Students' union

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

A students' union, student government, student leadership,or student council is a student organization present in many elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities. In the later, said organization is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social and organizational activities of the student body. At many institutions, the students' union is a formally-organized group analogous to a labour union.

Many students' unions are run by students for students, independent of the university. The purpose of the organization is to represent students' views within the university and sometimes on local and national issues. It is 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.

Many students' unions are highly politicised bodies, and often serve as a training ground for aspiring politicians. 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. Some unions, however, are largely nonpolitical, and instead focus on providing on-campus recreation and retail facilities for students.

Students' unions often officially recognize and allocate a yearly budget to other organizations on campus.

In some countries, postgraduate students are within the general students' unions, whereas in other countries they have their own National Postgraduate Representative Body.

Contents

[edit] Australia

(Main article: Student unionism in Australia)

In Australia, all universities have one or more student organizations. 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. Many have expressed concerns over the introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU).

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

[edit] Canada

In Canada, membership in a college or university students' union is mandatory. Included in Canadian students' tuition fees is anywhere from an additional $50-$300 fee to pay for the services of the union. The money raised from dues often supports a staff and office that helps students maintain a strong union over a period of time. Student elections usually happen around March as the student bodies elect officials who sometimes work through the summer, and then throughout the next year. Student voter turnout for student elections varies widely depending on the area of the country, and the size of the institution.

These not-for-profit student unions usually 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.

Most 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 student interests.

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 groups students from both levels of education, but is a minority.

The largest student union in Canada is the Alma Mater Society (AMS), at the University of British Columbia, with around 45,000 members.

[edit] Denmark

In Denmark the higher education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and university colleges of applied sciences (e.g. nursing and engineering schools or teachers' colleges). Universities are characterised by scientific research and the highest education based thereon. Universty 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 og Culture. There are 12 univerisites at the moment, but in 2006 there is a major merger process going on to make fewer, bigger institutions.

Every university has a student union (In Danish, Studenterråd). 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.

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. T

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.

[edit] Finland

In Finland the higher education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and universities of applied sciences (polytechnics). Universities are characterised by scientific research and the highest education based thereon. Universties of applied sciences are oriented towards working life and base their operations on the high vocational skill requirements set by it.

[edit] Universities - ylioppilaskunta

Every university has a student union (In Finnish, ylioppilaskunta). Membership is mandatory by law for all students studying for master's or bachelor's degree. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly (about 50 members) elected every second year using an open list -election. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized 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. They are 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.

The student unions are members of the Finnish Association of Student Unions (SYL) [1], which represents the students on the national and international levels (a member of ESIB). Part of the student unions are politically active, while in others, nations and subject-based groups are dominant in the general assembly. The question whether the student unions should take stances in the political life is open and each student generation finds its own answer.

[edit] Polytechnics / Universities of Applied Sciences - opiskelijakunta

Every university of applied sciences also has a student union (In Finnish, opiskelijakunta) 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.

The membership in opiskelijakunta differs from ylioppilaskunta. This is because the membership is not mandatory and every student can decide if he or she wants to join the student union. 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], which represents the student on the national and international levels (a member of ESIB). The student unions are not politically active and the candidate lists in general assembly elections are not divided into political parties such as it is usually in the universities.

[edit] Secondary education

The institutions of the secondary education (secondary high schools, lukio, and vocational schools) in Finland have student councils. They incorporate all the students of the institution but their status is locally and nationally still quite marginal. Such organizations should be heard in all matters pertaining to the education in the institution, but this is often not done. Though some of the oldest (very few of them still operational), dating back to the end of the 19th century, independent student associations in vocational schools are important as such. National organisation in vocational schools is still hampered by a recent reform in the system of Education, the birth of Polytechnics.

[edit] Reserve Officer School

The Finnish Reserve Officer School has a student council, which is interesting as a curiosity, being a democratically governed, autonomous organization of conscripts within a military structure. It has relatively high budget, in the range of 100.000 euros, financed by an association founded for this specific purpose.

