Student body president
Encyclopedia
The President of the Student Government (Also known generically as Student Body President) is the highest ranking officer of a student government or student union
association on the high school, college, or university level. Respected as one of the highest honored roles to achieve during academic studies, serving as President can enable a student to gain strong interpersonal, leadership, social, economic, and management skills. Employers may look highly upon an applicant who has served in this capacity.
A Student Govn't President is different from a Class President
. Class presidents only represent a specific class (grade) of students, while the body president is the highest ranking student in the school. Class presidents are common in middle and high schools. A class president in virtually non-existent at the college/university level due to the inclusion of different classes in day-to-day aspects of higher education. A close equivalent would be a Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior class representative (or senator).
In this role they may make appointments to student positions or boards, and may represent the university to other associations or bodies. For example, the student government presidents within the University System of Georgia
also serve on the state-wide Student Advisory Council of Georgia
.
Though supported by other officer positions (i.e. Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.), a president is expected to gain knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and in some cases, Robert's Rules of Order
.
power to the individual over any act passed by the student council. Some student council constitution
s and bylaws assign any "unlisted" powers to the President.
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
association on the high school, college, or university level. Respected as one of the highest honored roles to achieve during academic studies, serving as President can enable a student to gain strong interpersonal, leadership, social, economic, and management skills. Employers may look highly upon an applicant who has served in this capacity.
A Student Govn't President is different from a Class President
Class President
A class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
. Class presidents only represent a specific class (grade) of students, while the body president is the highest ranking student in the school. Class presidents are common in middle and high schools. A class president in virtually non-existent at the college/university level due to the inclusion of different classes in day-to-day aspects of higher education. A close equivalent would be a Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior class representative (or senator).
Duties and powers
The authority and responsibility of presidents vary according to their respected institutions. Students performing in this role typically serve a ceremonial and managerial purpose, as a spokesperson of the entire student body. The president may oversee their association's efforts on student activity events and planning, school policy support from students, budget allocation, fiscal planning, recognition of developing issues pertaining to students, and communication between faculty/staff and the student body.Duties
Duties usually include working with students to resolve problems, informing school administration of ideas emanating from the student body, and managing the student government in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer.In this role they may make appointments to student positions or boards, and may represent the university to other associations or bodies. For example, the student government presidents within the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
also serve on the state-wide Student Advisory Council of Georgia
Student Advisory Council of Georgia
The Student Advisory Council to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is composed of the Student Government Presidents of the 35 public colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia , organized to advise the Board of Regents, through the Chancellor, on issues that...
.
Though supported by other officer positions (i.e. Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.), a president is expected to gain knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and in some cases, Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...
.
Powers
Some schools vary in the powers for the president of their student governments, but many grant vetoVeto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
power to the individual over any act passed by the student council. Some student council constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
s and bylaws assign any "unlisted" powers to the President.
Election
The office holder typically serves one school year in most schools, but some may serve more than one term. Presidents, and sometimes along with their running mate, the Student Government Vice President, are generally elected via one of three methods:- By a general election of the student body at-large
- By the student council, usually out of its own membership.
- By the general student body, in elections held after the Student Council has been selected.
Successor
Usually in a democratic student government, such as the ones mostly seen in American colleges and universities, the Vice President succeeds to the position of President if the incumbent is unable to discharge his/her duties permanently, resigns, or is impeached by a student council or senate (Similar to that of the United States Government). In some schools if the student president vacates the office, the student council may vote on a new president.Famous Student Government Presidents
Some former student government president have become notable in the national or international spectrum for various reasons (e.g. political, social, etc.), such as:- Sam BrownbackSam BrownbackSamuel Dale "Sam" Brownback is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011, and as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 1996...
, Kansas State UniversityKansas State UniversityKansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States... - Eve Carson, UNC
- Larry CraigLarry CraigLarry Edwin Craig is a former Republican politician from the U.S. state of Idaho. He served 18 years in the U.S. Senate , preceded by 10 years in the U.S. House, representing Idaho's first district . His 28 years in the Congress rank as the second-longest in Idaho history, trailing only William...
, U of Idaho - Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
- Reince PriebusReince PriebusReinhold Reince Priebus is the chairman of the Republican National Committee. He is also a previous chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin....
, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater - Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
- Robert Smith VanceRobert Smith VanceRobert Smith Vance was a United States federal judge. He is one of the few judges in American history to have been assassinated as the result of his judicial service.-Early life and career:...
, University of Alabama - Hillary Clinton, Wellesley
Famous Presidential Candidates for the Student Body
- Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
- Shannen DohertyShannen DohertyShannen Maria Doherty is an American actress, producer, author and television director, known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers , as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff series 90210, and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed .-Early life and career:Doherty was born in Memphis,...
- Nick Clift
See also
- American Student Government AssociationAmerican Student Government AssociationThe American Student Government Association was founded in 2001 as America's first professional association serving and supporting collegiate Student Governments and Student Government Associations. ASGA was founded by Oxendine Publishing, Inc., which since 1983 has published magazines, books, and...
- Class PresidentClass PresidentA class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
- Massachusetts State Student Advisory CouncilMassachusetts State Student Advisory CouncilThe Massachusetts State Student Advisory Council is a democratic student organization, whose statewide Chairperson serves as a voting member on the Massachusetts Board of Education...
- Robert's Rules of OrderRobert's Rules of OrderRobert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...
- School CaptainSchool CaptainSchool Captain is a student appointed or elected to represent the school.This student, usually in the senior year, in their final year of attending that school...
- Student Advisory Council of GeorgiaStudent Advisory Council of GeorgiaThe Student Advisory Council to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is composed of the Student Government Presidents of the 35 public colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia , organized to advise the Board of Regents, through the Chancellor, on issues that...
- Student CouncilStudent councilStudent council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
- Student Government