Upload
mark-gardner
View
396
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Established in 1947, Rhode Island Model Legislature is the oldest model government program for high school students in the United States. This civics activity takes students through the entire legislative process at the state level. Students research and write their own legislation, which goes through a committee process; students learn parliamentary procedure to interact and debate in committee. The experience culminates with Liberal and Conservative party caucuses, a Committee Day, and Rhode Island Model Legislature, held each March in the General Assembly's chambers at the Rhode Island State House. The state coordinators of RI Model Legislature have been awared a grant from the Rhode Island Council of the Humanities in April of 2014 to migrate the aspects of the program that are old-fashioned paper and pen to being entirely online. At these planning meetings, current Model Legislature will develop modules to train the next generation of advisors, and brainstorm ways to involve other organizations (such as the Rhode Island General Assembly, the Rhode Island Department of Education, and the Rhode Island Historical Society) to become vested in Model Legislature's long-term viability. The planning and establishing the first steps of a stronger foundation for this program, of moving away from an entirely paper and pen system to one that increasingly uses computer technology and digital resources. This PowerPoint presentation is a draft of the modules for some of the online content anticipated for the Model Legislature 2.0 website
Citation preview
Rhode Island Model Legislature
and You!How to advise a Model Legislature
program in your school
Rhode Island Model Legislature RI State Co-Coordinators
Louise A. Oliveira, Exeter-West Greenwich Regional High SchoolMark K. Gardner, Chariho Regional High School
Rhode Island Model Legislature
and You!How to advise a Model Legislature
program in your school
Introduction to Rhode Island Model Legislature (RIML)
Introduction to Rhode Island Model Legislature (RIML)
• Established in 1947 to provide a hands-on experience in civic government for Rhode Island high school students– Students take on the role of legislators, writing
legislation and using parliamentary procedure to develop their bills from ideas to law
– The culminating activity is Model Legislature Day, held at the Rhode Island State House, usually the last Saturday in March each year, where students reenact a session of the General Assembly
Introduction to Rhode Island Model Legislature (RIML)
• Sponsored by the Rhode Island Social Studies Association– Each advisor gets automatic membership in
RISSA– $100 Participation Fee – to defray cost of
insurance, printing, Capitol Police, etc
Introduction to Rhode Island Model Legislature (RIML)
• Student-centered activity– The kids are the real driving force behind a
model legislature club once they know what they are doing
– New members and underclassmen learn by watching and working with the more experienced students
– Once a Model Legislature club is up and running it is self-perpetuating, even in “rebuilding” years when the club has lost a lot of experience due to seniors graduating
Introduction to Rhode Island Model Legislature (RIML)
• Advisor’s role: facilitator, gadfly and devil’s advocate, agenda-setter, liaison with state-level program, model of gravitas and decorum– Ensure that bills are completed in time for Bill
Collation Day
– Check that bills are formatted correctly and are well-written
– Remind students of Parliamentary Procedure and decorum in committees
Introduction to Rhode Island Model Legislature (RIML)
• Starting a new program –This may appear daunting to the
uninitiated, but there are MANY ways to run a club
–This presentation will take all the mystery out of starting a Model Legislature program in your school!
Model Legislature Calendar
Typical Schedule at State and Club Level1. First Meeting: September
– Make list of student member names & email addresses at first meeting
– Determine party affiliations– Set club meeting schedule
2. Second Meeting through December– Students begin researching & writing bills– Rough drafts of all bills should be submitted to advisors
before the December holiday break– Begin practice with Parliamentary Procedure: mock
committees with old bills3. Leadership Tryouts – October at CCRI Warwick4. November - December: Choosing or Electing Club Delegates
– Senate – smaller, quieter, more dignified– House – bigger, louder, more democratic
5. December: Intro to Leadership meeting at CCRI Warwick– RISSA Participation fee due
Typical Schedule at State and Club Level
6. January – March: Leadership training CCRI Warwick– Robert’s Rules & Committee Chair Practice– Submit finished bills to Google Docs Bill
Collation – Distribution of bills statewide via Google Docs
7. February – March: Club Level Committee Practice– Form practice committees using this year’s bills
from Google Docs– Lobbyists practice their pitch for Committee Day
8. Caucus and Committee Day (Last Wednesday of March - location TBA)9. Rhode Island Model Legislature – State House, last Saturday of March 2015
Module I
Starting a Club:
Recruitment, Expectations and
Identifying Political Affiliations
Paper-and-Pen Version of Form
Content migrating to Google Docs
Political Parties
• Conservative Party• Liberal Party
– Students in your club need to figure out their political leanings
– Discussion, handouts (next slide)– Online Tests:
• http://www.politicaltest.net• http://www.politicalcompass.org/test • http://time.com/510/can-time-predict-your-politics• http://www.people-press.org/2011/05/04/beyond-red-vs-blue-the-political-typology • In a real hurry: http://theadvocates.org/quiz/quiz.php
Falcone, Classifying Viewpoints
Module II
Selecting Bill Topics
and Proper Bill Format
Researching Bills
• Remind students the limits of state-level legislation and concepts of Federalism– discuss concurrent & reserved powers vs.
