Model Assembly Bill Component Practice Session

Friday Schedule

• 4
• Elective
• Committee
• House (if time, to start planning Thanksgiving)

What are we doing in committee?
 

BIG IDEA:

According to the Sunlight Foundation, only 4% of bills or proposed solutions become laws every year.   Most bills die in the committee process for a number of reasons.   The committee session is an opportunity for members to fine-tune their legislation and get consensus across party lines.

INSTRUCTIONS:

CHAIR:  Welcome to the bill presentation session for the committee on___________.  Today, we will examine ______bills.  The purpose of this committee session is two-fold:

1.  To practice the rules

2.  To select one bill per group (no group can have the same bill as of next week)

Each group will present:

·      Bill # and Title

·      Problem(s) addressing

·      Solution(s) offering

·      Liberal or Conservative and why

There will be a five-minute maximum for structure debate and another five-minute maximum for general debate.  The time limit during general debate is for the practice session only.  During the Model Assembly simulation, the only way to really stop discussion in general debate is by a motion for the previous question.

AM:  Motion to consider Bill #_____, Title___________.

CHAIR:  Is there a second?

AM:  I second the motion to consider Bill #_______, Title__________.

CHAIR:  Call the question on the motion to consider Bill #______, Title__________. 

AM:  (Hands up)

CHAIR: (The chair counts the vote and then knocks on the table one time to symbolize the vote has been counted.  AM can put their hands down.).   The motion to consider Bill #____, Title__________ has passed and we are now in structure debate.  Can the authors of the bill please present?

CHAIR: (After structure debate ends.)  We are now in general debate for Bill #_____, Title________.  During general debate, a member can make a point, motion, or present a pro or con. 

AM:  Motion for previous question for Bill #_____, Title___________.

CHAIR:  Is there a second?

AM:  I second the motion for previous question for Bill #_______, Title__________.

CHAIR: Is there a CON to moving on?

AM:  I have more to share on the bill.

CHAIR:  If you want to hear more from your fellow AMS on the bill, do not vote for this motion. If you want to end discussion on the bill, vote for the motion.  Call the question on the motion for the previous question for Bill #______, Title__________. 

AM:  (Hands up)

CHAIR: (The chair counts the vote and then knocks on the table one time to symbolize the vote has been counted.  AM can put their hands down.).   The motion for the previous question for Bill #____, Title__________ has passed.

(After a motion for the previous question, the chair would call the question and have you vote on passing the bill, but for this practice session you would skip this part and move on to the next bill starting with a motion to consider.)

ROLES:

Facilitator:  Write down any questions that your group can’t answer.

Resource Manager:  Write down important vocabulary or terms that come up in structure or general debate that your group addresses or can’t answer.

Harmonizer: Take a look how others in the room are responding to your bill.  Take down any notes of anything that stands out.

Reporter: Responsible to make sure structure debate works out for your group.   

RULE OF THREE:

·      Participate in Structure Debate

·      Participate in General Debate

·      Complete preparation in Purther’s class (both homework assignments on the bill and poster)

QUESTIONS:

If you have questions, ask your committee teacher.