds the highest administrative authority in the Student Union of each university. A general election is held every year, usually in September, to elect representatives to the Student Representative Council. The percentage of voter turn-outs are usually high (70% to 95%) largely due to enforcements from the universities' governance which at the same time acts as the Election Committee.

Every year, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education would set meetings and arrange programmes with all MPP. Nevertheless, each MPP has their own autonomous right to govern their own student body. The size of the MPP differs from each university, from as little as 12 person to as many as 48 person. Notable Student Representative Councils are the MPP of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and the MPP of Universiti Putra Malaysia. The UNIMAS Student Representative Council is the official Students' union of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS representing the interests of its members to Universiti Putra Malaysia Students Representative Council is a Students' union in Universiti Putra Malaysia which is responsible for students welfare and activity (note: There are no sabbatical officers in the Malaysian Students' Union system. All members of MPP are part-time officers)

Netherlands

There are several students' unions in The Netherlands which act as labor unions for students. The largest ones are VSSD in Delft and ASVA Studentenunie in Amsterdam. Delft is a city and Municipality in the province of South Holland (Zuid-Holland the Netherlands. Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west These students' unions are all members of LSVb, the national students' union. There's also a similar organization called ISO, which consists of several formal participation organizations, as well as ASVA Studentenunie and VSSD. The DNSA (Dutch National Students Association or ISO (Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg is one of two national representation and spokesman of students in the Netherlands at the Ministry of Education Both ISO and LSVb are members of ESIB. History On the 17th October 1982 seven National Unions of Students (NUSes from Norway the United Kingdom Sweden Iceland France Denmark and Austria gathered in Stockholm to create

There is also a Student Union at Twente University. It was founded in 1999, succeeding the 'Raad voor de Campusvoorzieningen' and the 'Campuscollege'. This Student Union is largely funded by the university and responsible for most activities not related to education, such as sports and culture. It is also an umbrella organization for close to 100 student organizations at the university. The board is not elected: any student can apply for a one-year term. Selection is performed by a subcommittee of the 'Raad van Toezicht'. The board consists of six members, all full time.

New Zealand

Students associations have a strong history in New Zealand of involvement in political causes, notably the Halt All Racist Tours campaign during the 1981 Springbok Tour. Halt All Racist Tours was a group set up in New Zealand in 1969 to protest Rugby union tours to and from Apartheid South Africa. All universities, and most polytechnics and colleges of education have a students association. Since the economic reforms of the 1990s and the introduction of user pays in tertiary education, students associations and the national body have shifted their focus to challenging inequities in the student loan scheme and high levels of student debt. Part-time work along side the introduction of internal assessment and the change of semester structure has been attributed to the declining involvement in extracurricular activities and a shift in focus of the student movement from mass protest to lobbying.

Previous to 1998 membership of Students' Associations was compulsory at all public Tertiary Education providers (universities, polytechnics and colleges of education). In 1997 the right-wing National party proposed the Voluntary Student Membership amendment to the Education act which would have made membership of Students' Associations voluntary at all Tertiary Education Providers. The New Zealand National Party ("National" or "the Nats" currently forms the second-largest (in terms of parliamentary seats Political party Voluntary student unionism (VSU is a policy under which membership of &ndash and payment of membership fees to &ndash University student organisations is voluntary

However the National Party relied on support from the centrist New Zealand First party to pass legislation. New Zealand First is a Political party in New Zealand. It has had members in the New Zealand House of Representatives since 1993 The New Zealand First party preferred that Tertiary Students themselves choose whether their provider should be voluntary or complusary and pushed through a compromise to the amendment that allowed for a Compulsory Vs Voluntary referendum to be held at every public Tertiary Education Provider. The amendment also allowed for subsequent referendums which could not be held until at least two years had passed since the previous referendum and only if a petition was signed by 10% of the student populace.

