Congress+-+Skyline+Style

Congress - A Tradition at Skyline

**__ The CONGRESS Session Top Ten __**

Important: When participating in congress be aware of these things. Your goal is to include all ten in the course of the round. As a result, every judge, no matter what their style preference or bias will rank you high in the round.

1. _ Power attitude – Intensity and confidence

2. _ Focus

3. _ Know Competition

4. _ Team work

5. _ Communication

6. _ Politic

7. _ Time aware – Speech placement

8. _ Stay involved – ask questions

9. _ Never give up

10. _ Block Breaking

**__ Characteristics of an effective Senator __**
 * An effective Senator: **


 * Is a capable debater and discussant:** Student congress is not just a clever manipulation of Robert’s Rules. An effective senator is one who presents and debates solid information which is applicable to the topic. A judge is most impressed with Senators who seem to possess a keen sense of the topic at hand.

//relationships, guilt by association//, and //black and white thinking//. Expose these logical fallacies when you hear them from other senators.
 * Uses sound logic:** Avoid //over-generalizations//, //circular reasoning//, faulty //cause and effect//


 * Cites evidence and authority:** As often as possible; support statements with facts, figures, specific instances, and testimonials. Bring support files of “Evidence Profiles” to assist you in presenting evidence to support your positions. Remember to state your sources!


 * Is a consummate speaker:** Student congress is a “speaking event” therefore it is important to be fluent, direct and enthusiastic. Good eye contact, a modulated voice and a dynamic physical presence are a must to be respected by the judge and the members of your house.


 * Understands and use rules correctly:** The rules were made to preserve order, not to create anarchy or chaos. According to noted parliamentarians Fredreich & Wilcox, “Anyone who uses their knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order to obstruct as waste time in abusing a system that is designed to make possible the dispatch of a maximum amount of business with the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and effort.”


 * Participates appropriately and courteously:** Contribute ideas when your knowledge or opinions will be beneficial to the house. Be a leader in the house by exposing problems and rule discrepancies when appropriate. It is possible to participate too Much! A Senator who is always crying for the floor may lose their effectiveness. On the other hand, it is impossible to consider a person who seldom participates as an effective senator.

**__ The Order of Business __** The business of the group is conducted by making ** main motions. To get a motion before the body: **
 * 1) The senator addresses the chair, (to get the chairs attention the senator **MUST STAND. When you want to make a speech stand and address the chair**
 * 2) The Chair must recognize the member. Chair says, “**For what purpose do you rise?”**
 * 3) The senator replies, “I rise to make a main motion.”
 * 4) Chair gives the floor to the senator.
 * 5) Senator stands before the body, reads the bill and responds, “I so move.”
 * 6) Someone in the house seconds the motion.
 * 7) Chair directs the senator, “You are now in order for a proponent speech.”
 * 8) Senator gives proponent speech.
 * 9) A two minute caucus is held if mandated by the orders of the day.
 * 10) Chair calls for motions before beginning debate, “Are there any main motions?”
 * 11) Motions (Amendments, etc.) are made, debated, and voted upon.
 * 12) Debate regarding main motion takes place.
 * 13) The main motion is debated and voted upon.
 * 14) A new senator rises to make a main motion.

In tournament sessions, students will pass a copy of their legislation, bill or resolution, to the first chair who shuffles these into a pile. Three to five resolutions are randomly pulled out at a time and their order is listed on the board. This listed order is then followed for presentation of legislation to the house. This allows a fair opportunity for students to present their legislation to the house.

SAMPLE **__ Orders of the day __**
 * 1) This body will act as a Federal body.
 * 2) One chair will be elected every hour or three bills/resolutions. Electe4d chair may appoint a parliamentarian and time keeper.


 * 1) Bills/Resolutions will be considered in random drawings of three by the chairperson as needed. No one may submit more that one bill/resolutions until every senator who desires to has presented legislation.


 * 1) Each person must have a copy of the legislation being debated or that legislation will not be considered.


 * 1) Speeches will last 3 minutes with the exception of the proponent’s speech which will last 4 mins uninterrupted.


 * 1) A two minute caucus will be in order after the proponent speech.


 * 1) Speakers may yield only the unused portion of their time.


 * 1) Speeches shall alternate Affirmative, negative. Affirmative speakers may yield time only to affirmative speakers and negative speakers may yield only to negative.


 * 1) Questions directed at the speaker will come from the speakers allotted time. Points of order and personal privilege do not count off the speaker’s time.


 * 1) Amendment debate will be limited to ten mins, not to count off the original time on the main motion, at which time previous question will automatically be passed. Amendment speeches will alternate affirmative, negative with a two minute limit.


 * 1) All amendments will be written and submitted to the chair before the are considered. Amendments will require a 1/3 second.


 * 1) Only one amendment to an amendment will be allowed.


 * 1) Each bill/resolution will be limited to 20 minutes of debate at which time previous question will have automatically passed.


 * 1) Objection to consideration, tabling motions, and postponing indefinitely cannot be made until after the proponent’s speech.


 * 1) Objection to consideration will have a on-on-one debate. The objector will speak followed by the proponent. Each speech will last one minute at which time previous questions is automatically called.


 * 1) Committee reports will be limited to one minute.


