Journal of Jim Dusso,
2000 Model Legislature Participant
Wednesday, December 6, 2000
Mock Legislature meeting in classroom, informal and direct. I can see how this activity will invoke a great many of the multiple intelligences. This class went
through some mock situations to get the Mock Leg going. The informal nature of this meeting I feel does a good job of getting the students into the flow of the activity.
Friday, December 08, 2000 This activity clearly demonstrates the real workings of the legislature in the State of Minnesota or for that matter the US Congress. This activity not only demonstrates the
working legislature but the real interactions that students will have in real life. I know that many of the grad standards are being met by this activity. I know that these
students must have a good deal of knowledge of government in order to be able to accomplish many of the activities that we have done this morning. I also am witnessing
the interactions of these students and how they are able to competently to debate these bills. It is just not possible for these students to just show up for the activity and be able to interact as they have been.
We are breaking for lunch and after lunch we will move into the two houses. I have now joined the Senate. They are in debate of bills brought to the floor for passage Senate debating House Bill #16 grad standards, good debate, fails. House #84, helmet law, pass, moves onto Governor. Senate moves to adjourn until 8:30am, Saturday. After Senate took a short recess, they overrode a Governor veto. Bill has moved to the
House. Senate is debating use of marijuana, they are debating the medical uses of it. The medical use is surrounded by the aid of easing the pain of the user. They are striking
language from the bill, line 8 and the migraine headache use. Move to amend the amendment, they are rewording. Motion to table, division, bill is tabled.
The Governor had signed into law three bills and vetoed 2. Both houses would later override these 2 bills later in the session.
Spent the morning setting up the Mock Leg area. We did break for donuts for the nutrients it would provide to get the group through the day. Listened to candidate
speeches for higher offices, Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker. Revisited parliamentary rules for students who had questions or wanted clarification of rules. 
I spent the morning advising in the Judiciary Committee. Taking minutes and advising on
proper rules and procedures for passing or death of bills. Initially we had to recess to help chair setup agenda. After the initial problems were handled we were able to move more smoothly through committee and
debate on the specific bills in committee.
Listening to debate on Senate bill #43 living organ donor tax rebate $500.00. Good
points made by the author of the bill. Senate file #59 failed. Senate file #76 senior drivers driving test passes. SF # 10, bill passed. SF #21, teacher licensure for
sexual offenders, passed. SF #65 passed. SF #47 passed. SF #83 raising speed limit, good point of reference to school limits, vote is moved to division, passed. SF #2 fireworks, table of bill, sent back for
clarification.
Senate reconvenes to debate the bills on the floor. The Senate voted to have minimum wage increase bill out of Ways
& Means and passed by 2/3 majority. The debate is now on death penalty debate. Debate is on the cost of the keeping prisoners in jail is more costly than the inflicting the death penalty. The
Senate is now asking for death in multiple deaths. The debate moves to making sure that convicted murders are positively proven as the murder. The debate between Senators is well thought out and
the students do a great job of staying on task. The debate is moving from the death penalty and focusing on lifetime prison sentences and that a life sentence is more severe.
The debate moves to cost of keeping these prisoners and "why not educating people early, so they do not commit these crimes." Great points about moving money from the
cost of keeping inmates in jail and spend money on education. Moving to requesting more information on the costs and effects of this bill. Move to table the bill House #70.
It is tabled. House Bill #2 fireworks for 18 and older. 
House Bill #69, assault on sport
officials, passes. House Bill #29, same sex marriages, passed House now on Senate floor. Most debate focuses the unity of people not marriage. Great point that part of state laws will need to
be repealed. Bill is moved to be tabled. There is a call of division. Bill is not tabled. Debate still continues, there are extremely great points here. These students are very knowledgeable of the
issues that surround this bill as well as all the bills. I know that this type of activity is well above textbook learning. An amendment was proposed to eliminate the sol demy
laws, failed. Vote called and bill fails. Bill #38, smoking ban. Debate. Bill passes. 
I did found it interesting that during the session that each house of the Mock
Legislature mirrors the real Congress. The House has much more debate and passion over issues and in most instances the pass bills in greater numbers than they defeat. While the Senate is almost an exact opposite,
their debate is dry and formal. In most instances they vote to table bills than to actually vote to pass or defeat. I thought this was extremely interesting and I started to ask
myself some and questions about this. I came to the conclusion that there are more members in the House and that would/could cause more heated debate. I felt that the
Senate seems more prestigious and members may be more inclined to hold themselves in that matter.
I know this activity is a great one. I would like to be able to participate in this activity when I am teaching. I think the results are immeasurable and the students benefit from
this type of an activity for more than just reading a text and doing some role playing.
Judiciary Committee
9:35am
House #55 Rep. Thompson
Moves that bill Health & Welfare. Spoke about the bill itself. Questions to Rep. Thompson.
Bill moves to Health & Welfare. Passed by voiced vote.
The agenda was set up with moving from top of stack to bottom.
House #61
Chair ask the bill move onto the House. Rep. Hawkinson spoke about the bill.
Bill passed on to the House.
House #26
Bill motion to Environment. Legalization of Hemp. Debate on the bill. Bill fails in committee. Dead.
Senate #65
Move to House. Rep.
Move for recess 5 min. 10:02 am.
At this time ED 331 coordinators help chair set a formal agenda.
Reconvene 10:10 am
Discussion. Vote bill pass to House Floor. At 10:27 am bill reintroduce, to move to Ways and Means. Bill Passed.
House #57
Motion to pass bill to House. Discussion. Bill Failed. Dead.
House #64
Motion to pass to House. Discussion. Drop legal Limit to 19. Great discussion on bill.
Students have great questions and author of bill does great job of explaining. Move to vote. Voice vote. Bill Fails. Dead.
House #60 & House #62 are combined.
Motion to move. Discussion. Voice vote. Bill Fails. Dead.
Senate #58
Motion to move to Ways & Means. Move for amendment to bill. Bill amended. Voice
vote. Pass to Ways & Means.
House #70
Move to pass. Amendment to bill for complete proof. Amend pass. Discussion. Bill pass to House.
House #69
Motion to move House. Amend bill Subsd 1a. Motion to Amend. Correct Spelling. Motion pass. Bill pass to House floor.
House #68
Motion to move to Senate.
Senate #67
Motion to move to Senate. No debate. Passed to house.
House #56
Motion to move to House. Discussion. Bill Fails. Dead.
Senate #58
Motion to move to Senate. Amendment from Ways and Means: age 21 to 18. Amend from W & M passes in Judiciary. Moves to Senate.
House #38
Motion to move to House. Discussion. Bill Passes.
House #6
Motion to move to House. Discussion. Bill Passes.
House #47
Motion to move to Ways and Means. No Discussion. Bill Passes.
House #30
Motion to pass to House. Discussion. Bill passes.
Senate #41
Motion to pass to House. Discussion. Bill passes.
House #59
Motion to pass to Senate. Discussion. Bill passes.
Adjourned for Lunch 11:50am
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