TEXAS 4-H CONGRESS - GETTING YOUR BILL WRITTEN

So, you’re going to the State 4-H Congress this year! Waiting for you will be a fun program. Texas 4-H Congress delegates will get the chance to serve as state senators and state representatives, debate proposed laws and vote on those laws. From the mock legislature in Austin, you will get the feel for what the real Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House and State Legislators face in their work. In doing that, we think you are going to have a great time!

THE KEY TO THE PROGRAM IS YOUR BILL

A key to the success of the program is the bill that you write. Each county should propose at least one bill (and more if you want to.)

If you have good bills, it will make the House and Senate sessions much more real, lively and fun. For example, you will get to introduce, debate and vote on bills that you and your fellow 4-H’ers have written.

So, the question is: “Where to start?”

What is a Bill?
There is nothing complicated about a bill. Very simply, a bill is a proposed law. If you have an idea about something that would make a good law, write it down according to a few basic guidelines and you have a bill!

What Are Some Ideas for Bills?
This year, we encourage you to consider youth issues and other critical issues facing Texas and propose a law that you think would help solve a specific issue. 4-H’ers at the 1996 Congress made recommendations that would help solve the six different youth issues of alcohol and drug abuse, school drop-out, juvenile crime, illiteracy, teen pregnancy and youth unemployment. Just to get your thoughts going, a list is included of some ideas for bills. Take them and think about which one interests you, legislators or officials, or someone in your community.

Writing a Bill
Writing a bill is simple. First, THINK about what you want the bill to accomplish. Write the bill so that it CLEARLY and CONCISELY states what you want it to accomplish. Write the bill in DIRECT and PLAIN language.

Remember, you are writing a bill for the Legislature. The law always should state PLAINLY and DESCRIBE SPECIFICALLY the thing it wants to accomplish, create, allow, restrict or prohibit. The second example is much better than the first:

IMPROPER FORM:
“Schools in Texas should teach principles of citizenship in the ninth grade. This law will be enforced.

PROPER FORM:
“Schools in Texas shall teach principles of citizenship in the ninth grade. The state superintendent of education shall enforce this law.”

The second example is better than the first because it plainly says the schools “shall” rather than “should” teach this subject. It is also better because it says a special official shall enforce the law, rather than leaving enforcement up in the air. In other words, it specifically states what shall be done.

In writing the bill, you may want to use definitions to help SPECIFY what is intended by the bill. If you want to make something a criminal act, you will also want to SPECIFY the punishment to a person convicted of the crime.

Look at the examples of bills provided!

Example of Bill - #1 (pdf)

Example of Bill - #2 (pdf)

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Page last updated: July 9, 2007