 * Orders of the day can only be changed with consent of the tournament host. **

**__ How to Refute __**
 * 1) Flowing: It is vital that you take notes as you listen to each speech. This process in debate is called “flowing.” I will enable you to number each item and give speeches which effectively address key issues instead of **__rambling and rehashing__**. Rambling and rehashing are the Kiss-of-death in student congress.


 * 1) Questions: As you listen to the speakers consider some or all of the following:


 * 1) Is it constitutional? If not; objection to consideration may be in order.
 * 2) Will the problem really be resolved?
 * 3) Has the speaker used any logical fallacies?
 * 4) Is the problem really that serious?
 * 5) Did the speaker present evidence that should come into question?
 * 6) Is this an issue which can be legislated?
 * 7) Is this a federal issue? It has to be federal, not state.
 * 8) Is there a better solution or is status quo already doing the job?
 * 9) What are the disadvantages of this proposal?
 * 10) Are there any harms?
 * 11) Can you see any holes in the proponent’s speech?


 * 1) Rebuttal speeches: Take your answers from the questions and formulate a speech. Use your flow to keep arguments logical and easy to follow.
 * 2) Organize your speech by sections. Example: “First; I have two problems with the proponent’s assessment of the problem; and I see two harms that might occur if we adopt this resolution.”
 * 3) Be careful about yielding. If you have time left you may yield to another person (from your own team) or yield to the floor. Better to take questions.
 * 4) NEVER, NEVER take a yield that is under one minute.
 * 5) When speakers yield to questions, ask fair questions which show your understanding of the speaker’s flawed reasoning without sounding authoritative or pompous. No one-on-one debate or rhetorical questions.

**__ How to Chair __** It is important and vital that you seek the role of CHAIR sometime during the session. At first this may seem intimidating but after some practice you will be amazed at how easy it really is! Here are some tips to employ while serving as chair.


 * 1) Running for chair:
 * 2) At the beginning of the session nominations will be made for chair. YOU CANNOT NOMINATE YOURSELF. There will usually be another Skyline Member in the each house. You may nominate each other. As you become proficient at running for chair you will learn to do some politicking so that someone from another school will nominate you for chair. Make as many friends as possible so the vote for you.
 * 3) After four or five nominations have been made some will say, “I move to close nominations.” I should then be seconded. At this point each of the nominated students will give a short 10 to 30 second spiel about why the body should elect them as the chair. It is important to be professional and personable. Some senators will try to be a stand-up comedian; this usually indicates they have a vague understanding of the rules. Tell the house that you; 1. Know the rules; 2. will be careful to call on all members of the house; 3 above all, will be fair. A good chair needs to be respected. You might make small jokes during your speech, but only to help build your credibility, not to distract.
 * 4) Run as many times as you like. Don’t be embarrassed if you are not elected as chair. You may have to run three or four times, but if you remain undaunted, the house will likely admire you. Chair counts as a speech and the judges get a great chance to see you in action.
 * 5) There will be about four chairs in a congress session, depending on the tournament and the length of the session. The ORDERS OF THE DAY should specify the length of time a chair is to serve. It does not matter what position you chair. There are advantages and disadvantages to any position. The first Chair has to be aggressive and get the session running. The second chair has it relatively easy. The third chair has to take over after lunch or a break when everyone is tired. The last chair has to deal with a body that is often restless or out-of-control. Also the last chair feels some resentment from senators that are trying to get in a last speech and don’t have priority. The important thing is to try and chair. It is a valuable experience, regardless of the order in which you serve.


 * 1) Preparation before chairing:
 * 2) If you are going to keep your nomination promises you will need to do some preparatory work before you serve as chair. If you are really going to try to call on a variety of people you will need a method of keeping track of who speaks and for how long. Some people make a seating chart.
 * 3) Because all votes are not majority and require one or two thirds, another task is to count the number of people in the house so you will be able to make rulings quickly. You need to write this down so that you can reference it quickly. A chart which gives you these denominations is available for you use.


 * 1) While chairing:
 * 2) You must have a way of keeping track of the time each senator speaks. Most Orders of the Day Limit the time of each debate on any one motion to 20 minutes and on amendments to 10 minutes. It is the chair that keeps track and announces things to the house. There is an easy trick to keeping track. The proponent speech is four minutes, uninterrupted. A negative speech must follow, then affirmative, and so on. Each speaker after the proponent is limited to three minutes, therefore that can only be six speakers including the proponent. Look at it this way:

Speaker #1 -- #2 -- #3 -- #4 -- #5 -- #6 = six speeches

(proponent) aff 4 + neg 3 + aff 3 + neg 3 + aff 3 + neg 3 = 20 mins

If an amendment comes up, the motion time freezes and the 10 minute limit on amendments begins. If a speaker yields to another speaker they can share the three minutes. Let’s say a negative speaker uses I min and yields to another senator. This senator has two minutes to speak. One catch; the speaker has to be negative. If the yielding speaker was speaking affirmatively then the Senator that he yields to must also speak affirmatively. Often speakers will forget this and try to speak on the opposite side. The chair must be responsible for policing any infractions. If a speaker yields is time to the floor then the time is said to have run out and a new speaker is in order.

i. Take a handbook with you and perhaps __Robert’s Rules of Order__ as well. You might build a small binder just for Student Congress and keep past legislation discussed in it as well as all of the rules and forms needed to run a legislative session.
 * 1) Know the rules:


 * 1) Learn the temperament of the house and try to keep the majority happy while moving the session along. Each house has a different personality. A chair has to recognize that personality and deal with it effectively.