See also: Student nation

[edit] France

The French higher education system is centrally organized, so that local university bodies enjoy of a restricted decision-making power. 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.

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 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.

[edit] Ireland

Most of Ireland's universities and colleges [5]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. 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 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.

Since 1998 there has been sustained developmnet of student councils is Irish post primary schools and aprox 56% of Irish Post Primary schools have local student councils.

In 2001 the Union of Secondary Students was founded as the National Umbrella body to organise and coordinate the national campaign efforts of the student councils. The Union of Secondary Students has a membership of 13% of post primary students in the republic of Ireland although this figure is ever increasing.

# ↑  Although there's a difference between 'college' and 'university' the words have become almost synonymous in informal speech

[edit] India

India, being one of the foremost democratic nations, has developed a complex tradition of student politics dating from the era of the Congress Party. Student unions and organizations are often affiliated with political parties, as in the case of NSUI, ABVP, SFI, etc. Due to recent cases of student unrest, universities in various states have started denying democratic student elections. However, with the growing usage of internet and the booming tech sector, Indian student union websites such as Student India.com have gained great following among university youth.

# ↑  Although there's a difference between 'college' and 'university' the words have become almost synonymous in informal speech

[edit] Japan

In Japan, the student body is called 学生自治会(gakusei-jichi-kai). The meaning of 学生自治会(gakusei-jichi-kai) is students' self-government-organizations.

The student body in Japan promotes extracurricular activities. 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.

[edit] Malaysia

Malaysia has 19 public institutions of higher learnings comprising of thirteen universities and six university-colleges. Each of them has one Student Representative Council (Malay: Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar or MPP) which is the ultimate legislative body among the students. The MPP holds the highest administrative authority in the Student Union of each university. A general election is held every year, usually in September each year, 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 40 person. Even though university-colleges are widely known to have smaller number of students (1000 to 3000 students), the MPP of University Malaysia Sarawak has only 12 person to lead a student body size of almost 7000 students in three huge campuses.

In secondary and primary schools, almost all student bodies are administered by the Prefectorial Board of each school - usually elected by the school management.

[edit] 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. 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. Both ISO and LSVb are members of ESIB.

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.

[edit] New Zealand

All universities, and most polytechnics and colleges of education have a students association.

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. 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 extra-curicular activities and a shift in focus of the student movement from mass protest to lobbying.

The Voluntary Student Membership amendment to the Education Act was passed by the right-wing National party in 1998, however with a compromise pushed by the centrist New Zealand First party that allowed each students' association the opportunity every to hold a referendum every two years on whether membership to the association is Compulsory or Voluntary. The first wave of referenda were held in 1999. Waikato Student Union and Auckland University Students Association were the only campuses to turn Voluntary. Today AUSA (Auckland University Students Association) is the only students association with Voluntary Student Membership.

The New Zealand University Students Association is a con-federation of most New Zealand students' associations.

[edit] Norway

In Norway, every school from elementary to university is instructed by law to have a Student Union elected by the pupils/students at the school. 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.

The Norwegian pupils democracy is based on the separation of powers, were the Student Union have all the legislative powers and the board of directors have the executive powers. The Student Union's resolutions is only counsultative to the schools princepal or headmaster.

[edit] Portugal

In Portugal, every university, polytechnic institute or any other higher education schools have their own students' unions. This organizations are generally aimed to organize and promote extracurricular activities such as sports and culture events, parties, and academic festivities. For the other side, they act also 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. 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.

[edit] Sweden

Main article: Swedish National Union of Students

At Swedish universities, students' unions are responsible for representing the students in evaluation of the education. Membership is mandatory by law. Students' unions generally provide counselling services to its members and publishes their own magazines or newspapers. 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.

See also: Nations at Swedish universities

[edit] United Kingdom

In universities in Great Britain students' unions are constituted under Section 2 of the Education Act 1994. All students are automatically members of the students' union unless they resign their membership, and the ultimate purpose of students' unions is to democratically represent the interests of their members.

