The Legislative Branch An Overview

Objective Responsible for the authority and passage of legislation, which has been presented before it.

Y CORE VALUES ●What this program really is about o Caring o Honesty o Respect o Responsibility What do they mean to YOU?

Rules ●All first year delegates can only be part of either Read or Rodney House ●Experienced members may join the Senate

Bill Writing and Inspiration ❖ Most important preparation ❖ Without bills, we would have nothing to do! ❖ Be passionate and excited to debate your bills ➢ pick something that means a lot to you! ➢ pick something that intrigues you! ➢ pick something you want to change!

Bill Writing and Inspiration Step 1: Find an issue that is: -Current -Relevant to Delaware -Able to be addressed by the DELAWARE government

Bill Writing and Inspiration Where do I find an issue? ●Delaware government websites -i.e.: ●Other states! Look at legislation other governments have enacted and see if it works for Delaware ●Newspapers -i.e.: The News Journal -CAUTION: You can use national newspapers, but your topic must be relevant to DELAWARE.

Bill Writing and Inspiration Step 2: Arrange your bill. ➔ Issue must be debatable ➔ Issue not too broad ➔ Gather your knowledge (Pro-Con List) ➔ Determine viewpoint

Bill Writing and Inspiration Banned Bills Bills passed in last 2 years Copied bills Actual Delaware law or bill Amendment to real bill Irrelevant to DELAWARE

Bill Writing and Inspiration Step 3: Write your bill. A bill is a written statement of draft of a proposed law, written by a delegate in order to introduce a new law, change an already existing law, or eliminate a law completely.

Bill Writing and Inspiration Title ●2 Forms -“An Act to…” -“{Title} Act” The Bill-Writing Act

Bill Writing and Inspiration Section I: Purpose ●1 or 2 sentences ●What change do you want your bill to make ●“This bill will…” This bill will require all legislative delegates to write a bill.

Bill Writing and Inspiration Section II: Definitions ●Clarify terms. ●Even if a word is common, you may need to designate a more specific definition for your bill. ●“‘{Term}’ means ‘{Definition}’” “Legislative delegate” means “any high school or middle school participant in the legislative program of Youth in Government.”

Bill Writing and Inspiration Section III: Content ●What will your bill actually do? ●Can be multiple sections ●When action needed, you shall say “SHALL.” All legislative delegates shall write a bill that can legally and feasibly be passed and enforced by the State of Delaware.

Bill Writing and Inspiration Section IV: Cost ●How much money will your bill cost the state? ●If it costs nothing, write it. This bill will cost nothing. This bill will cost $150,000 in its first year and $50,000 in subsequent years.

Bill Writing and Inspiration Section V: Finance ●How will Delaware pay for your bill? ●Mainly taxes or fines. ●If no funding needed, write it. This bill will be financed by increasing the gasoline tax by $0.01 per gallon. *Clause will cause debate

Bill Writing and Inspiration Section VI: Penalties ●What will happen if somebody does not obey your bill? ●Fines, prison, etc. ●If no penalties needed, write it. Any legislative delegate, who does not comply with this bill, shall be fined $250 for their first offense and $500 for subsequent offenses.

Bill Writing and Inspiration ●Section VII: Effective Date ●When will your bill begin working? ●Consider the required time for involved parties to prepare. ●Either a specific date or “upon passage” This bill shall go into effect on January 1, 2016, following passage as law.

Now, you can take it to the Hall!

Parliamentary Procedure How to Introduce Yourself! State Your: 1.Name 2.Delegation 3.Thank the Chair (Sir or Madam Chair) When you’re done speaking you can 1.Sit down 2.Say “I yield the remainder of my time to the chair”

Parliamentary Procedure After you introduce yourself what can you do? 1.Speak 2.Reserve your right to… a.“Speak thereafter” *NOTE* this is used after you have asked “will the author(s) please yield to a possible series of questions” - this lets you speak after asking the author(s) questions b.Yield the remainder of your time to… 1.The author’s summation 2.A fellow delegate c.Make a motion “I reserve my right to make a motion” “That is your right” “I motion to…” “Will the author(s) please yield to a possible series of questions and I reserve my right to speak thereafter”

