Ideas for a Model Congress Bill

Creating a model congress can help students to more fully understand the intricacies of the duties of our elected officials as well as the process of voting on laws and bills. Choosing a relevant bill that has an aspect of controversy to it will help to keep students engaged and interested while invoking passionate speeches and opinions on both sides.

Stem cell research is a hot button issue for a variety of people on the grounds of morality, ethics and religion as well as medical, health and science advancements. A bill progressing the research or halting it, depending on the views and beliefs of those presenting the bill, will make for some passionate debate and strong arguments on either side of the aisle. Since this is a modern issue there will be a plethora of research and information on the subject to be used in arguments.

Since today's generation of students are very Internet-savvy, a bill on either side of this issue will warrant some in-depth discussion and fierce debate. Whether the bill strives to protect Internet privacy due to free speech concerns or make your Internet activity more accessible due to security issues ranging from national security to catching local predators, both sides will have strong arguments and opinions opposing or supporting the bill. Personal experience as well as research will make for well rounded and thought-out arguments.

Health care is a broad and widely debated topic that could take on a variety of forms. A bill proposing free health care to all students, from kindergarten through higher education, will strike home with the students portraying the model congress. While many will likely support the bill, those playing devil's advocate will have a great deal of room to debate it by inquiring how it will be paid for and who will police it to make sure it will not be abused. Questions that ask if only full time students would be applicable and to what extent the coverage will extend will be thought-provoking issue to debate.