The topicality of the researched problem is in the fact that modern society needs educated, moral, pragmatic people who can make responsible decisions, who are able to cooperate, who is characterized by mobility, dynamism, constructive, who has a sense of responsibility for the fate of the country. Requirements for the modern school graduates are primarily concerned with the need to develop his social competence, cognitive competence, communicative information and reflective activity. The article briefly describes the conditions of the experimental work and results, aimed at the formation of social competence of students in the student government. As a result of the experimental work potential of student self-government as a factor of the formation of social competence of students were identified; a structural-functional model of social competence of students in the process of student government were developed; organizational and pedagogical conditions of effective formation of social competence of students in the process of student governments err implemented; criteria for the level of formation of social competence of students in the student self-government were defined. Materials of the article may be useful for the study of problems of competence among secondary school students, teachers, educators, who are responsible for the formation of students' competence, for refresher courses. Materials of the research can be used for developing guidelines for school staff which is involved in the formation of social competence of students.