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Leadership and Elections

 

All of the important leadership roles involved in political decision making are filled by students which makes the Legislative Semester stand out from other curricula in terms of student responsibility, engagement and autonomy.  

 

The Rules Committee consists of one student from each class involved in the simulation. This important group is tasked with carrying out the major events of the semester, including election of party leadership, issue selection, appointment of Committee Chairs, committee formation, distribution of bills to committees, and the full session agenda.  It also serves a role in dispute resolution if there are disagreements about applicaton of the House Rules.  Their influence on the simulation dominates all other positions.  

 

Elections for the Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Floor Leaders from involve all classes engaged in the simulation and occur during the school lunch periods.   These elections are organized and administered by the Rules Committee.   Each floor leader appoints an Assistant Whip.  The Speaker of the House appoints a Clerk, a Parliamentarian, and an Assistant to the Speaker.  

 

Committee Chairmen are appointed by the Rules Committee.  A school involving 200 students would typically have 12 committees, each with a majority and minority Chair.   Majority Committee Chairs in turn appoint their own clerks, secretaries, and parliamentarians.

 

There are numerous opportunities for formal and informal leadership at the classroom level as well.  Each individual classroom selects a clerk and party caucus leaders for each party. In addition, students emerge as leaders in their bill writing issue groups.

 

 

 

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