What to sayWhat this does Can you interrupt the speaker? Is the motion debatable? Second needed? How much approval? “I move to hear the amendment on the floor authored by ____” Brings up a written amendmentNOYES if the author deems it unfriendly NOMajority of authors “I motion to move the previous question” Prematurely ends debate and puts the bill to a vote NO YESTwo-Thirds “I move to table the bill”Ends debate without putting the bill to a vote NO YESMajority “I move to take from the table”Brings back a tabled billNO YESMajority “Point of Order”If the President/Speaker neglects to follow proper Parliamentary Procedure YES*NO NONE “I motion to extend debate by ___”Open Debate may be extendedNO YESMajority “I motion to suspend the rules”Used to suspend the rules of the ChamberNO YESTwo-Thirds “I motion to move into recess for ____ mins” Used to transition into a brief recess/breakNO YESMajority “Division”Puts the bill to a vote for a second time, requiring a tally of votes NO said between 2 gavel taps YES unless chair is not in doubt NONONE

Parliamentary Procedure of Debate Proponency Speech The author must follow basic introductions and, if they so choose, may yield time to their summation without reserving their right to do so. “...and I yield the remainder of my time to my summation” Non Debatable Technical Questions Following basic introductions, delegates may be able to ask the author questions that can be answered with a yes, no, clarification, or statistic. Lobbyist Intent Speeches Lobbyist (first Con then Pro) must follow basic introduction and add “representing (state organization)” after they state their name. Chief of Staff must follow basic introduction and add “speaking on behalf of Governor _______”

Parliamentary Procedure of Debate DEBATE Following the Lobbyists’ speeches, the chamber will move hear a Con, then Pro, then Con Statement. During this time, motions and/or reservations of rights are not in order -Pro speakers may yield time to an authors’ summation Next the Chamber will move into Open Debate. During this time, motions and/or reservations of rights are in order

Parli Pro of Amendment Debate To have Amendments read in chambers: The author of an amendment may not move to hear their own amendment. To have an amendment read, there must be a second. What you say: “I move to hear the current amendment on the floor.” 1. Amendment will be read in chambers. 2. Bill Author will deem the amendment friendly or un-friendly. 3. If the Bill Author deems the amendment friendly, the amendment will be voted on by the chambers:

Friendly Amendment ●If the amendment passes it will be added to the Bill and normal bill hearing procedures will continue. ●If the amendment fails, it will not be added to the Bill and normal bill hearing procedures will continue.

Unfriendly Amendment 1. 3 minute caucus mediated by the chair to see if they can resolve the amendments discrepancies. 2. If the Bill Author and Amendment Author cannot agree, the chamber will proceed into debate whether the amendment should be included. 3. Sample Un-friendly Amendment Debate Schedule -The chair may offer open debate on amendments if they deem it necessary -Amendment Author Proponency 1 Minute -Bill Author Con 1 Minute -Amendment Author Summation 1 Minute 4. If the Amendment passes, the Amendment Author will replace the Bill Author as the sponsor of the bill. 5. If the Amendment Fails, the Amendment will not be added, and normal bill hearing procedures will continue.

Parliamentary Procedure of Debate Author’s Summation The Author does not need to follow basic introductions. Standing Voice Vote The Chair will first call Ayes, Nays, then Abstentions. He/She does not need to take a tally, assessing the vote audial/visually. The Chair then states whether the Bill pass/fails and gives 2 gavel taps. *NOTE* In the event that division is called within the 2 gavel taps and the chair recognizes it, a tally of voting delegates must be made. *NOTE* In the event of a tie, the presiding Chair makes the final decision.

Bill Voting Procedure ●Once debate has ended, the chamber doors will close. ●Chair will ask “All those in favor” o Delegates respond “Aye” while standing up. ●Chair will ask “All those opposed” o Delegates respond “Nay” while standing up. ●Chair will ask for any abstentions. o All must vote unless a delegate was not present for a majority of debate (ex. bathroom, talking to Gov. etc.).

Bill to Law ●A simple majority is needed for a bill to pass ●A bill must pass two chambers before reaching the Youth Governor. o Senate to House (Rodney or Read) to Governor o House (Rodney or Read) to Senate to Governor o House (Rodney) to House (Read) to Governor o House (Read) to House (Rodney) to Governor

The Governor and You! ●If your bill passes two houses, congrats! ●An audience with the governor will be granted. o Authors: justify and defend their bills  discuss main points with Governor  Governor decides to sign or veto

Veto Process ●GIVEN TIME- the bill must re-enter both chambers and pass with same parli-pro procedures (to override veto). ●Bill moves to the bottom of the docket.

Signed Bill ●A signed bill becomes an official part of the Youth Governor’s Executive Report. ●The Governor will read the passed bills at the closing ceremony. ●The executive report is also read to the Delaware Legislative Assembly.

Welcome to Congress