The first wave of referendums were held in 1999, in which several Polytechnics and two Universities (the University of Waikato and the University of Auckland) elected to become voluntary. The University of Waikato ( Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato) is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964 The University of Auckland (Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau is New Zealand 's largest University. In 2002 a second referendum was held at the University of Waikato and students choose to return to compulsory student membership. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Similar referendums at Auckland University in 2001, 2003 and 2005 have all elected to retain voluntary student membership. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Most of New Zealand Tertiary students' associations are confederated under the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations. The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations (NZUSA is a representative body that advocates for the interests of tertiary students in New Zealand.

Norway

In Norway, every university is instructed and required by law to have a Student Union elected by the pupils/students at the school. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional The goal for every Student Union is to improve their school environment through encouraging social, cultural and other extracurricular events that is happening in the local community. The student unions in Norway is governed by a Board of Directors which is elected directly from the Student Council. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional

Portugal

In Portugal, every university, polytechnic institute and any other higher education schools has their own students' unions. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Union organizations are generally aimed to organize and promote extracurricular activities such as sports and culture events, parties, and academic festivities. At the same time, they also act as "labour unions for students" promoting and defending the student's points of view and rights, and dealing with the teaching institutions and the State's education agencies policies. A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming The oldest and biggest students' union of Portugal is the Associação Académica de Coimbra (founded in 1887) which belongs to the students of the University of Coimbra. This article is for the student's union of the University of Coimbra for its autonomous professional football organization see Associação Académica de Coimbra - O Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The University of Coimbra (UC ( Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra, pron

Sweden

Main article: Swedish National Union of Students

At Swedish universities, students' unions are responsible for representing the students in evaluation of the education and decision-making within the universities. The Swedish National Union of Students ( Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer, SFS is an Umbrella organisation of Students' unions at Higher education This article contains a list of Swedish universities and University colleges is based on the Higher Education Ordinance of 1993 (as amended until January 2006 The union normally holds about one-third of the votes within every decision making body and thus holds a great deal of power.

Membership is mandatory by law. Students pay a membership fee usually between €20 and €40. The unions are usually governed by a general assembly comprising of elected representatives. Students' unions generally provide counselling services to its members and publishes their own magazines or newspapers. A school counselor is a Counselor and Educator who works in schools and have historically been referred to as " guidance counselors " or " Magazines, periodicals or serials are Publications generally published on a regular schedule containing a variety of articles, generally A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. Large universities often have several students' unions, where the smaller students' unions only provide basic services. Larger students' unions often own and run their own facilities at the university such as shops, restaurants and night clubs. Which students' union a student belongs to is decided by the course of study, and competing for members is as such not possible. Many students' unions, but not all, are affiliated with the Swedish National Union of Students. The Swedish National Union of Students ( Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer, SFS is an Umbrella organisation of Students' unions at Higher education

See also: Nations at Swedish universities

United Kingdom



In universities in Great Britain students' unions are constituted under Section 2 of the Education Act 1994. The student nations or nationer at the two ancient universities in Uppsala and Lund, of which there are now thirteen at each university are the oldest student See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Education Act 1994 is an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom under John Major's government The ultimate purpose of students' unions is to democratically represent the interests of their members. Students who resign their membership may still use Union social facilities provided (often the main or only such facilities available) since they are for the benefit of the students of the institution, not just Union members.

Although "students' union" is by far the most common name adopted by these organisations in the UK, seven (including Exeter, Aston, Liverpool and Birmingham) are named Guilds of students while the term student association is also used at some institutions, particularly in Scotland, where the ancient universities used to have a pair of segregated student unions for men and women and/or had separate "unions" for social activities and "students' representative councils" for representational matters (an arrangement that still exists at the University of Glasgow). The University of Exeter (usually abbreviated as Exon for post-nominals) is a University in the South West of Aston University is a "plate glass" Campus university situated on a 40- Acre (0 The University of Liverpool is a University in the city of Liverpool, England. The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a British red brick University located in the city of Birmingham Ancient university is a term used to describe the medieval and renaissance universities of England, Scotland and Ireland that have The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews When these were amalgamated the term student association was introduced.

