The Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) is the undergraduate Student Government of Michigan State University. It is unusual amongst university student governments for its decentralized bicameral structure, its nonpartisan politics, and the relative ease of getting elected to one of its posts.
History
While ASMSU's roots go back nearly a century, the modern organization was formed in 1991. Before that MSU had two "rival" student governments: the Student Council, which had representation in the University Academic Council , but a limited budget, and the ASMSU Student Board , which collected tax dollars through a matriculation fee, but had no political say in the University Academic Governance system.
These two groups agreed to a merger in 1991. In the new constitution, the Student Council traded three of its seats on the Academic Council for three percent of the Student Board's budget. The Student Council joined the Student Board in its headquarters into the Student Services Building , and both organizations were united under the ASMSU banner.
Bicameralism
In the new structure the Student Board became the Student Assembly, and the Student Council became the Academic Assembly. Each Assembly had a Chair, and two respective Vice Chairs for Internal and External Affairs. The Academic Assembly, with over thirty seats on Academic Council, would have jurisdiction over academic affairs. The Student Assembly, with its immense budget, would have jutisdiction over student-life affairs. These two vague jurisdictions often come into conflict. The ASMSU committee, consisting of the two Chairs, the four Vice Chairs, two representatives from each Assembly, and the Association Director , decides which Assembly gets to debate a disputed bill. The Steering Committee may also decide to make important issues into a Joint Resolution , such as the bill that successfully lobbied for a day off on Martin Luther King Day.
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