The character of Pedro Sanchez runs for Class President in the 2003 film Napoleon Dynamite

A Class President is usually the leader of a class cabinet or organization within a Student Council at an elementary, junior high, high school, or college. Class Presidents are generally elected by the class. Class Presidents are different from the Student Body President in that they represent a only a specific class of students (Class of 2005, for instance) rather than the entire student body. Student Body Presidents generally lead and represent the whole of the student body. Both positions are commonly confused with each other. Napoleon Dynamite is a film directed by Jared Hess, based on his earlier short film, Peluca. ... A students union, student government, or student council is a student organization present at many colleges and universities, often with its own building on the campus, dedicated to social and organizational activities of the student body. ...

Duties & Term

The primary duties of the Class President usually include working with students to resolve problems, and informing school leaders (including the Principal) of ideas emanating from the class. The President also has the responsibility in leading class cabinet meetings and organizing student actitivies and events. The term of a Class President is one year in most schools. The student holding the office usually has the option of running again for the coming year.

Senior Class President

The Senior Class President is the leader of the senior class in a high school or college. He/she is sometimes responsible or participates with the planning in the events surrounding graduation. After graduation, the Senior Class President is sometimes put in charge of planning class reunions in the years ahead. Senior Class Presidents usually continue to have the honorary title of President beyond graduation.

In Popular Culture

The stereotype of the Class President in movies and television is sometimes that of a popular jock or prep. Typical story lines sometimes contain a nerd or underdog claiming the title from a more popular student. Characters in the role of Class President have included:

• Pedro Sanchez, played by Efren Ramirez, runs for Class President in the 2003 movie Napoleon Dynamite
• Zach Siler, played by Freddie Prinze Jr. is the popular jock and Class President in the 1999 film She's All That.
• Jessie Spano is the Class President at Bayside High School in TV's Saved by the Bell, played by Elizabeth Berkley