The University of Michigan’s Central Student Government is an on-campus organization with the ability to impose change student life, funding and policy. Although the scope, focus and membership of the body have changed in recent years, its founding principles and administrative powers remain the same.
What is CSG?
CSG is the primary governing student body of the University, distinct from other elected bodies that represent specific academic units, such as LSA Student Government. CSG has three branches — legislative, executive and judicial — with representatives in the legislature and judiciary being elected to one-year terms by the student body during spring and fall elections. The elected roles include representatives from each individual school in the University. Additionally, an elected group of non-voting members in the legislative branch — known as ex-officios — represents particular subsets of the student body, including non-traditional students.
CSG’s purpose — as written in its constitution and compiled code — is to provide a forum for representation, academic freedom and collaboration. One of CSG’s main focuses is providing support for student organizations through the Student Organization Committee. The SOC has two parts: the Student Organization Funding Committee and Wolverine Consulting Group. The SOFC provides funding to existing organizations, while the WCG provides start-up funding and advising. CSG also provides grants, news subscriptions and AirBus shuttles to the student body.
Guided by their treasurer, the Student Assembly and executive branch prepare a budget each academic term, approving set amounts to be allocated to all expenditures. According to the compiled code, a minimum 51% of CSG’s budget must go towards funding SOC. As of 2026, CSG’s budget is sourced from a semesterly student fee of $11.19, of which CSG receives $9.52. This fee changes with student enrollment, meaning budgets fluctuate from year to year. In the 2025-26 school year, the budget was around $1.42 million, whereas for the 2019-20 school year, it was just under $1 million during the 2019-20 school year.
Recent CSG politics
Various political parties have formed and held power in CSG in recent years. In the current assembly, two major political parties — the Human Rights Party and EMPOWER Michigan — hold seats in the legislature and ran against each other for the 2026-27 executive ticket. HRP aims to promote progressive student advocacy and campus affordability, while EMPOWER is focused on student representation and building relationships between CSG and the student body.
HRP won the executive race in the March 2026 CSG election. LSA rising juniors Summit Louth and Naimah Perez were elected as president and vice president, respectively, following a2025 EMPOWER presidency. The Louth-Perez administration reflects a broader shift in CSG’s function towards becoming a forum for student advocacy on campus.
One of HRP’s founding values is advocating for the University to divest from Israel due to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza — which has killed more than 70,000 people and has been classified as a genocide by the United Nations and multiple human rights organizations.
. The HRP administration passed the Divest for Humanity Act in March, which calls on the University to investigate its financial ties to Israel and initiate divestment procedures. After being passed, former CSG President Eric Veal Jr. vetoed the act. However, the HRP administration was able to bypass the veto and request another vote by collecting 1,700 signatures for a petition.
The upcoming school year
Despite classes ending and the start of summer break, there’s no break for the Assembly. Currently, CSG is aiming to open discussion on ethics procedures in the Assembly and aiding in the University’s ongoing presidential search. With a new year ahead, there is still much for the Assembly to address and work on in anticipation of the incoming class of 2026.
Summer News Editor Caleb Obico can be reached at cobico@umich.edu.
