The abbreviation AStA stands for „Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss“, which translates to „student union executive committee. AStA is the executive institution within the entity of the student body. Its legitimisation comes of the appointment by the students’ assembly, which again consists of 15 students itself. The AStA’s main task is the representation of the students’ interests opposite the University on the one hand and opposite external entities on the other, such as the community, politics or cultural institutions. The mandate for the representation of students’ interests derives from act of law within the states’ University Legal Code. The law for the German State of Hessen states that a students’ body may govern and administer itself under certain predetermined legal frameworks.

Abridgement of the University Legal Code for Hessen (HHG):

• 77 – Duties of the students’ body
• The students’ body will govern its own affairs. It will partake in the self-governance of the University.
• The students’ body has the following duties:

1. Representation of the entirety of its students’ within its legal barriers
2. Representation concerning all political matters within varsity
3. Administration of its students’ economic and social matters, if not administered by other institutions or the student union
4. Facilitation of national and international student-connections
5. Facilitation of the students’ political education and civic sense of responsibility
6. Endorsement of the students’ cultural and artistic interests
7. Facilitation of the students’ athletic affairs, if not provided by the University

The so called “Hessisches Hochschulgesetz” or HHG states the legal framework of the students’ body self-governance-code. In addition to the abridgement seen above, it also sets the rules for the division of powers, self-governance competence and the control of legality.

The division of powers at the RheinMain University is explained below:

Students’ parliament or “StuPa” (legislative body)

• Highest legislative entity, consisting of 15 representatives (students)
• Directly elected through annual varsity panel elections (in December)
• Legislative term (annual from April 1^st – March 31^st)

Students’ union executive committee or “AStA” (executive body)

• Four representatives (students)
• Elected or impeached by the students’ parliament
• No specific legislative term, but annually approved by the students’ parliament
• May install so called referees to manage specific duties

Council of elders and auditing committee (judiciary body)

• Each consisting of three students elected by the students’ parliament
• Auditing of the correct fulfilment of duties
• Act as a consulting body of last resort
• Legislative term (annual from April 1^st – March 31^st)

Hence the execution of all duties, for example the representation of interests, concerning the students’ entirety is incumbent upon the Students’ union executive committee. The four executives of the committee are legally liable for their actions. The broad spectrum of duties is very extensive and can be subsequently summarised:

• Varsity politics and political education (networking)
• Mobility (e. g. Student public transportation)
• Culture and arts (e. g. theatre)
• Counselling (e. g. for international students or legal advice)
• Ordinary services (e. g. copy and print or distribution of teaching aids)

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