The vast majority of UK students' unions are affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS). The National Union of Students ( NUS) is the main confederation of Students' unions that exist inside the United Kingdom. In addition to lobbying, campaigning, debating and carrying out other representative activities, most students' unions facilitate "student activities" (societies, volunteering opportunities, and sport) peer led support (through advice centres, helplines, job shops and more), and social venues to bring their members together. Most unions receive some funding through an annual allocation, also called the block grant, from their educational institution. Many unions supplement this income from commercial sales from their venues, shops, and marketing revenue.

The oldest students' union in Britain is St Andrews, founded in 1864. The University of St Andrews is the oldest University in Scotland and third oldest in the English-speaking world, having been founded between Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The oldest in England is believed by many to be King's College London Union Society, founded in 1889. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Britain's oldest students' union building, which is also the world's oldest students' union building, is the purpose-built Teviot Row House at the University of Edinburgh, built in 1889. The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The oldest in England is believed to be the Imperial College Union building in Beit Quad built between 1910-11 and designed by Sir Aston Webb. Imperial College Union is the Students' union of Imperial College London. Sir Aston Webb, RA, FRIBA, ( May 22 1849 - August 21 1930) was an English Architect, active in The two largest students' union buildings in the United Kingdom are at the University of Bristol and the University of Sheffield. the University (or derivatives but lower-case when referring to many universitiesor universities The University of Sheffield is a research University, located in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England.

Influence

Although the Conservative government under John Major attempted to severely reduce the influence of students' unions in Britain, the NUS and individual students' unions managed to successfully lobby against the moves to restrict their political activities. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Sir John Major KG CH ACIB (born 29 March 1943 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The National Union of Students ( NUS) is the main confederation of Students' unions that exist inside the United Kingdom. The then Education Secretary, John Patten aimed to end the 'closed shop' and ensure students would have to join their union (opt-in) rather than automatically becoming a member. In North America a closed shop is a Business or industrial factory in which union membership (often of a specific union and no other is As many unions receive funding based upon membership levels this threatened their ability to achieve their core business. In 2004, lobbying by the NUS against a bill to introduce variable student fees in English and Welsh universities contributed towards the Labour government's majority being slashed to just five in the Commons vote on the bill. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " For other uses see Bill. A bill is a proposed new law introduced within a Legislature that has not been ratified, adopted The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords However, the passing of this bill as the Higher Education Act 2004 has led to some observers suggesting that students' unions in the UK have been "broken". The Higher Education Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which introduced several changes to the Higher education system in

Law relating to students' unions

The role of students' unions is enshrined in the Education Act 1994 which requires educational institutions to have a Code of Practice and publicise the ability to opt-out from membership without forfeiting access to the majority of union services. The Education Act 1994 is an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom under John Major's government The Act also requires that Unions have a written constitution and that elections to major union offices are held by a secret ballot of the membership. The Act states that if a petition signed by a minimum number of students (the threshold cannot exceed 5%) is lodged then a referendum must be held on whether or not to end one of the union's affiliations. Students' unions are exempt charities. Students' Union funds from their allocated block grant are subject to ultra vires law and can not be spent on any campaign on issues other than those that affect the students they represent in their capacity as students. Ultra vires is a Latin phrase that literally means "beyond the powers"

