An Introduction to Student Congress

Last Modified: July 17, 2005

If the crux of debate is building arguments and responding to the opposition, and if the purpose of persuasive speaking is to eloquently convince and motivate an audience, and if the aim of role-playing is to understand the persona and motivation of a character within the setting and context of a given situation; then Student Congress combines these elements under the real-life structure of a model legislature, employing parliamentary procedure. Student Congress is a mock legislative assembly competition where students draft bills (proposed laws) and resolutions (position statements), which they and their peers later debate and vote to pass into law.  While coaches aren’t always required to submit legislation to meets, it gives their students the right to an authorship speech, introducing the bill or resolution to the chamber.   In advance of the meet, a docket of submitted titles or full legislative text are distributed to participating schools, so students may research and prepare themselves for the debate.  Many meets allow students to caucus in committee(s) to determine the agenda, wherein they strive to select topics that will yield even and engaging debate, as well as balancing authorship privileges among the schools participating in the chamber. In Wisconsin, most Congress meets are held on Friday evenings for about five hours.