enumerated/delegated powers
• Ideas: Brainstorm state/local issues
• Ideas: Newspapers / RI news websites
• Ideas: RIML bills from past years
Legislation: Categories and CommitteesHEW
Considers matters relating to health, education, and welfare
LaborHas jurisdiction over worker safety, wages, benefits, hours of labor,unions, and employer-employee relationships
FinanceSets tax, trade, banking policies, state bonds and borrowing policies
JudiciaryHas jurisdiction over matters relating to criminal law, selection of judges and the court system
CorporationsHandles legislation concerning insurance, banking, real estate, and other corporate entities and issues
Special LegislationIs all other legislative initiatives that do not fit into any of the aforementioned categories
Packets!
An Act to Increase the Safety of Public Shopping MallsIntroduced by the Honorable Representative Rachel Nunes
Section I:Suicide: the intentional taking of one's own life.Open-air Shopping Mall: any mall with upper floors which are open to an atrium or courtyard below, separated only by an approximately waist high guardrail.
Section II:All open-air public shopping malls will be required to erect Plexiglas barriers above all railings for any floors above the second story so that the total height of the railing and barrier is at least six (6) feet, making it impossible for any person to climb over said barrier and subsequently commit suicide by jumping off the railing to the courtyard below.
Section III:Any mall which does not cooperate within one (1) year of its effect will be fined no more than one thousand (1,000) dollars. If the new safety measures are not put into place within two (2) years of the bill’s effect, there will be imposed a fine of no more than five thousand (5,000) dollars. If the barriers are not installed within five (5) years of effect, the mall will be shut down until they are put into place.
Section IV:This bill will take effect one (1) year after passage, giving any preexisting malls a total of two (2) years to perform any necessary construction before any adverse consequences occur.
Section V:No known legislation disputes this bill, but if there is this bill shall render it void.
Section VI:Suicide in public areas is a large threat to other faultless shoppers who happen to be around the person who chooses to take their life. A person who is jumping from such a great height has no control over where they land, meaning that they could injure those below them by accidentally landing on top of them. In addition, anyone who bears witness to such an event could very easily be traumatized or otherwise emotionally compromised. Installing these barriers would make it nearly impossible for anyone to climb over it, as well as preventing falling or other such accidents.
Paper-and-Pen Version of Form
Content migrating to Google Docs
Module III
Creating Club Leadership
and Developing State Leaders
Leadership tryouts (October – November)
• Leadership Positions– President of the Senate– Speaker of the House– Conservative Leader: House & Senate– Liberal Leader: House & Senate– Conservative Whip*: House & Senate– Liberal Whip*: House & Senate– Senate and House Committee Chairs– Clerks (2)
* A whip in the House of Representatives or Senate is a member of the party leadership who comes second in line after the party's floor leader. The whip ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.
Standing Committees
House– HEW– Labor– Finance– Judiciary– Corporations– Special Legislation
Senate– HEW– Labor– Finance– Judiciary– Corporations– Special Legislation
• Each Committee requires a chairperson• If not enough qualified students apply overall, committees and legislation may be combined• If more than enough qualified students apply overall, students may be appointed as alternates
Students bring this form (filled-out) to Leadership Tryouts
Leadership tryouts (October – November)
• Form #2 filled out• (Extemporaneous Speech – currently on hiatus)• Interview by panel of advisors
– Question applicants: political ideas, past RIML involvement and bills authored, other leadership experience, position sought
• Commitment to program & attending leadership training – RIML training must come FIRST over other activities scheduled
at same time (sports, jobs, etc)– Upperclassmen with past RIML experience take priority over the
younger/less experienced for position of whips, leaders, Speaker and President
– Exceptionally motivated underclassmen can try out; if they impress the Leadership Selection Committee they may get a position!