 * 1) Electing a new chair:
 * 2) When your time as chair has expired announce to the group, “Nominations are open for a new chair.” Direct the nominations in a professional manner, thank the group for letting you serve as chair, and return to your seat as a Senator in the house. If you have done a good job you could be recognized as the “best chair” of the day.

according to priority. You never want to be accused of blocking.
 * 1) Absolutely do not block! Use the power of the chair to be fair and spread the speeches evenly

**__ THINGS A GOOD CHAIR DOES __** __ ANNOUNCE __ everything the house is doing as they do it. __ ANNOUNCE __ time remaining to each speaker as they come up. __ ALWAYS __ give time signals to the house. __ NEVER __ let the house control you. YOU control the house. __ NEVER __ let the house yell out at each other. __ NEVER __ allow one-on-one debate between speakers and questioners.
 * __ NEVER, EVER BLOCK __**

= 2013-2014 Legislation (November 2013 packet) = **A Resolution to Explore the Merits of a Federal Consumption Tax** 1) Repeal the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and 2) Establish a 21% Federal Consumption Tax on all material and investment products, including a mechanism allowing rebates to be returned to all citizens whose annual gross income falls below the Federal Poverty Level to mitigate harm to America’s working poor; and be it
 * WHEREAS, ** upward economic mobility for individuals is stifled by a progressive income tax; and
 * WHEREAS, ** the annual revenue generated by income tax under the status quo fails to fund a financially solvent Federal Government, and income tax law is unreasonably complex and both cumbersome and costly to sustain; and
 * WHEREAS, ** According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, the average American consumer spends more than $49,638 each year on material and investment goods, and in 2012, the United States had a population of 313.9 M citizens, 67% of whom are consumers (210.3 M); and
 * WHEREAS, ** A flat consumption tax applied to a population of this size has the potential to increase tax revenue for the Federal Government without unduly burdening any individual citizens, while dramatically simplifying tax collection and preparation, and it would greatly reduce the need for IRS agents and similar bureaucratic entities; now, therefore be it
 * RESOLVED, ** that the Congress here assembled shall refer to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) the task of evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of replacing the entirety of the current Federal income tax system with a 21% flat consumption tax on all material and investment products (including government bonds) sold within U.S. borders; and be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** that the JCT must report its findings to this body within one calendar year of passage of this legislation; and be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** that if the Committee finds a fiscal advantage over the status quo both to the United States Government and its citizenry, the Ways and Means Committee shall be assigned the task of drafting legislation to:
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** that all legislation drafted to these ends must be introduced to this body within six months of the JCT report and implemented within two calendar years of the passage of this resolution.

A Bill to Admit Puerto Rico to the United States as the 51st State BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: SECTION 1. Puerto Rico will be offered admission to the United States as a state. SECTION 2. The Legislature of Puerto Rico is required to: SECTION 3. The State of Puerto Rico will include the Island of Puerto Rico itself and the smaller islands that currently comprise the Territory of Puerto Rico. SECTION 4. This law will become effective upon passage. SECTION 5. All laws in conflict with this legislation are herby declared null and void.
 * 1) A. Submit to eligible voters propositions for statehood and adoption of a formal State Constitution.
 * 2) B. Issue a proclamation for the first elections to the United States Congress of two Senators and one Representative of Puerto Rico.
 * 3) C. Convert Territorial government offices into state offices.

**A Resolution to Pursue Penalties for Medical Repatriation of Immigrants **
 * WHEREAS, **American hospitals routinely and unjustly deport sick or injured immigrants to medical facilities in their home countries without their consent or the proper authority; and
 * WHEREAS, **The Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall University School of Law and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest report that over 800 cases of medical repatriations have occurred over the past six years, and this figure constitutes only a fraction of such cases, as many are unreported; and
 * WHEREAS, **The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act require hospitals to screen and treat to stabilization all patients with emergent medical needs, regardless of their health insurance coverage or immigration status; and
 * WHEREAS, **The courts have upheld that immigrants are persons protected under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to life, liberty, and due process of law, and
 * WHEREAS, **Medical repatriation illegally violates the rights of immigrants, resulting in their unethical and inhumane treatment; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, **by this Congress that: we reiterate to all concerned that the Federal Government alone retains the authority to execute orders of removal, in accordance with current Immigration Law and subject to judicial review; and be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** that attempts by states or local hospital staff to usurp the legal authority of the Federal Government by executing deportations ought to be met with significant penalties; and be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"> that this matter shall immediately be referred to the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, who shall be tasked with establishing appropriate sanctions and an enforcement mechanism for violating this policy; and be it
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">FURTHER RESOLVED, **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"> that the Committee shall report back to this body with an actionable recommendation on the matter by June 1, 2014.

A Resolution to Reinstate the Gold Standard WHEREAS, the United States has accrued approximately $17 trillion dollars of debt; and WHEREAS, the Gold Standard ensured that the price would not vary widely; and WHEREAS, the Gold Standard was a commitment by participating countries to fix the prices of their domestic currencies in terms of a specified amount of gold; now, therefore, be it
 * WHEREAS **, the value of the dollar fluctuates against other currencies; and
 * WHEREAS **, fluctuating currencies raise interest payments causing the United States to pay more on its debt; and
 * WHEREAS **, historically, the Gold Standard was a domestic standard regulating the quantity and growth rate of a country’s money supply; and
 * RESOLVED, ** That the Congress here assembled reinstate the Gold Standard for American currency.