Scotland

The oldest students' union in Scotland is in St Andrews founded in 1864 and the world's oldest students' union building is the purpose-built Teviot Row House at the University of Edinburgh, built in 1889. The University of St Andrews is the oldest University in Scotland and third oldest in the English-speaking world, having been founded between Teviot Row House (colloquially known as just "Teviot" pronounced "Tee-vee-ot" is one of the Student Union buildings at Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889, Students' Representative Councils were set up at the ancient universities of Scotland. The ancient university governance structure in Scotland is the organisational system imposed by the Universities (Scotland Acts, a series of Acts of Parliament A Students' Representative Council represents student interests in the government of a University, School or other educational institution The ancient universities of Scotland are medieval and renaissance universities that continue to exist until the present day All students are eligible to elect members to the SRC unless they opt out under the Education Act 1994, and the President of the SRC is often a member of the University Court, the governing body of a Scottish Ancient. The Education Act 1994 is an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom under John Major's government A University Court is an administrative body of a University in the United Kingdom. Where separate students' unions still exist (for example at the University of Glasgow), they operate as private members' clubs. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews At other universities, the SRC and the former union or unions have been combined into a single students' association.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, students' unions operate in a similar way to those in Britain, except that they cannot exclusively be members of NUS. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of At the height of the Troubles in 1972, a bilateral agreement between the National Union of Students UK and the Union of Students in Ireland, decided that all student unions within Northern Ireland would hold membership of both organisations, through a new group called NUS-USI. The National Union of Students ( NUS) is the main confederation of Students' unions that exist inside the United Kingdom. The Union of Students in Ireland (Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn is the national representative body for third-level Students' unions in Ireland. NUS-USI, the Student movement in Northern Ireland was formed in 1972 by Bilateral agreement between the National Union of Students of the The move was an attempt to promote student unity despite the sectarian divide and the arrangement is still in place.

Officers

In a British students' union a sabbatical officer is a full-time paid officer elected by the students from their membership. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The sabbatical officers are generally trustees of the students' union. Trustee is a Legal term that refers to a holder of property on behalf of a beneficiary. Many students' unions also have unpaid officers who continue as students during their term of office. Some of these non-sabbatical officers may sit on the Executive Committee of the Union, or on the Union Council.

British Students' Unions commonly include variants on the following offices:

  • President or General Secretary
  • Vice-President (Services) or Services Officer
  • Vice-President (Welfare) or Welfare Officer
  • Vice-President (Education), Education Officer, Academic Affairs Officer or Educational Campaigns Officer
  • Treasurer (or Finance Officer)
  • Press and Publicity or Communications Officer
  • Entertainments, commonly known as Ents Officer
  • Athletic Union President (or Sports Officer)
  • LGBT or sometimes LGB Officer
  • Environment and Ethics Officer
  • Equal Opportunities or Liberation Officer
  • Women's Officer
  • Racial Equality or Black Students' Officer
  • Societies, Clubs & Societies or Clubs, Societies and Associations (CSA) Officer
  • Campaigns or Policy and Campaigns Officer
  • Student Community Action Co-ordinator (SCA Co-ordinator)
  • RAG Chair (or RAG Officer)
  • Accommodation Officer

United States



In the United States, these groups are often known as student government or "Associated Students. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. The term General Secretary (alternatively First Secretary) denotes a leader of various unions parties churches or associations An Athletic Union or Athletics Union (AU usually refers to the group of student Sports clubs within a University or other institute of Higher education LGBT (also GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender / transsexual University Rag societies are student-run charitable fundraising organisations that are widespread in the United Kingdom and Ireland. University Rag societies are student-run charitable fundraising organisations that are widespread in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the " In the U. S. , the phrase "student union" often refers to a "student activity center" (also known as a "student center" or "student commons"), a building containing a "union" of many dining halls, game rooms, lounges, student offices, and other spaces for student activities. For the Sports Complex in Laredo Texas, see The Student Activity Center. In Set theory, the term Union (denoted as ∪ refers to a set operation used in the convergence of set elements to form a resultant set containing the elements of both sets At institutions with large graduate, medical school, and individual "college" populations, there are often student governments that serve those specific constituencies.

The largest students' union/center building is at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma,[3] however, it is unusual in the United States in that it combines the US terms of "student union" (meaning a "student activity center") and a "student government". The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For the Sports Complex in Laredo Texas, see The Student Activity Center.

