Model General Assembly is a program that
introduces the youth of the nation to the procedure of governing the nation or
state. The Underclassmen Legislature is a portion of the program that gives
younger students a chance to be introduced to MGA and general legislation.
Unlike the main part of the program, the UL covers the basics and helps develop
the students’ mindset towards being ready to take on the Senate or House floor
when they come the next year. Throughout the weekend the students get to
experience educational workshops and speeches. These events are made enjoyable
for the students and are helpful in the future.
One of the first items on the
underclassmen agenda is a “Day in the Life of a Legislator” workshop. Virginia
Senator Monty Mason, of the first district, and Virginia Delegate Rob Bloxom,
of the 100th District, came to MGA and spoke to the UL about their daily lives
as legislators. They were willing to share their experience and backgrounds for
an exclusive interview. Delegate Bloxom spends his time selling tires and other
automobile parts in his store on the Eastern Shore. He also enjoys raising
oysters in his free time. In the House, Mr. Bloxom is on multiple committees,
including Agriculture and Natural Resources in Chesapeake, Finance for Taxing,
and the Transportation Committee. Senator Mason, most recently worked for Visa
in the Fraud and Risk Division. In the Senate, Mr. Mason works with Agriculture
as he is on the Conservation of Natural Resources Committee, General Law
Committee, and Rehabilitation and Social Service Committee. During their speech
to the Underclassmen, they explained the general process of legislation and
relationships between the legislators. They spoke to enable the underclassmen
to understand this process and how the parties do not matter a majority of the
time. The opinions of the legislators come from the bill’s topic and concept
and how it affects the legislator’s area. The students were walked through the
process and were able to see behind-the-scenes of legislation. Ryan Campbell, a
student from Patrick Henry YMCA, said that the in-depth info from the
Legislator's speech was very helpful and he enjoyed learning from them.
The fact that bills are not as heavily
dictated by party politics as he thought they were was the most interesting
part of the speech.
Students who have participated in the
Underclassman Legislature in the past seem to have a bit of the upper hand.
They have already learned about the process and have been given a sneak peek
into MGA. Instead of jumping straight into MGA, being on committees, presenting
bills and being right in the middle of the action, the student gets a chance to
be slowly introduced into the program. Eve Maddock, a former member of the
Underclassmen Legislature, never knew much about the legislative process. She
mentioned that the UL gave her the skills to operate more effectively as a
delegate of the House this year. She learned the procedures, what to say, and
how to deal with other’s viewpoint even if she was not in agreement. Learning
the baseline rules greatly benefited her as she feels much more comfortable
with the whole of MGA. Overall, Maddock believed that attending MGA last year
as an Underclassmen Legislator benefitted her in the best ways possible.
A student’s point of view is the greatest
source for the effectiveness of an event. Within the Underclassmen Legislature,
Marya Dunning granted an interview on her experience of the UL. She greatly
enjoyed MGA so far in her experience, learning that government is an important
part of the country. Marya previously believed that all politicians are lying,
deceitful crooks who are only trying to better themselves, but MGA has shown
her that there are those who want to better the world of others. MGA has convinced
her to strive to be one of those kind-hearted politicians and she believes that
MGA will benefit her in her future.
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