A Bill to Encourage Altruistic Fiscal Choices by Congress

BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: SECTION 1. The Legislative Branch of the United States shall be subject to a number of new fiscal policies in order to incentivize sound choices in its financial responsibilities. SECTION 2. The Legislative Branch refers to Legislators -elected Members of the House of Representatives of the United States of America (Congressmen) and elected Members of the Senate of the United States of America (Senators), past, present, and future- as well as any staff members appointed to serve these. SECTION 3. Legislative Branch compensation shall be altered as follows: SECTION 5. This law will become effective upon passage. SECTION 6. All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.
 * 1) A. A Legislator shall receive a fair market wage administered by the US Office of Personnel Management in the form of bi-monthly per diem payments throughout his or her current term of office, and
 * 2) B. Legislators shall forfeit one day’s prorated pay for each day of an active legislative session he or she fails to physically attend, and
 * 3) C. Annually, individual Legislators’ Member Relocation Allowances and Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Accounts shall be capped at $1M and $3M respectively, and
 * 4) D. Cost-of-living adjustments to Legislative wages and allowances are contingent on passage of proportional adjustments to the Federal Minimum Wage during the same legislative session, to be implemented immediately by the Department of Labor, and
 * 5) E. Legislators may not utilize any Federal tax benefits which are not equally available to the American citizenry at-large, and
 * 6) F. Legislators shall receive no compensation, benefits, or pensions beyond their terms of office, and
 * 7) G. All monies earmarked for Legislators’ retirement benefits that are currently held in the Federal Employees’ Retirement System and the Civil Service Retirement System shall be reallocated to the Social Security Administration, and
 * 8) H. Legislators shall continue to pay into Social Security and shall receive without special consideration Social Security benefits commensurate with those received by American citizens at-large, and
 * 9) I. The Federal Election committee shall disqualify any Legislator for reelection for the term following any term in which the Federal Budget Deficit exceeds 3% of GDP, and
 * 10) J. The US Office of Personnel Management shall freeze all Legislative Branch wages upon a failure to pass a Government Funding Bill by the close of any fiscal year, to be released upon passage of stated legislation, subject to a 5% garnishment per week of failure to pass such.


 * A resolution in support of warning labels on electronic media devices **
 * Whereas, ** the Journal of Adolescent Health has linked electronic media addiction to hyperactive tendencies reminiscent of the tendencies of sufferers of ADHD, serious depression, and intensified aggressive behavior, and


 * Whereas,** doctors at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital have compared brain patterns of people addicted to electronic media to the brain patterns of people with substance dependencies, and


 * Whereas,** Microsoft, among other corporations, has openly admitted and published that their software is specifically designed to trigger and manipulate dopamine in the brain which leads to addiction, and


 * Whereas,** electronic media addiction (including internet, video game, text-messaging, social networking, and telephone use) is becoming incredibly prevalent in modern culture and should be considered as harmful as substance addiction, and


 * Whereas,** electronic media addiction has led to self-destructive behavior like severe apathy, loss of interest in other aspects of life, and in serious cases, suicide and unintentional self-starvation.


 * Therefore, be it resolved by the student congress here assembled** that by December 31, 2015, this body expands the scope of the Surgeon General’s office to regulate electronic media devices to the extent that it may and should begin requiring labeling such devices with warnings of their addictive nature.

A Resolution to Improve American Public Education Whereas, the current Federal Budget dramatically overfunds Defense (with 20 % of the Federal Budget or $729 billion in 2012) while grossly underfunding education (only 2% of the Federal Budget or approximately $7 billion in 2012), and Whereas, American education is at a crisis point, unforgivably placing the youngest Americans, who will be the eventual leaders of this Nation, at a major disadvantage compared with their international peers educationally and eventually in terms of vocational aptitude, and Whereas, the status quo in American education has catastrophic implications for the economic and social climate of our nation, and Whereas, the national Defense is both honorable and a necessary responsibility and expense of the State, but the status quo prioritizes offensive and overseas concerns to the exclusion of necessary public services, and Whereas, the availability of funds to improve American education remains a contentious issue as a result of the current economic state, and Whereas, reducing the Defense budget by two percent (or $14.6B) will have a negligible effect on national security, and Whereas, increasing the Education budget by two-hundred percent (or $14.6B) would substantially increase the quality of education in our country and directly improve the lives of the 54.7 million American students, and Therefore be it resolved by the Student Congress here assembled that this body shall establish a federal grant program to be administered by the Department of Education, providing financial incentives for states to implement increased Advanced Placement and vocational programs, lower class sizes, improve facilities and materials, and compensate educators commensurate with cost-of-living increases and rewarding continuing education, and Be it further resolved that every reasonable effort be made by this body to reallocate $14.6B from the Federal Defense Budget to the Federal Education Budget, earmarked for creating this program by the close of the 2015 fiscal year.