Universities that call their legislative councils "Student Assembly" include Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, the College of William and Mary, and the State University of New York (SUNY). Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research Dartmouth College ( is a private, Coeducational University located in Hanover, New Hampshire, U The College of William and Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, also known as William & Mary or W&M) is a Public university

Officers

Structures

Many student governments are structured similarly to the United States Government, consisting of distinct executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State Alternatively, a parliamentary model is followed. A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which As a result of the particularities of university environments, these structures often include elements which are not found in the federal government (e. g. legislative veto, programming branches, initiative, recall, referendum). A legislative veto exists in governments that separate executive and Legislative functions if actions by the executive can be rejected by the legislature In some cases, student governments follow a corporate model where offices reflect business roles such as Vice President of Finance, Director, etc. A corporation is a separate legal entity usually used to conduct business

Also, many universities with significant graduate, law, and medical school programs have separate student governments for the graduate and undergraduate student bodies. A graduate school or ("grad school" is a school that awards advanced degrees such as doctoral degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned Similarly, multiple undergraduate student governments sometimes form to address specific facets of university decision-making. At the University of Texas, for example, students are served by three equal and independent student governance organizations: the Student Government represents students generally, but focuses on undergraduate student life matters; the Senate of College Councils represents undergraduate and graduate students in academic affairs; and the Graduate Student Assembly represents graduate students in both academic and student affairs. The areas of overlap among the three organizations leads to inevitable competition, which many commentators have suggested is healthy and leads to positive outcomes for the student body. Former Senate of College Councils chair Kate Nanney has recently written a History of the Senate of College Councils, which details the interactions of these groups over a period of more than 30 years.

Responsibilities

Within their capacity as representatives of the student body, student governments may fulfill a range of responsibilities, such as:

Relationship to the Institution

Most universities and colleges (both public and private) in the United States are governed by a Board of Trustees or Regents. A student society or student organization is an Organization, operated by Students at a University, whose membership normally consists only of Trustee is a Legal term that refers to a holder of property on behalf of a beneficiary. A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor Student governments tend to be chartered by the Board but, in the case of public universities operated by a State, may be recognized by the state legislature. A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government In the United States of America, a state legislature is a generic term referring to the legislative body of any of the country's 50 states. Their structure, purpose and responsibilities are usually established in a constitution ratified by the student body. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity Some states, such as California and Florida, specifically provide for "student body organizations" in their public institutions by statute. (e. g. Cal Education Code § 76060 (Community Colleges); Cal Education Code § 89300 (Universities)).

Student governments have historically been considered auxiliaries of the university to which they belong. Since ultimate responsibility over the direction of a university is usually vested in a Chancellor or President appointed by the Board, some conflicts may arise between Student Government and the university administration, especially in the area of fiscal matters. A Chancellor is the head of a University. Other titles are sometimes used such as President or Rector. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. In addition to a student government, many universities also establish governments for faculty (e. g. Faculty Senate) and staff (e. g. Staff Assembly). In such cases, there often exist links and dependencies between these bodies. Many colleges/universities also allow the student governments to control the student activities (student life) funds generated by the fees students pay each quarter/semester. This usually establishes a strong power for the governing body of students because control over money is power and strong influence.

Student government budgets range from as high as $30 million (the University of Colorado/Boulder) to less than a few thousand dollars. The University of Colorado at Boulder ( CU-Boulder, UCB officially Colorado and CU colloquially is the Flagship University Large public residential universities tend to enjoy the largest operational budgets, while commuter-based public colleges and private colleges tend to have the smallest budgets. More than 71 percent of American "SG" officers are compensated through salaries, stipends, scholarships, and tuition waivers, according to the SG Salary Survey. The American Student Government Association, the professional association for collegiate student govoernments, maintains a database of student government information including budgets, number of members, salaries, corporate structure and number of recognized clubs. The American Student Government Association (ASGA was founded in 2001 as America's first professional association serving collegiate Student Governments and Student Government

Most American student governments are "official, on-campus organizations" recognized by their institutions. But particularly in California, Minnesota, and Oregon, the "Associated Students, Inc. " are non-profit corporations that operate independently of the institution. They derive some of their funding through the sale of services such as "discount cards" that students can use at local establishments.

