Preparing for the Model Legislative Session
There's more to change than just a good idea. It takes hard work in the form of research, bill writing, speech writing, and debate skills.
But you can do it, just take it one step at a time!
Develop Your Bill Topic
So you need to develop your own bill topic. How should you do that? Why is that under research? Put yourself in the role of the Council and ask yourself a number of questions:
What issue facing the City is important to YOU? Your bill will get more support – and more votes – from other student representatives in other parts of the City if the topic matters to them, too. What are the needs of your constituents? Talk to your family, friends, teachers – find out what they think is wrong with your town and area? What interests you or what do you know a lot about? Many Councilmembers write legislation on issues they care about and issues they know a lot about. After all, you will need to be able to convince others to vote for it – so if you choose a topic you do not really care about, how will you be able to sell it to others? Is there a problem you have a solution for? We all have driven down the road, saw a problem, and said the government should do something about that. Well, you are now the government – do something about it! Return to Top Researching Your Bill
Now that you have your topic, there are other considerations you should keep in mind when researching your topic, including:
Now that you have an idea, before you can write your position paper or bill, you need your supporting evidence to backup your views. The Youth City Council is divided into a number of committees. Here are some issues areas and links to research. Please do not limit yourself to just the issue areas and links provided, rather use them as a starting point. Science, Technology, and Environment
Possible Issue Areas – Computers, Internet, Phones, Utilities, Gas and Electric Power, Alternative Energy Solutions, Animal Welfare, Parks, Waterways, Nuclear Power Plants
Research Links: Natural Resources Defense Council - www.nrdc.org PERC – The Center for Free Market Environmentalism - www.perc.org Animal Welfare Information Center - www.nal.usda.gov/awic/ Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology - www.crest.org Health & Human Services
Possible Issue Areas – Health, Human Services, Family Values, Drugs, Reproductive Rights, Stem Cell Research
Research Links: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - www.ahcpr.gov Alliance for Health Reform - www.allhealth.org Americans for National Health Care - www.medicalinsforyou.com National Substance Abuse Web Index - ncadi.samhsa.gov/dbases/nsawi.aspx American Family Association - www.afa.net Center on Fathers, Families and Public Policy - www.cffpp.org Family Research Council - www.frc.org Alternatives to Marriage Project - www.unmarried.org National Right to Life Committee - www.nrlc.org National Abortion Federation - www.prochoice.org The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics - www.stemcellresearch.org Education
Possible Issue Areas – Elementary, Secondary, and Post-Secondary Schools, Vouchers, Sports, No Child Left Behind Act, Standards, Board of Education, Libraries
Research Links: Education Commission of the States - www.ecs.org National Education Association - www.nea.org Center for Education Reform - www.edreform.com American Council on Education - www.acenet.edu Children First America - www.childrenfirstamerica.org No Child Left Behind Site - www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml Law & Justice
Possible Issue Areas – Judicial System, Policing, Office of the Attorney General, Crimes, Delinquency, Prisons, Victim Advocacy, Constitution
Research Links: American Civil Liberties Union - www.aclu.org First Amendment Center - www.firstamendmentcenter.org US PATRIOT Act Site - www.lifeandliberty.gov Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice - www.cjcj.org Justice for All - www.jfa.net Death Penalty Information - www.dpinfo.com Business, Commerce, and Consumer
Possible Issue Areas – Agriculture, Economic Development, Slots, Banking, Consumer Advocacy, Labor Relations, Taxes, Treasury, State Economy
Return to Top
Research Links: National Bureau of Economic Research - www.nber.org Citizens for a Sound Economy - www.cse.org Center for Economic and Policy Research - www.cepr.net/index.html Writing the Bill
Once you have completed your research, bill writing is very easy. There are several major parts to DC PA Youth & Government bill.
Before you write your own, review the outline of a bill here
to guide you in what components you need to have in your bill.
Once you have filled in the blank bill form, then you are ready to enter your bill online in the Bill Submission System Return to Top |