Writing Your Bill Coach Green
Preliminary Research
The most important component to writing your bill is first selecting a topic that interests you. Of course, you must choose a topic that is within the jurisdiction of congress, but having a serious interest in a particular public policy issue will go a long way towards strengthening both the content of the bill itself, as well as your ultimate presentation and defense of the bill during debate. Conducting preliminary research into the current activity of your topic is extremely helpful and should be cited in your bill.
Preamble
Drafting a bill is not difficult, although methodically organizing your thoughts into a coherent legislative template requires some planning and diligence. Let’s come back to the title a bit later and start with the preamble. A preamble, from the Medieval Latin word, praeambulum, meaning to walk in front, represents the introduction to, or prologue of your bill. Typically the preamble reads like a short narrative as it should present a general overview of the situation, or problem, that you address later in the body of your bill. Make sure to state the problem and explain why and how it needs to be resolved. If you are writing about nuclear proliferation, for example, a statement explaining the dangers of the spread of nuclear weapons, and the role and responsibilities of the U.S. Congress on the issue would be appropriate.
Body Clauses
The body represents the core of your bill and is comprised of a series of clauses that constitute a plan of action. With each body clause, you must specify an action to be taken. Whether this action is the implementation of fundraising, a policy change initiative, or the creation of a new school council, the action should be stated clearly in the clause format. If you need to elaborate, or provide details to a statement, then a sub-clause could be added. Sub-clauses are typically used to provide definitions of terms, or to more thoroughly explain a potentially vague proposed action in the main clause.
Enactment Clause
Begin with “BE IT ENACTED BY THE KHS STUDENT LEGISLATURE…”
The enactment clause marks the end of your bill and states when your bill will take effect. Enactment clauses usually read, “If passed this bill will take effect in (insert number) days.” Delegates should know that any bill to be enacted in 90 days or less is considered emergency legislation, which requires a 2/3 majority to pass in committee. Any bill enacted after 90 days, however, merely needs the ½, or simple majority vote to pass.The 90 limit doesn’t apply to this assignment.
Title
I recommend titling your bill last. This way you can ensure that your title accurately reflects the content of your bill. Delegates often have a general idea of what they hope to address in a bill and are quick to formulate a title. Only after the bill has taken on a life of its own, and has veered away from the original intent of the title, do delegates realize that a title change is necessary. The preamble should provide a good foundation for a title.
Template
Attached is a template to follow when writing your bill, you can find this template online if you want to type directly on the template.
Sample Bill
Also attached is a sample bill to be used as a guide in writing your own bill.
Links
The following are websites/links that may be helpful to you in writing your bill:
To type directly into the bill template go to the above Princeton link, click on “Preparation Process” and then click on the words “bill template”. Remember to save and print your work onyour own word document when you are finished.
TOPIC
Should be significant.
Must have a clearly defined scope, either Campus or District.
THE BILL
The topic and wording must be original. This means it is not a repeat of a former bill and the legislation that you are requesting would make a change in the current system.
Must fit on one 8½ x 11 page (two sided allowed), using no smaller than 12 point font.
Must be well researched.
Should be progressive, a positive step for the school.
Must give a workable feasible solution to the problem.
PARTS OF THE BILL
REFERRAL INFORMATION (Heading)
Bill Number: Please leave this blank on your bill.
Principle Author: The name of the person who wrote the bill.
Committee: Class Period (if a campus issue) or KHS Student Congress if a District issue)
SHORT TITLE
The short title, IN CAPITALS, should seldom exceed two lines and should only include two items:
1. The legislative body to which the resolution is directed, i.e. the Kingwood High School(Campus matters or the Humble ISD(District Matters).
2. A brief summary of the subject of the bill
WHEREAS CLAUSES (Preamble)
Start with Whereas…then state the problem. The whereas clauses are considered statements of the problem for which the legislative action is suggested. The whereas clauses should establish that there is a significant problem and a clear need for reform. Each phrase of the problem must have a whereas clause properly spaced as shown on the sample bill. The whereas clauses CANNOT BE AMENDED. Authors and proponents of the bill are obligated to prove the allegations set forth in the whereas clauses, as well as the existence and the extent of the problem, and provide proof through material offered in affirmative and negative debate.
