Student Council began in the early 1930s with representative bodies established for both day and evening students; however during 1939/1940, one student council was formed to represent the entire student body. Student Council was first set up as a "parliamentary" form of student representation, with officers and members representing the different Colleges on campus. In the spring of 1976 (Minutes of March 13), Student Council revised its constitution to form a Student Government. The Student Government was formed in two parts. The first being an Executive branch with a president, vice-president, and cabinet members. The second, a Legislative branch, which remained Student Council composed of officers, committee chairmen, members representing the different colleges, and representatives at large. This form of governing is still practiced with the present Student Government.

The purpose of the Student Government is to provide the expression of a student voice on campus. Its mission demonstrates this idea, as follows:

To represent the students of Youngstown State University; to unite the interests of undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and staff; to provide leadership that promotes higher goals and ideals; and to provide for the most efficient and successful management of all student activities.1

Student activities and responsibilities of the Student Government include the following:

• Chartering undergraduate student organizations
• Conducting all student elections
• Enforcing Student Council rules, regulations, and legislative actions
• Budgeting and administering funds allocated to it by the Student Council Budget Committee