About CUSG
The University of Colorado Student Government or CUSG, (formerly the University of Colorado Student Union, UCSU), is the student body government for the University of Colorado at Boulder and is the most financially powerful and autonomous student government in the nation. CUSG creates, implements and oversees a $36 million budget generated by student fees and other revenue to operate the CUSG Cost Centers. CUSG also serves as the liaison between the student body and university administration. In accordance with the 1985 Chancellor’s Autonomy Agreement, the Chancellor has vested authority in CUSG for the expenditure of collected student fees and earned income. The student government has three branches — Executive, Legislative and Judicial — which are governed by the student-adopted Constitution.
The Executive Branch represents students to University administrators. Executive staff members regularly meet with administrators, and serve as representatives on behalf of students to municipal and state government authorities. The duties of the Executive branch shall include but not be limited to:
1. Presentation of the student fee budget to the Board of Regents
2. Veto power of Legislative Council legislation.
3. Introduction of measures to the legislative bodies.
4. Appointment of a Financial Joint Board Chair.
5. Appointment of Representative council members to the Joint Boards.
6. Appointment of directors of all commissions.
The Legislative Council is divided into two houses: the Council of Colleges and the Representative Council. The Legislative Council President and two Vice presidents, elected internally from each house, preside over all Legislative Council meetings. In accordance with the bylaws and the constitution, the responsibilities of Legislative Council consist of the following:
1. Appoint, ratify, remove, and de-ratify Joint Board members and Representative Council appointments to the Joint Boards;
2. Allocate money to student groups;
3. Initiate referendum, initiate policies, review student fee budgets, and establish priorities for the Joint Boards;
4. The Legislative council can override an Executive veto by 2/3 vote of the entire Council.
The Appellate Court acts as the judicial branch of CUSG, functioning with seven justices appointed by the Executive branch and ratified by the Legislative Council. Areas of jurisdiction are:
1. The Appellate Court shall have final authority on questions of constitutional interpretation for CUSG when such questions are submitted by any student.
2. All decision by the Court shall be binding and valid on all affected parties.