RESOLVING CLAUSES (Sections)
The resolving position of the bill must begin, in capitals, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED/ENACTED BY THE 2015 KHS STUDENT CONGRESS THAT………………… Resolving clauses encompass suggested solutions to the problem (such as who, what, when, how, enforcement). Each phase of the solution must have a separate section. The number of the section and their order may vary. Any part of the resolving clauses may be amended, either in committee or on the floor, and numbering the lines is for the purpose of facilitating the amending process. Each section is designated by capitals and Roman numerals and the lines are designated by Arabic numerals. The first line in each section is not given Arabic numeral “1”, therefore the line on which the section number is given is line one in that particular section (see sample bill).
ACTION DATA
The Originating House means where the bill was introduced (US Government 1st Period) what happened there and the time.
REMINDERS:
□ All bills are limited to one letter-sized page, must be at least 12 point font, must follow the above guidelines, and must follow the form of the enclosed sample bill.
□ Spacing and margins do not have to be identical to the sample bill, but please be sure that your bill is clear and easy to read.
Princeton Model Congress
Committee: / Principal Author:Bill No: / Topic:
Title of Bill:
Freedom of Marriage Act
Be It Enacted By The Princeton Model Congress
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31 / Preamble: Whereas same-sex civil unions are legal only in California, Hawaii and Vermont, and since same-sex marriage is only legal in Massachusetts, and since marriage is currently defined as a union between a man and woman, and since the Defense of Marriage Act prevents same-sex couples from receiving family health coverage, medical and bereavement leave, child custody, tax benefits and pension plans, and since the Supreme Court declared marriage as a fundamental right under the Constitution,
SECTION 1: Let the definition of marriage be only a legal union between one man and one woman, one man and one man and one woman and one woman.
SECTION 2: BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED to let married couples, as defined in SECTION 1, and persons in a civil union receive all rights and benefits reserved for married couples under the definition of marriage in the Defense of Marriage Act.
SECTION 3: Let same-sex couples receive equal opportunity, privilege and right to adopt a child.
SECTION 4: Let states receive increased federal funding.
Sub-SECTION A: 15% increase in highway funding and 10% increase in discretionary funding when adopting SECTION 1
Sub-SECTION A: 15% increase in highway funding and 15% increase in discretionary funding when adopting SECTION 2
Sub-SECTION A: 5% increase in highway funding and 2% increase in discretionary funding when adopting SECTION 3
SECTION 5: This bill shall go into effect 91 days after passage.
Kingwood High School Model Congress 2015
Committee: / Principal Author:Bill No:
Title of Bill:
Be It Enacted By The KHS Model Congress
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DRAFT WORKSHEET FOR THE KHS STUDENT CONGRESS BILL
Note to Student Congress Delegations: This worksheet may be used to help generate ideas for your bill and help you arrange your ideas in the right areas. Your ideas may require more or less space than what is provided in this example. This is only a “draft” of your bill.
Short Title:( Clearly express the subject in a short title w/out going into detail):______
Preamble: (State the School Code being amended, added to or being
deleted. Include a brief statement of purpose):
______
______
______
______
Whereas Clauses (Start each with Whereas…):
(What is the significance of the problem?)
______
______
______
______
(What harms are being done? What indicators show a need for change?)
______
______
______
(Why cannot the present system correct itself? What laws, attitudes, or lack of legislation prevent improvement?)
______
(page two – “Draft Worksheet for a Student Congress Bill”)
Sections: Use language as common as the topic allows and arrange it as simply as
possible. Use as few words as possible. Use short sentences. Use present tense. Deal with facts. Short, familiar words that express the meaning intended are best.
Definitions: If needed, put at the beginning of the Bill as Section I.
Section II. Start with…BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED/RESOLVED BY THE 2015KHS STUDENT CONGRESS THAT THE (All in Caps)… (Who?)______
(Should do what, how?)______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
Section III. (When will the act be implemented and who will administer it?)______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
Section IV. (Who will enforce the act? What are the penalties for non-compliance?)
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
Section V (Cost and funding sources.) ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
Section VI. (Enactment date)
Note (Expression of Limitation): If the Bill is limited in its application or is subject to an exception or condition, begin the sentences with the limitation, exception or condition or with an expression pointing out any limitation that follows.
The outline numbering order is:
Section number (may have decimal fraction)
Subdivision (a)
Paragraph (1)
Subparagraph (A)
Sub sub paragraph (i)