Legislative
The Legislative section involves participants identifying issues for legislation, bill writing, debating, bill presentation, and participation in a legislative body. Participants prepare legislation (bills, or sometimes joint resolutions) in their clubs for consideration, debate, and action at the District and State Conferences. At the District Conference, Hearing Committees consider each bill and take appropriate action. At the State Conference, all bills are heard first in a committee, and some bills then advance to be heard again by a larger audience in the House and/or Senate chambers. Bills that pass both chambers are sent to the Youth Governor for their consideration.
Our goal for our Legislative participants is to acquire valuable experience in writing, researching, and debating mock legislation in a process that closely mirrors the process of our Texas Legislature. This experience increases awareness both of how our state government works and pertinent current events.
Legislative Resources
Writing Your Bill
Select a topics, bills that are successful are topics that the author is passionate about. Bill topics that deal with one specific issue are the best to address and debate. When considering a bill topics they must cover state issues and not federal issues. Once you select a topic it should be check and approved by a club’s student leaders and the adult advisor. A template for your bill is available below. This bill template will already include the parts of the bill that are required. Remember your bill should not be longer than one page. A breakdown of what is need in each page is also below and in the legislative manual.
Chairperson & Clerk
Another opportunity for Legislative leadership is the Hearing Committee team composed of a Chairperson and Clerk. These teams will be evaluated at the District Conferences. The highest ranked teams will be assigned to serve at the State Conference. Each delegation is require to send 1 chair clerk team for every 15 delegates coming to the state conference. If delegations are smaller than 15, the club are required to provide a chairperson or clerk .
Each member of the Hearing Committee team must still prepare a bill to be presented at the District Conference and at State Conference.
Legislative Appointed Positions
Leadership opportunities for students include Sergeant-at-Arms, Clerks, Chaplain in the House and Senate Chambers. Delegates well suited for these positions may be: delegates who feel a calling to servant leadership and/or who may be more shy during debates but have leadership potential.
If you are interested in serving in an appointed position, please email the State Director for State Conference that you are interested in an appointed position.