The vast majority of UK students' unions are affiliated with NUS. 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 instititution. 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 oldest in England is believed by many to be University College London Union, founded in 1893.

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 oldest in England is believed to be the Union Building, home to the University of Birmingham Guild of Students. The two largest students' union buildings in the United Kingdom are at the University of Bristol and the University of Sheffield.

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). When these were amalgamated the term student association was introduced.

[edit] Reduction in 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 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. 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. 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"[citation needed].

[edit] Law relating to Students' Unions

Students' unions are exempt charities and therefore their involvement in politics is restricted by law. Students' Unions may only campaign on issues which affect the students they represent in their capacity as students.

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 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 enables 5% of the students in any union to demand a referendum is held to end one of the union's affiliations. Students' Unions may not in any event affiliate to organisations which spend funds on political campaigning of a type the union itself is not legally allowed to carry out.

[edit] 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. Under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889, Students' Representative Councils were set up at the four ancient universities of Scotland. All students are eligble 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. Where separate students' unions still exist (for example at the University of Glasgow), they operate as private members' clubs. At other universities, the SRC and the former union or unions have been combined into a single students' association.

[edit] Officers

In a British students' union a sabbatical officer is a full-time paid officer elected by the students from their membership. The sabbatical officers are generally trustees of the students' union.

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
  • 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 Officer (or Sports Officer)
  • LGB or LGBT Officer
  • Secretary (sometimes Vice-President (General Secretary))
  • Equal Opportunities or Liberation Officer
  • Clubs & Societies Officer
  • Campaigns Officer
  • Accommodation Officer

[edit] United States

In the United States, these groups are often known as student government. In the U.S., the phrase "student union" often refers to a "student activity center" (also know as a "student center" or "student commons"), a building containing a "union" of many dining halls, game rooms, lounges, and other spaces for student activities. At institutions with large graduate, medical school, and individual "college" populations, there are often student governments that serve those specific constituents.

The largest students' union building is at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma,[1] 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".

[edit] Alternative titles

There are several hundred names used for the student government in the United States. The following are amongst those commonly in use:

  • Student Assembly
  • Student Association
  • Student Body Association
  • Student Congress
  • Student Council
  • Student Faculty Council
  • Student Union
  • Associated Students
  • Associated Student Body
  • Associated Student Government
  • Consolidated Students
  • Student Government
  • Student Senate
  • College Government
  • United Student Body
  • Government of the Student Body
  • Class Officers

Most American law schools have a Student Bar Association that fulfills the roles of a student government.

[edit] Structures

Many student governments are structured similarly to the United States Government, consisting of distinct executive, legislative and judicial branches. Alternatively, a parliamentary model is followed.

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). Also, many universities with significant graduate programs have separate student governments for the graduate and undergraduate student bodies.

[edit] Responsibilities

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

  • Representing the interests and concerns of the student body and serving on college-wide committees made up of students, faculty, and administrators
  • Disbursing mandatory fees for student activities to clubs, organizations, and campus offices
  • Sponsoring campus-wide programs (e.g. Homecoming, concerts, parades, speakers, entertainment, etc.)
  • Chartering and regulating student organizations

[edit] 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. 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. Their structure, purpose and responsibilities are usually established in a constitution ratified by the student body. Some states, such as California, specifically provide for "student body organizations" by statute. 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.

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.

Student government budgets range from as high as $30 million (the University of Colorado-Boulder) to less than a few thousand dollars. Large public residential universities tend to enjoy the largest operational budgets, while commuter-based community 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. The American Student Government Association maintains a database of student government information including budgets, number of members, salaries, corporate structure and number of recognized clubs.

Most American student governments are "official, on-campus organizations" recognized by their institutions. But particularly in California, the "Associated Students, Inc." are non-profit corporations that operate independently of the institution. They derive much 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. 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 30 or 40 percent.

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.

