Mittelschüler-Kartellverband
The Mittelschüler-Kartell-Verband der katholischen farbentragenden Studentenkorporationen Österreichs or simply Mittelschüler-Kartellverband (MKV) is an Austrian umbrella organisation of Catholic male student fraternities (Studentenverbindung). It was founded in 1933 on 9 September. In contrast to umbrella organisations like, for example the "Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen", the fraternities of the MKV do not consist of students from universities but of students from the upper levels of Austrian grammar schools. Every Member of a fraternity in the MKV wears a ribbon as well as a specific cap, whose shape may vary according to the corporation, either coloured in  the fraternity's colours. Most commonly every corporation uses three specific colours. Currently more than 20.000 students or former students are members of more than 160 fraternities in the MKV. As the MKV was founded upon the federalistic principle, these fraternities are organised in 9 provincial sub organisations according to the official Austrian federal provinces. Principles. Every fraternity of the MKV has to be founded upon four principles: The fraternities of the Cartellverband historically do not practise academic fencing (Mensur) because it was forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church. The fraternities only accept men into the organisation. Relations. The MKV  itself is member of the Europäischer Kartellverband (EKV), a European umbrella organisation. The MKV has friendly relations with other umbrella organisations that are members of the Europäischer Kartellverband (EKV), especially with the Cartellverband der katholisch österreichischen Studentenverbindungen (ÖCV).