Spending Hours in Committee and How to Make the Most of It

 

If I was facing the prospect of spending eight hours in committee over the course of two days next week, I’d surely want to make the most of it.  Yet too often, people who come to Model Congress don’t. 

 

Committee meetings are an indispensable part of the legislative process, and so they are also a central part of the Model Congress experience.  It would be far too chaotic (and there wouldn’t be nearly enough time) for the full body to review every bill.  At Model Congress alone, we have nearly 300 bills sponsored!  Committees help every legislative body in the world to organize conflict, and allow for expertise and specialization in policy areas.  They are an efficient screening process for the full body.

 

In next week’s committees, you are likely to see some lively moments—when party targeted bills are debated, for example—and some not-so-lively moments.  It’s up to you what to do with them. 

 

The only thing you may not do is roam.  Unless you are a party official, you are required to attend every meeting of the committee to which you are assigned.

 

I have a suggestion.  Spend some time between now and next week reviewing the 20-some bills that are on your committee’s agenda.  Familiarize yourself with their strengths and weaknesses.  Mark them up.  Do a bit of research of your own.  You don’t need to spend hours and hours on this task—a few minutes on each bill will definitely prepare you to ask smart questions, propose brilliant amendments, and speak forcefully in support and in opposition to them.

 

It can mean all the difference between being engaged or not.  Let’s face it—the last thing any of us want is for your committee chair to invite members to take the floor, and have not a single person raise a hand.  In fact, that’s the exact opposite of how I’d like to spend my time in committee.  It’s completely and entirely up to you.