Cornell's shared governance bodies are an outgrowth of the unrest on campus in 1969, culminating in a mass meeting of over 7,000 people camped in Barton Hall for three days discussing conditions on campus.  Recommendations ensued, a result of the work of the constituent assembly, that a shared-governance system be established on campus which was open, representative and democratic. 

On March 17, 1970, the Board of Trustees voted to instruct the administration to see to the establishment of a University senate.  This gave place, eleven years later, to the present assemblies system of shared governance, approved by the Board of Trustees, with oversight responsibility residing in the President of the University.