Now You're the Senator (kinda)

Mock Senate

Scenario:  You have been elected as Senators from across the United States to serve in the Senate of the United States.  Your job will be to represent your state and your party in drafting legislation which will be important to the United States. 

Some of you have been elected to leadership positions.  Your jobs include drafting legislation while also setting agendas and working the votes. 

Each party member will be responsible for drafting one legislative bill or constitutional amendment to be presented to your committee (a single spaced typed page). The draft should be in outline form using the template provided. Each outline should be typed and no more than one page in length. Legislation should reflect the political and regional interests of the author and must be your own idea (look at actual legislation your real life Senator has sponsored or co-sponsored in the last two years for influence). It can be related to actual historical legislation, but you will need to demonstrate that you have included new, creative ideas if you take this route. Another option is to write new legislation that never occurred in reality. If you decide to do this, make sure your idea plausible. You can certainly win creativity points if you’re clever, but will suffer if you’re foolish.

As a committee, you will review each piece of legislation brought forth by your committee members.  As a committee you must decide to kill or report the bill. If the committee decides to report it, they send the revised bill to the Senate floor (all of us together).  Each committee may choose 2 bills to report.  Make sure you work out the details which include how the proposed idea will be funded, who will implement it and how its effectiveness will be rated.  In addition your group will need to present the bill draft to the entire Senate.  After bill introductions, the Senate will debate the bill and finally come to a vote on each bill introduced!

Mock Senate Operations: The mock senate will be only as effective as the level of cooperation exuded by the leadership and party members. I encourage you to be animated and enthusiastic. Dress the part if you wish.

Operational Guidelines:

1. The legislative docket will be written on the white board

2. Sessions will begin with a call to order.

3. Introductions of legislative measures will be controlled by the party leadership. For educational purposes, we will introduce bills for debate from both parties. To simulate the majority party’s dominance, the docket will follow this order…

O Majority Legislation

O Majority Legislation

O Minority Legislation

O Majority Legislation

O Minority Legislation

O Independent/Third Party Legislation

4. Members introducing a bill will be allotted 2 minutes to present the merits of the bill. The bill’s author will read his one page speech. The opposition party will then be allotted 2 minutes for rebuttal. The person assigned to write a rebuttal for that bill will then read his speech.

5. Debate on each bill continues with 1 minute per speaker (as determined by the President Pro Temp) until a motion is made to “call the question” (motions covered later).  Unused time may be used to 1) take a question from another member (either party), 2) may be yielded to another speaker (of the same party), or 3) yielded back to the Speaker.

6. Party leaders may call for a “party caucus” (short recess) at any point during the session.  Time will be allotted at the discretion of the Speaker.

7. Debate will be closed upon a successful motion to “call the question”.

8. Legislative action requires a majority vote, with the exception of constitutional amendments, which require 2/3 approval (absent members will not be counted).

9. Upon approval or rejection of a given legislative measure, another item shall be called from the docket.

Parliamentary Motions:

Our mock congress will employ strict protocol for legislative procedure.  Congeniality among the membership shall be preserved through the following parliamentary procedures:

Motion to Consider: this motion moves legislation from the docket to the floor for debate.

Motion to Call the Question: this motion ends debate and brings the issue up for a vote.

Motion to Table: this motion tables an item, moves it aside for another matter to be considered.

Motion to Recall from the Table: this motion brings a bill back from the table for continued debate.

Motion to Amend: this motion amends the present item under consideration.  The author (or initial presenter of a bill) may accept an amendment as a “friendly amendment” without a vote.  If not deemed friendly, a majority vote is needed to change the item.

Motion to Adjourn: this motion ends the session (must be sanctioned by the Speaker).

* Note: all motions require a “second” - approval from another member.  The Speaker will guide parliamentary action as needed.

Strategy Considerations: Be sure to follow historical consistency when drafting legislative outlines, yet debates can consider wider questions and issues as appropriate.  Of course, consider time constraints when handling substantive issues.  All members need to be organized and fluent in the procedures outlined above.  Leaders serve at the pleasure of the membership and must retain their confidence throughout the congress or they can be replaced.  Don’t discount dealing with members of the other party or even lobbying the President pro tempore.    Address him as "Mr. President” and others members in a professional manner such as “Senator (last name)” or “the distinguished gentleman from (indicate state)”.  Above all, be persuasive and congenial and serve your constituents and your country with honor.

Grading:

1. Quality of the proposed legislation

a. Does it fit your role?

b. Did you put effort into thinking it through?

c. Are your responses on the legislative template thorough and well written?

2. Quality of the speech

a. Is it a full page?

b. Does it address the issues?

c. Is it well written, persuasive?

3. Participation     This is paramount if you wish to receive a good grade

a. Are your responses/voting record in line with your role?

b. Are you an active participant in the debates?