Post-Conference Activities: After 4-H Capitol Experience… What’s Next?
As a participant at Michigan State University Extension’s 4-H Capitol Experience Program, you learned about a current policy issue and about how policy decisions are made. You had an opportunity to examine a selected issue from a variety of viewpoints. You talked with people who influence policies, including lobbyists, state agencies personnel, representatives of local organizations, legislative aides and legislators.
Post-Event Resource Materials
The post-conference resources listed below are available in Adobe PDF format and may be photocopied for distribution. For example, you could use them with 4-H leadership groups or other 4-H meetings, as you work on an issue in your local community, with a church or civic group or as part of a classroom project.
- Citizens Guide to State Government
A reference tool that includes information on the Three Branches of Michigan State Government, Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate Directories and the Michigan Senate and House Legislative Committees. - Who Represents You? — Know Your Elected Officials
An outline to help you identify the people who represent you at the local, state and federal levels of government; can be used individually or as a group activity. - How a Bill Becomes a Law in Michigan
A diagram of the process from bill introduction to becoming a public act - Share Your Views With Elected Officials
Suggestions for how to most effectively share your views on an issue with policymakers. - How Do Local Governments Serve You?
General overview offers basic background information about the different units of local government in this state. - What’s Your Opinion? Exercise in Policy Decision-Making (Facilitator’s Guide)
An exercise in policy decision-making; can be used with any sized group. Exercise contains a listing of issues, background information on the issues and instructions for the facilitator. - How Should Government Spend Our Tax Dollars? Consensus Exercise (Facilitator’s Guide)
An exercise to help participants learn about the consensus process and about some of the funding issues faced by a unit of government. One version deals with state government, the other with county government. - YOU Can Make a Difference
An outline to help you plan how to take action on an issue you care about. - Legislative Committee Role Play (Directions for Facilitators and Issue Group Role Plays from 2005 Conference)
An exercise designed to help participants learn more about the legislative process and about a specific current policy issue. Role plays have been developed for juvenile crime, criminal sentencing and prison facilities, environment/wildlife, school and health issues. A full set of directions, and the role play used by the Capitol Experience participant, are included in this packet. Additional role plays can be obtained from the State 4-H Office.
Contact
Betsy Knox, Capitol Experience Coordinator
4-H Youth Development, MSU Extension
160 Agriculture Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1039
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 517-432-7603
For information about the Michigan Legislature, visit www.michiganlegislature.org
For information about state government visit www.michigan.gov