Writing Bills and Resolutions

1. The bills will be graded on these criteria:

o       The bill subject is relevant, serious.

o       Written in the correct form, following the outline.

o       Articles are attached which are related.

o       Bills are submitted on-time

2. The bill must be typed or clearly written on the bill form, the bill may not be longer than two pages.

3. Each line of the bill must be numbered.

4. You may write a:

o       Resolution- Not a law, but a statement of opinion of the congress

o       Law, statute- Make something illegal or legal

o       Program or construction which will send or cut money to create or eliminate a program

5.  After the title the bill should have four sections:

Title "To Establish..”

Section 1 Statement of Purpose, Findings and Rationale

o       A short description of what the goal of the bill is about

o       what it will accomplish

o       the reasons the bill is needed.

Keep this section short.

"It is the purpose of this Bill to develop and expand early childhood education."  Congress finds that: 1. Parental involvement is essential to success in school."

"This Bill is necessary to encourage parents to be more involved in the education of their children to prepare them to learn in school."

Section 2 The law or the program

o       Describe the exact wording of the law.

o       What will happen if someone breaks the law (penalties)?

o       If a bill sets up a program or pays to build something, then the bill will itemize the cost in basic terms, total the total cost and the source of the revenue will also be described.

o       To cur a program the bill will describe the program cut and the savings.

o       If  the makes something illegal, it will have penalties such as fines or jail time. Try for criminal classifications such as misdemeanors or felonies.

"Each state will receive a grant from the Department of Education to pay the cost of establishing, expanding, and operating parents as teachers pro grams...."

Section 3 Controlling Agencies - – Executive Branch Departments

Which executive branch department, section, or agency is responsible to write the details of the bill and enforce the bill?

"The Department of Education will determine eligible states and award grants to the states. The DoE will also write the necessary rule and regulations to put this bill into force."

 

Section 4 Definitions

Define any words which may be open to interpretation

 “DEFINITIONS- In this section:

`(1) SYSTEM- The term `System' means the Responsive Emergency Alert and Dissemination of Information Call System or READICall System established under this section.”