**<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">A Bill to Delist Wolves from the Endangered Species List **
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">BE IT ENACTED BY THE STUDENT CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: **
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">SECTION 1. **<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">Wolves shall hereby be completely removed from the endangered species list, and no penalties shall result from “taking” them.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">SECTION 2. **<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">“ Wolves” shall refer to all animals in the //canis lupus// and //canis rufus// species, and all subspecies and hybrids thereof, whose home territory is located within the United States borders. “Endangered species list” refers to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (LETW) maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. “Taking” is defined as knowingly harming, wounding, or killing.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">SECTION 3. **<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">The Department of the Interior and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) shall be jointly responsible for implementing this policy change.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">A. The Secretary of the Interior shall revise the LETW to exclude Wolves entirely.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">B. The U.S. FWS shall no longer penalize “taking” Wolves.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">SECTION 4. **<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">The directive issued in Section 3A of this legislation shall be implemented within six months of passage. Upon completion of such, Section 3B shall immediately become effective.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">SECTION 5. **<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif;">All laws in conflict with this legislation are hereby declared null and void.

** A Bill to Enable the Defense of Military Personnel **
 * 1) 1. ** SECTION 1. ** The military personnel of the United States of
 * 2) 2. America be allowed to carry their standard sidearm
 * 3) 3. when on a military installation.
 * 4) 4. ** SECTION 2. ** We define the following terms: standard sidearm:
 * 5) 5. the standard issue sidearm issued to each soldier.
 * 6) 6. Military personnel: any ranking soldier, officer, or
 * 7) 7. enlisted member of the united states armed forces.
 * 8) 8. Military installation: a facility directly owned and
 * 9) 9. operated by and/or for the military or one of its
 * 10) 10. branches that shelters military equipment and
 * 11) 11. personnel, and facilitates training and operations.
 * 12) 12. ** SECTION 3. ** This bill shall be overseen and put into force by the
 * 13) 13. United States armed forces.
 * 14) 14. ** SECTION 4. ** This bill shall take effect on January 1st, 2014.
 * 15) 15. ** SECTION 5. ** Any and all laws that are in conflict with this new
 * 16) 16. policy be pronounced null and void.
 * 17) 17.
 * 18) 18. **I SO MOVE**

** A Bill to Abolish Mandatory Minimums for Drug Sentences ** Congress to set a minimum amount of prison time for offenders of federal drug laws. These guidelines are based on the amount of substances seized and number of prior offenses. to produce federal sentencing guidelines to replace mandatory minimum sentencing. A. Be non-mandated guidelines B. Be reasonable and based on judicial opinion passage of this bill. At that time, mandatory minimums for drug sentences will also be abolished.
 * BE IT ENACTED BY THE CONGRESS HERE ASSEMBLED THAT: **
 * Section 1: ** Mandatory minimums for drug sentences shall be abolished.
 * Section 2: ** Mandatory minimums refers to the sentencing guidelines formerly enacted by
 * Section 3: ** A committee comprised of this body shall be formed upon passage of this legislation
 * Section 4: ** These guidelines shall:
 * Section 4: ** The committee must have proposed sentencing guidelines nine months from the
 * Section 5: ** All laws in conflict with this bill shall be declared null and void.

2013-2014 Legislation Packet (September 2013) A Resolution to Grant Citizenship  to Highly Educated Immigrants <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">immigrants to leave the country, and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">and create businesses in the U.S., and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">science, and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">be it <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">recommendation for solution that American citizenship <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> will be granted to foreign students who receive master’s <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> or PhD graduate degrees in math and science from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> United States universities.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHEREAS **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">, Existing immigrant laws force many American educated
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHEREAS **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">, Highly educated immigrants could strengthen business
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHEREAS **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">, the U.S. should maintain a stand in innovation and
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">WHEREAS **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">, 70% of engineers with PhD’s are foreign born, therefore,
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">RESOLVED, **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> That the Congress here assembled make the following

Funding for NASA should be increased to at least 2% of the total Federal budget Therefore, be it resolved by this congress here assembled that funding for the NASA program should be increased to at least 2% of the total federal budget. I so move.
 * 1) 1. Whereas; NASA, in its height of funding, employed more than 300,000 people.
 * 2) 2. Whereas; It has jobs available for people of all types of education.
 * 3) 3. Whereas; Scientific discoveries made by NASA have improved everyday life for people all around the world.
 * 4) 4. Whereas; Inventions such as, invisible braces, cordless power tools, memory foam, scratch resistant lenses, safety grooves, and modern water filters have all been funded by NASA.
 * 5) 5. Whereas; NASA built and distributed many of our modern satellites revolutionizing our telecommunication industry.
 * 6) 6. Whereas; NASA developed global positioning satellites, or GPS, and created the most accurate mapping system ever available.
 * 7) 7. Whereas; Many new medical techniques, including MRI’s and more life-like artificial limbs, have been developed by NASA.
 * 8) 8. Whereas; 54% of our federal budget is spent on the department of defense and only .48% is spent on NASA.
 * 9) 9. Whereas; By developing rocket technology we would be able to better research the space around us.
 * 10) 10. Whereas; Increasing it to only 2% nearly quadruples the amount of funding available now.
 * 11) 11. Whereas; The U.S. has an overflow of tanks and by cutting the production in half we would have more than enough funding for the NASA program.

** A Resolution to Require Inmates Work for the Prison **

I So Move.
 * WHEREAS **, On January 1st, 2011, there were 1,612,395 people in Federal Prisons; and
 * WHEREAS **, American taxpayers are currently paying an average Of $63 per inmate per day; and
 * WHEREAS **, Under the current system, if prisoners work, they keep the money rather than it going to the prison topay for the inmates; therefore be it
 * RESOLVED, ** That federal inmates will work at the prisons, andthe money earned shall go to the prison to pay for their own room, food, and anything else the prison provides. Be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** That inmates refusing to work will receive the basic requirements of living, but will not be given access to the privileges of the prison.

