LSU Student Government

LSU Student Government, sometimes referred to as LSU SG, is the official student government association of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. It is the voice of the LSU student body on matters ranging from university administration to parking and transportation, from academic affairs to student life. LSU SG touches every part of student life on campus, both in the spotlight and in the less known spaces where University policy is created.

With regard to every policy that the University puts into effect, representatives of LSU SG not only advocate student needs and rights but also have integral roles in the development of these policies. Louisiana State University administrators rely on Student Government for feedback and support on new initiatives, policies, and programs. LSU SG appoints members to sit on numerous university regulatory commissions with administrators to make sure that student input is spread across the university spectrum.

In addition to the roles of advising and advocating, SG controls approximately $5.5 million of student and state funding each year to support student initiatives such as the LSU Student Technology Fee, student organization support through PSIF, ORF, and other funding programs, the Coca-Cola fund for new initiatives, and the SG Newspaper Initiative that provides free copies of The Advocate, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times.

Structure
Much like the United States Government, LSU Student Government is divided into three major branches; Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. LSU SG is headed by the Student Body President and the Student Body Vice President, elected to office during the spring semester of each academic year. A College Council system is also established to designate members of SG to the duties of representing specific academic colleges. Additionally, a Student Union Board representative is elected each spring to represent student interests and oversee programs and regulations of the LSU Student Union (activity building).

The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch executes all programs, initiatives, and legislative policies of LSU Student Government. It is made up of the Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, and appointed members of the Executive Staff. The Executive Branch is typically divided into 8-10 departments that spearhead specific initiatives and programs for each area of student life. These departments usually include the Department of Academics, Department of Athletics, Department of Communications, Department of Finance, and the Department of Student Rights & Welfare. Departmental staff typically include one Director and one Assistant Director. In addition to these departments, the President and Vice President also appoint members to their Executive Cabinet including the Executive Advisor, Executive Assistant, Executive Secretary, and Chiefs of Staff.

The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch, more appropriately known as the Student Senate, is the official policy-making body of LSU SG. Members of the Senate are elected each fall and spring semester during election season, whereas a Senator's term is defined by either a half-seat (one semester) or a full seat (two semesters). Senators are members of their respective College Councils and represent the interests of the students within those colleges. The Legislative Branch is headed by the Speaker and the Speaker Pro-Tempore, elected by the Senate each year. Legislative staff, including the Secretary, Undersecretary, Parliamentarian, and Aids, are either elected by the Senate or appointed by the Speaker each year.

The Senate is divided into six standing committees, which perform most of the specialized focus work of the Senate. Each committee specializes in one of the six key areas of Student Government and student life, and each Senator is appointed to only one standing committee. Committees serve as a filter system for legislation and are the first step for bill approval and enactment. In committee, Senators discuss a bill for the first time and have the option to amend it, report it favorably to the full Senate, or to defer (kill) it. The six standing committees of the Student Senate include Academics, Athletics and Administration (AAA), Finance (FIN), Governmental Relations (GR), Housing, Infrastructure, and Technology (HIT), Rules (RUL), and Students' Rights and Welfare (SRW).

The Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch acts as an independent mediator of disputes arising within LSU Student Government and as the ultimate interpreter of all documents and acts governing and transmitting from SG as a whole. Divided into the Trial Court and the University Court, members of the Judicial Branch hear cases and controversies that are brought to it by aggrieved parties.

The Trial Court Judge, appointed by the Student Body President, oversees all complaints and serves as a filter that passes potential cases on to the University Court. The University Court is made up of eight justices; three justices appointed by the Student Body President, four justices elected by the student body (2 in the spring elections, 2 in the fall elections), and one non-voting justice designated by the LSU Dean of Students. The Chief Justice, who heads the Judicial Branch, is elected by University Court members each year. The Chief Justice may appoint staff to the Judicial Branch, including the Public Defender and Solicitor General positions and various judicial aids.

College Councils

College Councils are established as bodies of service to the students of their specific academic colleges. These councils represent the interests of students directly to deans and department offices, college staff and counselors. No two councils are alike, and it is the duty of each council to determine the desires of their peers. There are thirteen college councils, each composed of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer in addition to the Senators within it. These positions are elected by the student body during the spring semester. Councils in this system include the colleges of Agriculture, Art & Design, Arts & Sciences, Basic Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, the Graduate School, Mass Communication, Music & Dramatic Arts, UCAC, UCFY, and the Veterinary Medicine school.

Elections
Student Government elections are held each fall and spring semester, most notably the largest election held in the spring. Historically the student body participation percentages have been relatively low, with the Greek population having the largest influence. However, spring elections over the past few years have shown voter turnout to be within 18-25% of the entire student body (undergraduate and graduate students). Voting is done through the online student database known as PAWS.

Elections are overseen by the LSU Student Government Election Board, headed by the Commissioner of Elections. Working as a division of the Executive Branch, the commissioner is appointed by the Student Body President, and appoints the members of the Election Board. The Board is the official mediator of any disputes during the elections that arise from candidates violating the Election Code. Established by the Election Board, the Election Code is a set of rules that dictate the process and limits of the election season.

Other Divisions of Student Government

Freshman Leadership Council
Established as an intro to campus leadership and involvement, the Freshman Leadership Council is a group of freshmen who help to serve all aspects of Student Government in carrying out initiatives and programs. The Council selects a limited number of applicants each year to serve the freshmen of LSU and shadow members of SG to determine their desired path of leadership throughout their campus career. Recent activities have included a homeless awareness event, election candidate forums, and "Bus Hoppings" to increase LSU Bus Route efficiencies. FLC is led by a Director (often known as an Assistant Director of Programming) appointed under the Executive Branch.

Students On Target
Students on Target is charged with the mission of providing the LSU community with information that will assist them in making positive choices regarding alcohol. This innovative organization uses the mediums of music and art to spread its message by holding large-scale on-campus concerts and activities to promote "A good time not wasted". SOT is led by a Director (often known as an Assistant Director of Programming) appointed under the Executive Branch.

Students on Target's major events include the Battle of the Bands, a competition in the fall semester between local aspiring artists, and Groovin' On The Grounds. Groovin' is the largest, non-athletic event held on campus. Each spring, thousands of attendees crowd the LSU Parade Grounds for a musical concert put on solely for the LSU student body. Historically the concerts have lasted all day and/or all night, and have included musical acts from Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, Wyclef Jean, Chevelle, and Chamillionaire.

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