Average voter turnout in all 4,700 student governments nationwide is in the range of 2 to 4 percent, according to the ASGA SG databsae. This number is negatively skewed by poor participation overall in SG at the more than 2,000 American community colleges which have larger commuter and non-traditional populations and therefore have less emphasis on traditional student services and programs like student government. State universities and colleges tend to have a 10-15 percent voter turnout, while private colleges often have much higher totals, sometimes into 40 percent or higher, according to ASGA.

Most student government leaders serve one-year terms, but there are isolated examples of multi-year officers. This cyclical nature of student government officers often prevents them from attaining real influence on college campuses. By the time student leaders learn their roles, their terms of office are nearing completion.

Examples

Michigan State University

Main article: ASMSU

Michigan State's Student Assembly comprises one half of the ASMSU undergraduate student government, along with the Academic Assembly. Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, or guild of students is a Student Organization At MSU, the Student Assembly has control over student-life affairs, and controls three seats in the University Academic Governance System, as well as 96. 5% of the nearly $1. 3 million ASMSU budget. Budget (from French bougette, purse generally refers to a list of all planned expenses and revenues The number of representatives per college varies on the population of the college, like the United States House of Representatives. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate.

The ASMSU Student Assembly has five officers and forty-five staff members, with three of those being executive staff. The Chair, Vice-Chairperson of Internal Affairs, Vice-Chairperson of External Affairs, Vice-Chairperson of Student Funding, and Vice-Chairperson of Student Programming are elected each April by the newly-elected representatives. The Assembly usually - but not always - votes its own members to leadership positions. The staff members are hired by a Human Resources hiring committee. A committee (some of which are titled instead as a "Commission" or other terms discussed below in) is a type of small Deliberative assembly that is usually intended They include the Director and Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs, the Director of Community Affairs, the Director of Legal Services, and the Director of Student Defenders. Three of these staff members, the Director and Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs and the Director of Community Affairs, make up the E-Staff, a lobbying group that works closely with the ASMSU Academic Assembly Director of Education Policy to lobby the Michigan State Legislature on behalf of the almost 40,000 undergraduate students of Michigan State University. The Michigan Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Michigan. As of May 2006, the ASMSU Student Assembly is in its 43nd session.

Structure

Below is the basic structure for the ASMSU Student Assembly. For the entire organizational flowchart, please see the article on ASMSU

Student Assembly
47 elected seats
18 appointed seats
Student Assembly Chair
\swarrow
\downarrow
\downarrow
 \searrow
Vice Chair for
Internal Affairs		 Vice Chair for
External Affairs		 Vice Chair for
Programming		 Vice Chair for
Funding
Freshman Class Council
Senior Class Council		 Legislative Affairs
Community Affairs		 Programming Board Funding Board
Legal Services
Red Cedar Log Yearbook

University of Michigan

The Michigan Student Assembly is the University of Michigan's central student government. A flowchart is a Schematic representation of an Algorithm or a stepwise process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds and their order by connecting Michigan State University ( MSU) is a co-educational public Research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States. __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States. Lobbying includes all attempts to influence Legislators and officials whether by other legislators constituents or organized groups __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States. __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States. Funding or financing is to provide capital (funds which means money for a project a person a business or any other private or public institutions A freshman, fresher, fish, or frosh is a first-year student in an educational institution Lobbying includes all attempts to influence Legislators and officials whether by other legislators constituents or organized groups East Lansing is a city in the US state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital Funding or financing is to provide capital (funds which means money for a project a person a business or any other private or public institutions Most liberal democracies consider that it is necessary to provide some level of legal aid to persons otherwise unable to afford legal representation A yearbook, also known as an annual is a book to record highlight and commemorate the past year of a School or a book published annually The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research It is composed of the Assembly, the Steering Committee, and the Central Student Judiciary.

