The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) at Stony Brook University is a governing body representing the undergraduate students of Stony Brook University. As with most student governments in the United States, one of USG's main functions is to recognize, fund and regulate student organizations. The USG is composed of an executive and a legislative branch; a judicial branch existed until a constitutional amendment removed it in 2019. Along with the Graduate Student Organization, USG is the only other organization authorized to distribute the Student Activity Fee (SAF) in a viewpoint-neutral manner. In accordance with State University of New York Policies and Procedures, the mandatory SAF provides the USG with an annual budget of approximately $3.1 million, independently of the state budget. USG's finances are managed by the Faculty Student Association (FSA), an auxiliary services corporation whose budget is independent of the university. The annual USG budget is presented for approval to the university's Vice President of Student Affairs, who reviews it on behalf of the university President. History Student Government has a long history at Stony Brook University. In 1959, the Student Polity Association was established in Oyster Bay, Long Island. In 2003 the SPA was succeeded by the USG which is the current student government of Stony Brook University. Student Polity Association The original student government was known as the Student Polity Association, Inc (Polity). Polity was established on May 8, 1959 when the Polity constitution was ratified by well over two-thirds of the student body. The name Polity comes from the original debate regarding student government. There were two opposing viewpoints, one argued for a Republican form of government, and the other for a Democratic form of government. Both sides drafted a constitution and presented them to the student body on April 22, 1959. A two-day constitutional convention was held from April 23 to April 24, at which both of these forms were discussed and debated. On April 28, 1959 a vote was held and the Polity constitution received the majority of votes. One of the main purposes of Polity was to distribute the Student Activity Fee (SAF). Prior to Polity creating the budget, the Faculty Student Association prepared the budget for student activities The first budget prepared by Polity was a total of $12,500. Decertification In the Spring 2001 semester, Polity was beset with two issues that resulted in a period of tense relations between the university and