Program Year

Our program year goes from September to early March. During the early fall, delegations work on recruitment, figuring out what roles students would like to do, and getting students and adult volunteers registered. Delegations hold meetings to determine bill topics, work on parliamentary procedures, and can have community leaders come and speak to students regarding community and civic engagement. There are two Pre-Legislative Sessions that all participants attend, with virtual training for each role before each, a virtual Pre-Assembly session in February, and the statewide General Assembly that is held in the state capitol, Springfield.

Pre-Legislative Regional Sessions 1

November 4 or 12 – attend one, depending on location in the state

Pre-Legislative Sectional Sessions 2

December 3 or 9 – attend one, depending on location in the state

Virtual training sessions for each role will be held in the week before the session to cover more of what the role does, what should be prepared to come into the Pre-Legislative session, and to go over what will be done at each session. Dates will be included on Calendar when determined.

Pre-Legislative Assembly 3

February 22, 2023

Virtual training sessions for each role will be held, which will cover what to expect at the Springfield Assembly, how to prepare, what to bring, what will be provided. There will also be the 2023 Candidate Forum, featuring the Executive Director of Lobbyists candidates, and the 2024 Major Office Candidates (Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Chief Justice), and an opportunity for social time.

74th General Assembly; 49th Judicial Assembly

Springfield, March 17-19, 2023

Pre-Legislative Region Session 1 and Pre-Legislative Sectional Session 2 are where students are first exposed to the processes of state government and judicial procedure.  Delegates serving as Legislators present their written Bills to be debated and hopefully passed through the Pre-Leg sessions for further discussion at Assembly.  Lobbyists select an organization to represent and compose a Legislative Agenda which details how they can support certain bills.  Legislative Assistants learn the Election process, observe parliamentary procedure training, and get an overview of the Issues Forum.  Attorneys begin to learn the terminology of trial and appellate court and proper courtroom decorum.  The Media Corps begin to learn the responsibilities of a free press by training to publish the daily Assembly newspaper The Observer, or produce the nightly newscast, Capital Correspondance.

PRE-LEGISLATIVE REGIONAL SESSION I

The first session of the year is called Pre-Leg I.  This is where students begin to serve in the roles they have selected.  There are four locations around the state that will host Pre-Leg I during the first weekend in November. Region 1 and Region 2 are in the northern part of the state, Region 3 is in the central part of the state, and Region 4 is in the southern portion of the state.

The Pre-Leg session begins with a General Session where all delegates from that section meet for announcements and information, and listen to speeches from major candidates.  Delegates adjourn to break-out sessions depending on roles.  Legislators go to assigned committees to discuss legislation.  Lobbyists, Attorneys, and Legislative Assistants attend informational and role specific seminars, and the newspaper press members attend a planning session either in person or by webinar as well as do research for their first articles for the newspaper, while Video Press begin training on video equipment and learn the techniques of interviewing with representatives from Eclipsed Production.

PRE-LEGISLATIVE SECTIONAL SESSION II

The second pre-legislative session of the year, Pre-Leg II, is held in three locations around the state.  Sections 1 and 2 are the Regions 1 and 2 respectively but held at different locations, and Regions 3 and 4 combine to form Section 3.  Pre-Leg II is usually held the first full weekend in December.

The Pre-Leg session begins with a General Session where all delegates from that Region meet for announcements and information, and listen to speeches from candidates for major offices.  Beforehand, major office candidates are given an opportunity to campaign.  The candidates will give speeches, and all delegates vote for the final candidates who will run in Springfield. The delegates adjourn to break-out sessions per roles as they did at Pre-Leg I.  Legislators go to assigned committees to discuss legislation.  Lobbyists review their Legislative Agendas and elect Assistant Directors of Lobbyists.  Attorneys and Legislative Assistants attend seminars, and Media Corps members attend a webinar session (newspaper) and hands-on training (video) as well as do research stories for the Assembly.

For more information and details about any of the delegates’ responsibilities, please refer to the Legislative, Lobbyist, Legislative Assistants, Judicial and Press handbooks, which are all compiled here. There are also student handbooks for each role posted online here.

In addition to the above Pre-Leg activities, there will be virtual training webinars to acclimate students to their roles before attending a Pre-Leg event.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING

In the event that a Pre-Leg cannot be held in-person, the event will be held virtually through Zoom webinars and meetings incorporating the elements above.

Our year ends with the General Assembly in Springfield! Our students take over Springfield during our three day Assembly. We are privileged to use the Capitol building, the House and Senate committee rooms and chambers, the Governor’s office, the Supreme Court and other facilities around the Capitol Complex. Students use their training as legislators debate the bills on the chamber floor, lobbyists support legislation, the Legislative Assistants participate in a State Issues Forum, our judicial participants participate in oral arguments, and the media corps covers it all. Elections are had for some leadership positions for the current year, as well as for the next year. We also have a Saturday night fun night, with a dance, karaoke, inflatables, and talent show.

There will be virtual training sessions held before Assembly to acclimate students in their roles at the Assembly.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING

In the event that Assembly can not be held in person, it will be held virtually through Zoom webinar and meetings, incorporating the elements above.