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

One student from each class involved in the simulation serves on the Rules Committee. 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 application of the House Rules.  This committee’s influence on the simulation dominates all other positions.  

Elections and Appointments

Elections for the Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Floor Leaders 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 Chairs 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.

classroom Leadership

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.

These two short videos showcase Election Day excitement outside the lunch room as Rules Committee members manage the voting process and identify positions on the ballot for floor leadership while a candidate for Majority Floor Leader comments on voter turn-out and describes his campaign strategy.