The Assembly represents both undergraduate and graduate students, where the number of representatives per college varies on the population of the college. The College of Literature, Science and Arts (LSA) has almost half of the seats on the assembly (19), since it is by far the university's largest college. Following that is the Rackham Graduate School (7), Engineering (6), Business (3), as well as several schools with single student representation.

MSA is governed by a president and vice-president who are popularly elected by the student body at-large. Each college at the University of Michigan is given a representative number of seats (based on enrollment figures). Each representative on the Assembly was voted on by popular vote of their college or school. Elections for representatives and officers are highly competitive.

The executive positions include the President, Vice President, Student General Counsel, Treasurer, and Chief of Staff.

The 19 committees and commissions of MSA accomplish much of the work on the Assembly. These range from the External Relations Committee, to the Peace and Justice Commission, to the Budget Priorities Committee to the Voice Your Vote Commission. The Voice Your Vote Commission ("VYV" is a commission of the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA the University of Michigan 's student government The Assembly runs many successful programs, including Airbus (an inexpensive airport shuttle service), a Rate Your Landlords website, Advice Online, a website with statistical information on every class and professor on campus, and is active in registering students to vote and get out the vote activities.

College of William and Mary

The Student Assembly of the College of William and Mary (SA) is the official student government of William and Mary. It is designed to represent all students at the college, both undergraduate and graduate. At William and Mary, the SA has control of over $500,000 in student activities fees, over $100,000 in reserve funding, and is the primary source of student representation to the college administration, the City of Williamsburg, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state

Structure

The SA is divided into three branches, executive, legislative, and judicial, much like the United States government. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The executive is headed by a President and Vice President, who run together on a ticket and are directly elected by all students each March. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. __FORCETOC__ For the Vice President of the United States, their roles and other information see Vice President of the United States. The executive branch also contains many non-elected officials, including a staff led by the Chief of Staff, a communications office, and many executive departments, such as the Department of Student Life and the Department of Public Affairs. In Politics, a chief of staff is the primary aide to a political leader or position

The legislative branch is divided into three parts: the Senate, the Undergraduate Council, and the Graduate Council. A senate is a Deliberative body, often the Upper house or chamber of a Legislature or Parliament. The Senate is the upper house; it is charged with writing legislation that distributes student activity funds, expressing the will of the student body, and organizing the internal structure of the SA. Also, it confirms the principal officers of the executive departments and independent agencies. It is made up of 16 undergraduate students (four from each class), and 6 graduate students (one from the five graduate schools, plus an at-large seat). The Undergraduate Council consists of officers from each undergraduate class: a President, Vice President for Advocacy, Vice President for Social Affairs, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Graduate Council consists of officers from each graduate school. Only the Senate can pass binding legislation; however, the Councils may veto constitutional amendments.

The judicial branch is the Review Board, which resolves disputes between all bodies. It functions much like the Supreme Court of the United States, in that it is a panel of justices deciding cases. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. There are six associate justices and one Chairman, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate every year.

Finally, there are three independent agencies, not affiliated with any branch: the Elections Commission, led by a powerful Chairman and charged with overseeing the successful implementation of elections every semester, the Agency for Internal Affairs, which deals with matters internal to the SA, and the First Year Council, which orients freshmen to the SA. There are also various independent class councils such as the 2008 Class Council, which consist of students who want to help class officers plan events; these councils are not officially a part of the SA.

As of the now, the Assembly is in its 315th session (the numbering represents the number of years since the founding of the College), or its 93nd year (the organization itself being founded in 1915).

References

  1. ^ http://www.utu.fi/en/studying/studies/visiting.html
  2. ^ Although there's a difference between 'college' and 'university' the words have become almost synonymous in informal speech
  3. ^ ANSTHE, Oklahoma State University, retrieved April 23, 2006

See also

External links

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