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On April 3, students in Associate Professor Donald Brand’s
political science course, “Congress and the Legislative
Process,” hosted a “legislative simulation” at
the College. Approximately 20 high school students from South
High School and Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester
took part in the proceedings. According to Brand, “the
goal of the simulation was to allow college and high school
students to personally experience the legislative process
and thereby gain a greater appreciation for the skill and
knowledge that is required to introduce bills and transform
them into laws.”
Preparations for the day’s activities began months
ahead of time. Holy Cross students met with students at the
high schools on Tuesday afternoons, where they studied two
bills—the Safe and Sober Streets Act and the Public
Health Service Act—and proposed possible amendments
to be argued at the hearings. In addition, all participants
were required to familiarize themselves with a legislative
district and to balance the goals of representing district
interests and securing the common good of the nation. After
questioning witnesses in hearings, the committees resumed
business in mock sessions where amendments to the proposed
legislation were considered. The day concluded with a brief
session on the floor of the “House of Representatives” to
debate and vote on the two proposed bills.
In the end, the proposed amendment to the Public Health Service
Act failed with a 25-22 party-line vote. The proposed amendment
to the Safe and Sober Streets Act passed with only one nay
vote.
“I hope that the students emerged from this experience
with a better understanding of the American political system,” Brand
says, “and will become more actively engaged as citizens.”
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