= =

A Resolution to Nationally Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide
 * WHEREAS **, Patients with terminal illnesses are not allowed to decide when to end their own lives and;
 * WHEREAS **, This leaves certain patients in pain or in a vegetable like state until they pass away due to complications;
 * WHEREAS **, Being given the choice of physician-assisted suicide would allow these patients to choose their own death; and
 * WHEREAS **, This would allow patients the autonomy to die with dignity; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, ** That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for nationally legalizing physician-assisted suicide; and, be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** That only those who are six months terminal, mentally capable, and consenting adults be given the option of physician-assisted suicide.

= =

A Resolution to Regulate the Production and Manufacture of Printed Firearms to Ensure Public Safety
 * WHEREAS **, Technology has evolved to such a state that acquiring a firearm may be accomplished simply by use of a 3D printer; and
 * WHEREAS **, Mass acquisition and distribution of unregulated, un-tracked, home-made firearms may result in compromised public safety and increased rates of armed crime; and
 * WHEREAS **, With firearms being more easily acquirable and available, the government and other facilities with the object of keeping the peace will not be able to register or track the firearms in order to keep them from those who do not qualify, and the number of guns held by permit-less people will increase; and
 * WHEREAS **, The number of guns held by permit-less people will increase; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, ** That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation to regulate and monitor the sale of 3D printers capable of printing firearms; and, be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** That monitoring and sale of such software capable of such manufacture be endorsed also.

A Resolution to Require Monsanto to   Label Genetically Modified Products
 * WHEREAS**, Monsanto, a biotechnology agricultural corporation, has established dominance over the seed and pesticide market, with 90-95% of the market share in 2009; and
 * WHEREAS**, Monsanto is monopolizing the seed and pesticide markets (market value 56.8b) by edging out competitor companies like DuPont (market value 7.4b) and Pioneer (market value 3.8b); and
 * WHEREAS**, As it gains further influence internationally, Monsanto is able to manipulate industries and farmers to meet excessive and sometimes crippling demands; and
 * WHEREAS**, More than 52% of American consumers regard Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as unsafe and 92% of American consumers believe the Federal Government should label such products; and
 * WHEREAS,** Labeling Monsanto Products as GMOs would incentivize consumers to buy other products to ultimately decrease Monsanto’s market monopoly; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED,** That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation to require products that use Monsanto products to label them as such.

A Resolution to Deny the Federal Government  the Ability to Ban Books
 * WHEREAS **, The United States government has the ability to ban books, which is in violation of the rights to Freedom of Speech and Press; and
 * WHEREAS **, The issue presented is of a problematic nature due to the incorrect authority demonstrated by the government in banning books, for reasons such as racial slurs, religious intolerance and sexual references; and
 * WHEREAS, ** This authority should be prohibited for the reason that the government eliminates basic rights, and historically banned books that have been reintroduced have been used as a great means of educational resources; and
 * WHEREAS **, If the Government continues to interfere with the ability of its citizens to read, write, and publish what they please it will take away from the wealth of an individual’s education, all the while wrongfully infringing upon the first amendment of the constitution; therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, ** That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for solution to eliminate the ability of the Federal Government to ban books and, be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** That all citizens have their full right to freedom of the press, and the choice to read, write, and publish whatever literature they so desire.

A Resolution to Prohibit Employers from Requesting Job Applicants to Give Access to Social Media Accounts
 * WHEREAS **, Employers currently have the ability to request access through usernames and passwords to job applicants’ social media accounts; and
 * WHEREAS **, Employees’ personal lives should not be intruded upon by their employers and co-workers; and
 * WHEREAS **, 32 percent of employees have admitted to being punished for something posted on a social media site; and
 * WHEREAS **, Employers currently have the right to withhold work from a person who does not disclose their social media information; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, ** That the Congress here assembled ban employers from requesting social media account information from job applicants.

A Resolution to Advance Railroad Infrastructure
 * WHEREAS **, Carbon levels throughout the world are increasing; and
 * WHEREAS **, The United States is second in the world in carbon emissions; and
 * WHEREAS **, As a leading nation, the United States is moving towards becoming carbon neutral; and
 * WHEREAS **, A Hydrail train produces less than 1% of the amount of greenhouse gasses that oil or gasoline does; and
 * WHEREAS, ** It has been estimated that if 10% of long distance freight was moved by trains rather than by truck, it would be the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off of road; and
 * WHEREAS, ** One boxcar can remove four trucks from the road; and
 * WHEREAS, ** Transportation by train results in 4 times fewer deaths than automobile, plane and bus; and
 * WHEREAS, ** Rails exert a centripetal force on metropolitan areas reducing sprawl which cuts energy consumption; and
 * WHEREAS, ** Trains can travel at 100 mph or more, meaning faster and more efficient travel; therefore, be it

A Resolution to Base Government Representative Salaries on Accomplishment
 * WHEREAS **, The average congressman is paid a base salary of 184,000 per year; and
 * WHEREAS **, The average salary for a state representative is about 4 times that of the average household income; and
 * WHEREAS **, Federal and state representatives increase the national debt by an estimated $3.5 billion yearly; and
 * WHEREAS **, Filibusters can double the cost of a senate or congressional session; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, ** That the pay of state representatives be based on the amount of work accomplished per session, and, be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** That any direct prohibition to make accomplishments during a congressional or senate session shall be correlated to a dock in salary for all representatives involved.