[edit] K-12

Student governments are present in most K-12 school systems across the United States, most often named Student Council (StuCo), Student Government (StuGo), or Associated Student Body (ASB). In the majority of cases, these governments are either representative-based and modeled loosely after the U.S. Congress, or based on the Executive Branch of the United States, with a President, Vice-President, etc. Student representatives and officers are usually elected from and by the student body, although there may be prerequisites for candidacy or suffrage. In elementary schools, there are typically one or two student representatives per classroom and one presiding set of officers. However, many secondary schools have one set of officers per grade level.

K-12 student government exists for largely the same purpose as college-level SGs, but K-12 differs in complexity and power. Secondary school governments often have more independence and power than younger governments. Often a student government is overseen by a sponsor, which is usually a teacher at that particular school. Most governments have a constitutionon of some sort modeled after the U.S. Constitution and usually do not have a judicial branch. Depending on the amount of influence a student government may have they can sometimes be easily stifled by school administration, resulting in a belief by many members of the student body that the student council is powerless and irrelevant. Usually, it does control many areas of the student body, second only to the faculty of the school. If K-12 governments are perceived as powerless, elections for these positions are often reduced to popularity contests in which the traditional high school social classes become the most prominent voting blocks. However, changes in the way some schools conduct elections has helped downplay this phenomenon.

K-12 student governments usually do not have funding authority and generally must generate their operating funds through "fundraisers" such as car washes and bake sales. Some governments have a budget from the school that they must work within. More complex governments often found in private schools, sometimes do preside over the clubs and organizations on a campus.

In the U.S. Student Governments can join larger national or state associations, such as the National Association of Student Councils. Texas has the largest state organization (Texas Association of Student Councils) with over 4,000 student leaders attending its annual state conference every year.

[edit] Offices in the United States

In the United States, many student governments are set up in a fashion similar to the United States government. Student governments are often set up into three branches, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Positions include:

  • Executive branch: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Attorney General, Chief of Staff to the President
  • Legislative branch: Speaker of Senate, Deputy Speaker of Senate
  • Judicial branch: Chief Justice, Associate Chief Justice, Justices
  • Cabinet positions (directors of public relations, internal affairs, external affairs, communications, programming, etc.)

Many of the executive branch officers receive some sort of financial compensation for their work. At state universities, the most common form of compensation is cash salaries, at private colleges it is a partial scholarship, and at community colleges it is a partial tuition waiver. The highest-compensated state university president is at Washington State University, who enjoys a cash salary of nearly $18,000 annually. Community colleges receive far less, with the highest reported at Grossmont College in the range of $7,000.

However, in high schools spread throughout the United States, the student governments sometimes are made of three different sections: Executive Council, Class Council, and Commissioners (sometimes called Committee Heads). The Executive Council is made up of the

  • ASB President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer

The Class Council is just the class officers (ie. Class President, [class] Vice President, etc.). And, the commissioners are made up of interviewed students who make up the important aspects of campus events. The Commissioners are usually:

  • Pep (in charge of pep rallies and assemblies)
  • Activities (in charge of Homecoming and Class Competition)
  • Special Events (in charge of school dances)
  • Sound Technology (in charge of sound and all aspects of music)
  • Campus Organization (in charge of Multicultural Fair and Club Rush)
  • Student Teacher Relations (in charge of Teacher Appreciation Day)
  • Community Relations (in charge of Blood Drives)
  • Publicity (in charge of posters, publications, and all public relations)
  • Fine Arts (in charge of all events that are fine arts related)
  • Electronic Technology (in charge of the school website)
  • Cabinets and Committees (in charge of the school club [School Name] Cabinet and the committees [of prom, pep rallies, and others])
  • Video Technology (in charge of all videos, projectors, and any video related material)
  • Athletics (in charge of all sports events and such).

The Commissioners are sometimes the more powerful ones in these governments and make decisions that affect the student body as a whole while the presidents and class councils can sometimes be more for debate and representation.

In the US there are many different forms of student governments, these just being a few particular variations.

[edit] List of United States Student Governments

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] References

  1. ^ ANSTHE, Oklahoma State University, retrieved April 23, 2006

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Columbus State Community College Student Government Association

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