YMCA Youth in Government - Legislative Branch Details

YMCA MYIG has three separate chambers, Red, White and Blue, in order to ensure that we have enough space and students can participate with peers in level and experiences. The Red and White Legislatures are comprised of all 11th and 12th grade students and any 10th grad student who has participated in YMCA MYIG as a 9th grader. The Blue Legislature is comprised of all 9th graders and 1st year 10th graders. 

Senate There are 38 seats in Michigan’s Senate. The Senate is led by the Lt. Governor who is supported by a Clerk, a Secretary and the Senate Caucasus Leaders. Each delegation is allocated 1 Senator in each color for every 15 delegates registered for the conference, capped at 2 Senators per delegation, per color. Senators write bills, discuss and amend bills in committee, recommend bills for consideration in the chamber (passaged in committee) and debate the passage of bills during House sessions.

House – There are 110 seats in Michigan’s House of Representatives. Representatives make up the majority of the Youth in Government delegates in the program. Representatives write bills, discuss and amend bills in committee, recommend bills for consideration in the chamber (passaged in committee) and debate the passage of bills during House sessions. 

The Legislature program is a simulation of the Michigan Government. Students write a bill in which they could see becoming a law. Students and their bills are assigned to a committee and either the House or the Senate. Throughout the program the students, acting Senators and Representatives discuss their bill in committee and in session. Once the bill passes committee, House and Senate it is then put onto the Youth Governors desk. The Youth in Government office then submits all of our bills that have been signed up the Youth Governor to the Michigan Legislature. We have had an elected Senator or Representative might like the bill idea so much they will present it as a from of legislation. In 2013 a Youth in Government bill about Anti Bullying became a law! Join the program that can make real change for the citizens of Michigan!

Legislative Branch

YMCA Michigan Youth in Government's Legislative branch emulates Michigan's Legislative bodies in many ways 

The legislative power of the State of Michigan is vested in a bicameral (2-chamber) body comprised of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 38 members who are elected by the qualified electors of districts having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents. Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve 4-year terms concurrent with the governor's term of office. Terms for senators begin on January 1, following the November general election.

The House of Representatives consists of 110 members who are elected by the qualified electors of districts having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents. Representatives are elected in even-numbered years to 2-year terms. Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures obtained through the federal decennial census.

The state legislature enacts the laws of Michigan; levies taxes and appropriates funds from money collected for the support of public institutions and the administration of the affairs of state government; proposes amendments to the state constitution, which must be approved by a majority vote of the electors; and considers legislation proposed by initiatory petitions. The legislature also provides oversight of the executive branch of government through the administrative rules and audit processes, committees, and the budget process; advises and consents, through the Senate, on gubernatorial appointments; and considers proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States. The majority of the legislature's work, however, entails lawmaking. Through a process defined by the state constitution, statute, and legislative rules, the legislature considers thousands of bills (proposed laws) during each 2-year session. Check out the Michigan State Legislature online for more information.

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