A Resolution to Decrease Space Debris to   Rescue the Final Frontier
 * WHEREAS **, the amount of spacecraft debris, otherwise known as “space junk” has the potential to harm current space expeditions and spacecraft in orbit; and
 * WHEREAS **, space junk currently occupies 95% of Earth’s lower orbit, with 29,000 pieces of debris measuring over ten centimeters orbiting; and
 * WHEREAS, ** Only 17,000 of those pieces are being monitored from the ground, and only 7% being functional objects ; and
 * WHEREAS **, orbital spacecraft collisions- similar to the one occurring February 2009 involving an iridium satellite and a defunct Soviet Kosmos satellite which collided, creating over 2,000 pieces of debris in space- are becoming increasingly frequent, with a major collision happening every five years ; and
 * WHEREAS, ** in the last five decades, an average of one piece of debris from space (usually bigger than four centimeters) falls to the earth every day, creating an increasing threat to mankind’s safety; and
 * WHEREAS **, at the biggest space-conference held in Germany in April 2013, three hundred space experts determined that due to the increasing rate of collisions, space exploration will be impossible if the issue of space debris is not resolved; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, ** that the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for solution by increasing funding to the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee to expound on the solutions discussed during the Germany 2013 space to ensure the safety of the final Frontier.

Stem Cell Research __I so move.__
 * 1) 1. Whereas; Stem cells provide huge potential for finding treatments and cures to a vast
 * 2) 2. array of diseases including different cancers, diabetes, spinal cord injuries,
 * 3) 3. Parkinson’s, and
 * 4) 4. Whereas; There are people suffering from diseases for which stem cells research might
 * 5) 5. be the only hope, and
 * 6) 6. Whereas; Only 8 states permit research on a fetus or embryo, and
 * 7) 7. Whereas; Stem cells do not just come from embryonic cells they also come from adult
 * 8) 8. cells, and
 * 9) 9. Whereas; The research would give great insights about the basics of the body, and
 * 10) 10. Whereas; **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Adult Stem Cells **, when needed can repair adult organs and tissue, and
 * 11) 11. Whereas; Research has not progressed to the point where even one cure has yet
 * 12) 12. been generated by embryonic stem cell research, and
 * 13) 13. Whereas; There is endless potential for scientists to learn about human growth and
 * 14) 14. cell development from studying stem cells, and
 * 15) 15. Whereas; Another advantage is the ability to test millions of potential drugs and
 * 16) 16. medicine, Without the use of animals or human testers, and
 * 17) 17. Whereas; We will only take stem cells from voluntary donors, never by force for
 * 18) 18. research of any kind
 * 19) 19. Therefore; be it resolved by this student congress here assembled that the U.S.
 * 20) 20. Government revises the restriction on stem cell research.

** A Resolution to Reveal Contributors to Super PACs **
 * Whereas** the July, 2008 Supreme Court ruling, popularly known as Citizens United, allowed for the creation of Super PACs, and;
 * Whereas,** a PAC is a political action committee, and;
 * Whereas,** a Super PACs are made up of individuals, corporations or labor unions with substantial funds to spend, and;
 * Whereas,** these organizations produce and buy media that supports their cause without the consent or agreement of a candidate, and;
 * Whereas,** donations to political campaigns are tax deductible and fall under federal laws that allow for non-disclosure of names, and;
 * Whereas**, members and contributors of Super PACs are not required reveal themselves but hide behind patriotic sounding names like “Restore Our Future,” or “Club for Growth,” and;
 * Whereas,** the voting public does not know who is supporting these groups or why;
 * Therefore, be it resolved**, that the names of all contributors to PACs be easily accessible to the average citizen and that all media aired by that PAC include the names of the ten biggest contributors to that PAC.

** A Resolution to Introduce a Term Limit to Federally Appointed Judges **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, The current back-log in appointments is detrimental to the judiciary
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. system; and
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas, **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Judges should have a maximum of twelve years in office, and
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas, **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Decreasing the time of tenure would allow modern value systems to be 5.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. exemplified in court decisions; and
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas, **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Limits would decrease public opinion swaying court decisions; and
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whereas, **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Candidates would be required to meet certain qualifications allowing for
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">8. able candidates to take office; now, therefore be it
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">9. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Resolved, **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">That the Congress here assembled introduce a term limit to federally
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">10. appointed judges.

** A Resolution to end independent political expenditures by corporations, political action committees, or labor unions **
 * 1) 1. **WHEREAS,** Citizens United Supreme Court decision grants corporations, associations,
 * 2) 2. and labor unions the right to put up political ads and to fund political campaigns with
 * 3) 3. unlimited resources without the consent of candidates; and
 * 4) 4. **WHEREAS,** all candidates running for office should be able to expression their own
 * 5) 5. vision; and
 * 6) **6.** **WHEREAS,** the financial inequality inherent in the current system limits the voices of
 * 7) **7.** average Americans; and
 * 8) **8.** **WHEREAS,** popular sovereignty demands that the voice of the American people be
 * 9) **9.** heard over those of financial & special interests.
 * 10) **10.** **RESOLVED,** that the Congress here assembled forbid corporations, political action committees and labor unions from financing political ads and from contributing to political campaigns for national office.

