studentcongress

Student Congress:
What is it?

Student Congress in Lansing is a 3 day event, and highschool students from around the state of Michigan gather in September at the Capitol Building to learn how our government is run. While there, they roleplay in various branches of our government, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and Executive Branches. Some students play the role of lobbyists, and members of the Press. Press members must put together 2 newspapers of the weekend's events.
It is tough meeting deadlines for bills and for newspapers, but vital for all involved. Most of the days started at 8:00 am and ended at 10:00 pm.

Some of the more prestigious jobs included President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, President of the US, and Vice President.

The goal of senators, lobbyists, and members of the House, is to meet in committees, draft bills separately and jointly and try to get them to pass on the floors of the House and Senate. This year's committees dealt with secondary education, and all of the bills written had to deal with the improvement of public secondary schools in the US.

The executive branch also has committees and roles to play. This year, we had a first lady, FBI, and Secret Service, to name a few. Presidential campaigns and elections took place, press conferences were attended, and cabinets were appointed.

How does a person get to attend Student Congress in Lansing?

Student Congress actually starts the previous Spring with the discussion of the debate topic for the next year. Students meet at Discussion Festival in the spring. They must earn 50 points or more at festival to qualify for Student Congress the following September. Students are judged on their communication skills, their leadership, and their ability to include others in group decision making. The points they earn determine their role at student congress in the fall.

When they return from summer vacation, students must attend a conference on Parliamentary Procedure, or Robert's Rules of Order. They need to learn this in order to conduct committee meetings and to keep order on both floors of the house and senate.

Finally, the third weekend in September, they meet at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing, and at the State capitol building to practice all of the things they have learned. If they are really proficient at Parliamentary Procedure, they may take a test. If they are in the top seven, they may run for Speaker of the House, or President of the Senate. Then they must meet the press and tell of their credentials, and hold a campaign. An election is held, and the winners run both the House and Senate.

What makes this event so special?

The hard work and dedication of Mr. Jon Fitzgerald of the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association and the trust of our state government officials makes this all possible. If it weren't for both of them, none of this would even be possible. Michigan is the only state in the US where this is currently made possible, and high school coaches and students in Michigan owe them a great deal of respect for their dedication to our youth.

Then there are the coaches, who put in time and show their dedication to their children, by preparing them, chaperoning them and driving them to all events.

Of course, the students also show how special this all is by taking care of the environment that is so graciously lent to them by our government officials. They also take the time to write letters of appreciation to our government officials, and leave them on their desks that they occupied for 3 days.

The whole weekend is a very exciting one for kids and coaches. Everyone leaves better informed of how our government is operated and reeling with excitement and eager anticipation for next year. Is it all worth it? YOU BET IT IS!!!

Click on the thumbnails below to see larger versions of Bay City Central High School Students in action at last year's 33rd Student Congress in Lansing! Each student has a page of pictures and tells of their experience in Lansing.