The Legislative Branch of Youth and Government is our largest area, comprised of the following three elements:

• House of Representatives
• Senate
• First Year Program

Legislative seats are allocated to delegations based on the size of each delegation according to a predetermined formula. Basically, a delegation that has 5% of the total enrollment of the program would get roughly 5% of the available Legislative seats. All delegations get at least one House or Senate seat, unless their delegation is all Freshmen or younger students.

• General Rules
• Role Descriptions
• Disallowed Bill topics for this year
• Bill Writing Guide
• Bills (Sample, Past, & Current)

All members of the Youth Legislature and First Year Program are required to write or co-write a bill.
Click Here for the Bill Writing Guide.

Bills passed last year are considered "in effect" and similar legislation cannot be introduced in the current year. Click here for disallowed Bill topics for this year.

The proceedings of House, Senate and First Year Program are governed by the Joint Rules. Click Here for a copy of the Joint Rules.

For a Chart about How a Bill Becomes Law at the Youth Legislature, Click Here.

Lobbyist "Promotion": Because not all participants who pre-register can attend, we sometimes allow preregistered Lobbyists within a delegation to "move up" into a Legislative seat should their delegation lose a participant signed up for a House or Senate seat. However, just because a delegation loses a participant does not mean that a lobbyist can automatically move up! The allocation formula is readjusted on Sunday evening after all participants have signed in, and if absences warrant, a delegation may keep their empty seats and move their lobbyists into these spots. No participant already granted a legislative position will lose it based on reallocation, but vacant seats may be filled by participants from other schools depending on how the numbers fall. This is not determined until final registration numbers are announced.

Lobbyists who are members of the Governor's cabinet already have a very important position and cannot move up to fill a legislative spot.

REPRESENTATIVE: Member of the Youth Legislature House of Representatives. Usually Juniors, Seniors or students attending for their second year, occasionally first year participants who are Juniors, Seniors, or members of first year delegations. Each Representative must write or co-write a bill, debate it in committee and on the floor, participate in all legislative meetings, and behave as if they were a "real" legislator. The State Office allocates seats based on delegation size. Each club decides for itself how to choose which members get to be legislators.

SENATOR: Member of the Youth Legislature Senate. The "top of the heap," usually Seniors, rarely if ever first year students unless from a first year delegation. They must carry out the same duties and meet the same requirements as Representatives Each Senator must write or co-write a bill. The State Office allocates seats based on delegation size.

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Legislative members, usually students with at least one year's prior experience. Participants must apply and be appointed to these positions in February. In most cases, we attempt to give every delegation at least one committee chair, if they have at least one qualified applicant.

FIRST YEAR SENATOR or REPRESENTATIVE: Member of the Youth Legislature First Year Program. Participants are usually Freshmen and Sophomores, but Juniors attending for the first time may also choose this option if they do not or cannot participate in the regular House or Senate. Just as in the Regular House, each Senator or Representative must write a bill, debate it in committee and on the floor, participate in all legislative meetings, and behave as if they were a "real" legislator. Click here for more information on the First Year Program.

APPOINTED OFFICERS: Voting positions of leadership include the Speaker Pro-Tem or President Pro-Tem for cach chamber. Non-voting positions of authority in the Legislative branch include the positions of Chief Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, and Sergeant at Arms/Chaplain for each chamber. Click here for information on appointed positions

ELECTED OFFICERS: The Speaker of the House and President of the Senate are elected along with other major offices at the end of each year's session to serve for the following year. Click here for information on elections.