** A Resolution to Derive Tax Revenue From the Stock Market to pay off the Federal Debt **
 * Whereas, ** The current Federal Debt is approximately 22.5% of the useable money in the world, using the M3 figure; and
 * Whereas, **The United States does not generate enough tax revenue to cover even one quarter of the debt, let alone other expenses; and
 * Whereas, **The United States Constitution and law confers to Congress the right to levy taxes on transactions; and
 * Whereas, **A small tax on all stock market transactions would quickly accumulate a large revenue; and
 * Whereas, **This tax shall not exceed 2.5%; and
 * Whereas, **This tax shall apply to all stock purchases; and
 * Whereas, **This tax shall be flat, applying equally to all stocks & securities; and
 * Whereas, **This tax shall be used only to directly pay off the Federal Debt
 * Whereas, **If the Federal Debt is fully paid off, excess revenue shall be used for internal improvements, such as public works, education, healthcare, and research, however, the primary purpose of this tax shall always be to pay of the Federal Debt; therefore, be it
 * Resolved, **That the Congress here assembled make the following recommendation for solution; and, be it
 * Further Resolved, **That this tax be implemented by the end of the 2015 Session of Congress.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">A RESOLUTION TO LESSEN THE DIVOCE RATE & PROVIDE FOR MARITAL EDUCATION //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">I so move! //
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. WHEREAS: The United States has the highest divorce rate in the world, and;
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. WHEREAS: As many as one in two marriages in the U.S. currently end in divorce, and;
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. WHEREAS: The Federal Government currently spends $150 billion per year to subsidize
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. and sustain single-parent families, and;
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. WHERAS: A comparatively miniscule $150 million dollars is currently spent to
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. strengthen marriages, and;
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. WHERAS: Skill-based marital education can reduce the risk of divorce by up to thirty
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">8. percent and lead to a significantly happier marriage, and;
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">9. WHERAS: Many divorces have a number of negative consequences, which can extend
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">10. to both the divorcees and their children.
 * 11) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">11. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the United States appropriate significantly
 * 12) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">12. higher funds to strengthen marriages through the widespread publication of marital
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">13. educational materials.
 * 14) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">14. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That all couples wishing to maintain a marriage license
 * 15) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">15. in the United States first spend a minimum of five hours in pre-marital education.

A Resolution to Base Admission to Higher Education Institutions Solely on Merit
 * 1) 1. **WHEREAS,** affirmative action perpetuates concentration on skin color; and
 * 2) 2. **WHEREAS,** minorities often gain entrance to higher education at the expense of
 * 3) 3. more qualified, non-minority applicants; and
 * 4) 4. **WHEREAS,** students admitted on this premise are more likely to be ill-equipped to
 * 5) 5. succeed in the colleges and universities to which they have gained admission; and
 * 6) 6. **WHEREAS,** ensuring a certain number of minorities gain entrance to an educational
 * 7) 7. institution lowers the standards of accountability needed to push students to perform
 * 8) 8. better; and
 * 9) 9. **WHEREAS,** it is condescending to suggest that minorities need assistance to
 * 10) 10. succeed; therefore,
 * 11) 11. **BE IT RESOLVED** by the student congress here assembled that all higher education
 * 12) 12. institutions in these United States abandon the affirmative action policy and judge
 * 13) 13. entrance based solely on merit.
 * I So Move.**

Making Cigarettes Schedule I Drug 2. **Whereas**: Someone dies because of cigarettes every eight seconds; and, 3. **Whereas**: 9 out of 10 lung cancer cases discovered every year are smokers; and, 4. **Whereas**: 46,000 people die every year from second hand smoke; and, 5. **Whereas**: Cigarettes have a high potential for abuse; and, 6. **Whereas**: Cigarettes have no medical uses in the United States; and, 7. **Whereas**: Cigarettes lack safety when used in medical care. 8. **Therefore Be It Resolved That**: Cigarettes are to be placed on the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I drug. **I SO MOVE**
 * 1. Whereas**: Cigarettes kill 443,600 people per year; and,

A Resolution to Promote the Use of Thorium Driven Nuclear Reactors for Energy Production
 * WHEREAS **, Uranium-driven nuclear energy has fallen into disrepute thanks to numerous nuclear incidents such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; and
 * WHEREAS **, Multiple governments including the People’s Republic of China have already begun research into the creation of Thorium Driven Liquid Fluoride Reactors; and
 * WHEREAS **, The United States is falling behind technologically in nuclear power production; and
 * WHEREAS **, This growing gap between the United States and other Nuclear States presents a growing risk to the national security of the United States; and
 * WHEREAS, ** Thorium Reactors are, according to CERN, many times more efficient than current power production systems; and
 * WHEREAS, ** By the same source, one ton of Thorium is capable of producing the power equivalent of 200 tons of Uranium or 3,500,000 tons of coal; now, therefore, be it
 * RESOLVED, ** That the Congress here assembled apportion funds for the reopening of the Oakridge Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor as a template for future nuclear production facilities, and, be it
 * FURTHER RESOLVED, ** That the Office of Nuclear Energy be required to establish guidelines to create new Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors to replace current Uranium driven nuclear reactors and other fossil fuel power production facilities in conjunction with other sustainable energy sources.