Leadership Information• Leadership members are automatically “in”
the House or Senate– If you have members trying out for leadership,
wait for your club to choose House Reps and Senators until after Leadership Tryouts.
• Leadership can introduce legislature after the Bill Collation Day deadline
• Leadership meetings will take place in a “central location” – last year, met at CCRI Knight Campus in Warwick
Rhode Island
General Assembly
Rhode Island
General Assembly
RI House ofRepresentatives
75 SeatsLeader: Speaker of the House
RI House ofRepresentatives
75 SeatsLeader: Speaker of the House
RI Senate
38 SeatsLeader: President of the Senate
RI Senate
38 SeatsLeader: President of the Senate
Choosing Delegates for RIML
Choosing Delegate through Elections: Senator, Representatives
• Alternative: Advisor appoints delegates • Provide background on each chamber:
• Senate – smaller group, tends to be quieter, more “dignified”
• House – large group, tends to be louder, more “democratic”
• Student Campaign Speeches• 3 minutes each
– Explain basis for their political philosophy– Lay-out their legislative agenda– Be persuasive! Why will they make a difference?
• Election• Runner’s up – should become your alternates
Paper-and-Pen Version of Form
Content migrating to Google Docs
Other Positions • Lobbyist: speaks on behalf of bills before committee
delegates; the number of lobbyists from each school is unlimited. (NB: Lobbyists are not allowed to speak during party caucus or Model Legislature)
• Clerk: assistants in each chamber and from each committee during Model Legislature; general record keepers
• Page: assistants in each chamber during Model Legislature; carry messages, amendment forms, etc. Training ground for individual without prior Model Legislature experience
• Sheriff: 1 per chamber; responsible for maintaining peace and order and to make announcements
Leadership Training: How To Chair a Committee
• Chair calls for order, reads title of bill, gives committee two minutes to read bill
• Chair opens discussion “The bill is now open for discussion”– Committee members should wait to be recognized– Each member has the right to speak twice– Each member should have an opportunity to speak before any member
can speak their second time– Author of bill, if present, has the right to speak first– Discussion should be pertinent to the subject at hand (rule out-of-order)
• Proposals to amend must be seconded, discussed as above, then voted on. Accepted amendments must be in writing.
• Call the question – vote to end discussion• “We will now vote on the bill “An Act to ____________”
“All in favor?” count yeas “All opposed?” count nays
• Announce results, move on to next bill
Module IV
Parliamentary
Procedure
Leadership Training: Parliamentary Procedure
Leadership Training: Parliamentary Procedure
Bill Collation Day• Finished bills were submitted via mail
or physically by students on leadership
• This year: Google Docs – Digital distribution of bills statewide
Club-level Parliamentary Procedure Practice
• Once bills are written, practice running committees with bills• Lobbyists practice supporting bills• Members take turns running committee to gain practice with
RONR
The only way anyone gets better at RONR is by using them…
Module V
Preparing for Party Caucus, Committees and the General
Assembly
Caucus and Committee Day• Set during week before RIML
• Caucus: Liberal / Conservative leaders, whips meet with party members lay out strategies: bills to support and to oppose
Caucus and Committee Day• Committees: legislation moves through the various
committees• Delegates are assigned to sit on committees; whips
and lobbyists work to pass defeat or amend legislation
Rhode Island Model Legislature• State House, last Saturday of March 2015, 8:30 AM to
1 PM• Keynote/Guest Speaker, Advisor’s meeting• Book Awards
Model Legislature Website
• https://sites.google.com/a/ewg.k12.ri.us/model-legislature/home
Module VI
Club Wrap-up Activities
TBA, located in the Advisors Corner on the RIML Website
• https://sites.google.com/a/ewg.k12.ri.us/model-legislature/home
Module VII
Connecting Model Legislature with Common Core and RI Grade-Span Expectations
(GSEs)
TBA, located in the Advisors Corner on the RIML Website
• https://sites.google.com/a/ewg.k12.ri.us/model-legislature/home
Rhode Island Model Legislature
and You!How to advise a Model Legislature
program in your school
Contact your state co-coordinators at:Louise A. Oliveira (EWG): [email protected] Mark K. Gardner (Chariho) [email protected]
Rhode Island Model Legislature
and You!How to advise a Model Legislature
program in your school