Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch of Student government is the Student Senate. The purpose of the Senate is to closely represent the views and ideas of the 50,000+ students here at the University of Florida. The Student Senate performs tasks ranging from confirming Executive and Judicial appointments to passing Student Body Laws, Authorizations, and Resolutions. The Senate is also responsible for allocating the activity and service fees each year, which is currently well over 13 million dollars.

Most of these funds support the J. Wayne Reitz Union, Recreational Sports, Student Government, Student Legal Services, the Board of College Councils, and hundreds of Student run organizations.

The Senate is composed of 94 senators, each serving a one-year term 46 students are elected as senators in the Fall and 47 in the Spring. Elections are held twice each year, at the beginning each semester. Elections for the Senate President and President Pro Tempore are held both semesters.

Every student at the University of Florida is represented by multiple senators. The 47 senators elected in the Fall represent students by their geographic living areas on or off campus. The 47 senators elected in the Spring represent academic colleges.

Senate meetings are held every Tuesday evening in JWRU room 282 at 7:30 (7:00 during the Summer). All meetings are open to the public. Students are encouraged to attend and may sign up to speak during the public debate session. This time is specifically designed as an open forum for students to address the senators who represent them.

For questions about the Student Senate, or information on how to get involved, visit the Senate office, Room 305 of the Reitz Union.