Final Prep for Springfield

The time until everyone arrives in Springfield is now less than 10 days away.  Are you prepared?  Check out the helpful tips below to make sure you are ready as possible before you arrive on the 14th.

Legislators

More than anything, just know your bill as well as you can.

• Understand every section and why it is there. 
• Know as many reasons that your bill should become law as possible. 
• Be able to defend arguments against your bill.

An easy to prep for all of this is to download the Bill Prep Checklist, do your research and fill it out.  Everyone in a bill group should do it separately and share answers afterwards.

If you want to go the extra mile, crack open your bill book and read the guide on how to prepare to debate other bills.

Lobbyists

Just like legislators, make sure you know your bill that you are advocating as well as you can by completing the Bill Prep Checklist.  Also, be prepared to give your two-minute committee testimony for your bill.  Don’t just write it…know it and practice presenting it - out loud.

Also, read all of the bills that will be in your committee and, for any other bills that you would like to testify on, do some research and prepare a short testimony.

Attorneys

Student attorney teams should make sure that they are prepared to give their oral arguments.  Be thoroughly familiar with your argument and be able present it without reading from the brief.  Also, familiarize yourself with the arguments that your opponents have presented in their brief (which you should have received in the mail) and prepare rebuttal arguments to their points.

Additionally, you should prepare for your role as justices in Springfield by thoroughly reading the trial and appeal facts and the cited cases for the case you are not directly arguing.

• If you are arguing Case A (People v Stevens) - Read the trial and appeal facts for Case B (People v Fletcher) as well as all 8 cited cases given in the Fletcher appeal facts
• If you are arguing Case B (People v Fletcher) - Read the trial and appeal facts for Case A (People v Stevens) as well as all 8 cited cases given in the Stevens appeal facts

Everyone

Review the dress code and get some sleep.  We’ll see you in Springfield on the 14th!