The Senate Simulation

Ally is taking Honors US History this year in 11th grade and part of the curriculum is learning about the US Government so they do a project called the Senate Simulation. All 11th graders and most of the 12th graders participate in this project. Each student is randomly assigned a Senator. They have to research their Senator, give a presentation in class about the Senator and draft a bill that the Senator might actually submit to the senate. A committee decides what students will present their bills to the Senate on the day of the simulation. 

During the event students are encouraged to dress like a Senator (but not required bc the school does not want people to just buy clothes for this event) but no hoodies, or crocs etc there was a basic dress code. 

During the event the Senators have the opportunity to comment on bills and each bill is voted on. Some are a group vote others a roll call vote. 

The whole event was live streamed so parents and family could watch from home. I shared the link with Debbie and Dave and I watched the last 45 minutes from work while doing some things at my desk. It was pretty neat to see.

Ally commented on several bills. And we got to see her present her bill I texted our group chat and everyone logged on, even Becky from her classroom. It was voted on and passed!

I was pretty impressed with the preparation work of most of the students. Ally was Senator Bob Casey Democrat from Pennsylvania. And when she commented on a bill about funding for gun control research, she talked about how she had 4 kids and as a parent she felt all children should be able to go to school safely and that gun violence is the #1 cause of death in children in America. 

I did a lot of work to help her “look the part” mostly because I love to shop and because in the next year Ally is going to be interviewing for colleges and jobs and will need some nicer clothes for those. My best find was a royal blue suit. My failure was shoes. We tried over 10 pairs of dress shoes for Ally and none fit. We’ve agreed we need to keep looking for shoes before the next event. But she happily wore her blue Jordan’s which really went with the democrat blue theme. She said got a lot of compliments on her outfit. 

She wore her hair slicked back in a ponytail, and even wore pearls around her neck. 

Such a positive school event. She said she felt she did well. After school she had to get some cavities filled and then crashed in a nap with her cats and ended the day with breakfast for dinner in bed. 

Ally is last in line to comment on a bill.

Presenting her bill on healthcare.

Writing her remarks to speak about another bill. They did not know what other bills would be presented so after they heard it they had the opportunity to comment. But they had to comment as if they were the Senator. 

These cats are the very best.