The Metro State Model Legislature provides hands-on civics education to high school and community college students.
Leveraging both a long-standing commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-racism and proximity to Minnesota’s capitol buildings in Saint Paul, Metro State is uniquely situated to provide the state’s diverse students with access to an educational experience in policy making often denied to members of their communities.
Preparing the next generation of engaged citizens
Integrating Metro State's Model Legislature experience into high-school or community college civics or political science work gets students intensive experience simulating the work of the Minnesota Legislature. The weekend-long session takes place at the end of each fall semester at the nearby Minnesota State Council.
Whether your students see themselves as future lawmakers, lobbyists, or simply want to have a say in their state's future, Model legislature prepares participants with an experiential look at how decisions are made, policy is honed, and citizen voices are focused to enact change.
A unique educational experience
Metro State's Model Legislature program is a two-day immersive experience in which participants take the roles of legislators, legislative staff, or lobbyists. Working with Model Legislature advisors drawn from a pool of Metro State undergraduate and graduate students, those enrolled will work through the entire process of legislative policy making:
- Preparing for the event with readings and course work on civics, policy, and the legislative process.
- Reading bills that are to be discussed during the session
- Taking those bills through the legislative process, from informational and advocacy meetings, committee hearings and votes, to floor sessions in the house and senate where bills are debated and voted on
Metro State University’s Model Legislature program is inspired by and builds on the successful history of the Winona State Model Legislature, which has been in operation for more than 60 years.
About Metro State Model Legislature
Similar to the Winona State Model, Metro State’s Model Legislature is a two-day immersive experience drawing students from area schools. Metro State’s program differs in that it works with the communities of the Twin Cities Metro area, providing access to the legislative and policy-making process to communities that have historically been excluded by legislative and governing institutions. In addition, the Metro State Model Legislature is open to students at nearby community college programs.
Metro State’s program also leverages both the university’s long-standing connections with state legislators and physical proximity to situate the weekend-long experience at the Minnesota State Capitol.
Legislators, lobbyists, and legislative assistants
Participating students are enrolled in various civics or political science courses in area high schools or community colleges. Model Legislature might be a course requirement, or it may be an extracurricular activity. Schools must have formalized a Metro State Model Legislature partnership (link to sign up form?) to be eligible.
Working with undergraduate and graduate student advisors drawn from Metro State University’s extensive public policy and civic studies programs who have been specially trained for their work, Metro State Model Legislature participants will engage in the experience in the following roles:
- Students who are not yet high school seniors will participate as Legislative Assistants, supporting the work of Senators and Representatives.
- Students who are high school seniors or community college students will serve as lobbyists, Senators, Representatives, and staff in the Governor’s Office.
Bring Metro State's Model Legislature program to my institution
For more information, contact modellegislature@metrostate.edu.