The Purpose of MGA By: Tyler Snipes MGA stands for Modern General Assembly. MGA’s purpose is to teach young teenagers the prosses in which a bill is made, debated, passed among the house and senate, and signed. The bill is made by teenagers that want to make an amendment to a current bill and change it to the likings and benefits for more people than it already does. It is debated upon by the bill patron, other members of the house, a delegate, and finally after the debate session is over the lobbyist speaks and tries to persuade the house or senate one way or the other. The bill is passed among the house and senate to try to get everyone or ¾ of the house and senate to agree that the bill should go onto the next level. The bill is signed by being agreed upon by the house and senate and going onto the youth governor and if he thinks the bill is outstanding or good enough to make a chang...
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What to Know About Your New Attorney General? By: Kobe Mora Yes, the ballots are in and the votes are being counted but there is no harm in telling you who you really voted for. As you know the candidates are Remy Butts and Samuel Shoemaker, and as you have seen they are both excellent and graceful speakers. But, those are just prewritten speeches, most of you want to see who and what you are really voting for. Samuel Shoemaker is the more novice candidate but believes he’s got all the skills and ideas to be your Attorney General. He said “I have had many experiences as a leader in my life” including student council Vice President among many others. When asked about his preparations to become Attorney General he said “he has spoken with former Attorney Generals from his school and has learned from their work”. When asked how he would leave a lasting legacy, he said “I will work hard and always shoot to overachieve. He has definitely got the spirit but it is up to the peopl...
Old Dominion House Bill No. 61 By: Morgan Broom The patron from YMCA- Arlington- Yorktown aims to make the teaching of contraceptives mandatory in sex education classes in public schools. During chambers, the speaker made the claim that if this curriculum is added then it will effectively “lower teen pregnancies rates” and make children “aware or their own bodies”. Andrew Garcia spoke to the bill on the chamber floor to agree with the goal of the bill and said that he believes that it will make children “more comfortable with their bodies”. In committee, Mr. Hall, an advisor from Faith Christian School, raised the question whether or not the parent of each child will have the opportunity to remove their child from this class if they desire. The patron responded that “yes parents have the opt out option” if they do not wish for their child to ...
The Bid for Youth Governor By: Jackson Aldridge This year at MGA, there is only one candidate from Old Dominion and one candidate from Commonwealth running for the position of Youth Governor. Rachel Hall, a junior from Faith Christian School is the candidate from Old Dominion. Anna Sexauer, a junior from Broadwater Academy is the candidate from Commonwealth. Even though both candidates had no competition in the primary elections, they had to deliver a speech to their respective teams; however, they went head to head on the second night of MGA in the general elections. Rachel Hall is in her third of MGA and she wanted to run office because she likes to take advantage of each opportunity that comes her way. As youth governor, Rachel would carry out the duties of her role to the “best of [her] ability with God’s help.” Rachel wants to ...
HB8 By: Samantha Lewellen During the education committee today, commonwealth House Bill number 8 was debated. It referred to including a comprehensive sex education curriculum which would include both the advantages and the disadvantages of abortion and adoption for unintended pregnancies rather than teaching abstinence only and was presented by Olivia Babineau. There was an amendment previously made to reincluded a section about teaching the values of waiting until marriage. The patron brought up that abstinence only sex education has not been shown to decrease the likelihood of teenagers having sex or teen pregnancy nor had teaching a comprehensive sex education class encouraged teenagers to have sex. An amendment was proposed by Bradford Dudley to reinsert the line regarding abstinence in the sex education curriculum. There was little opposition to the amendment by committee member other than the patron. ...
Does the Good Outweigh the Bad? By: Rosalind Coolidge Both in California and Colorado, possessing one ounce or less of Marijuana if you are over 21 is legal; so, what’s stopping Virginia? In the Committee Meeting for the pass or fail of Possession of Marijuana (HB4) , attempting to legalize the sale, gift distributing or possession of marijuana, many concerns were presented, however, it passed in Committee, but ultimately failed in Chambers. Two of the most pressing concerns regarding the bill that led to this decision emphasize the issues of safety while driving under the influence (DUI) and the effects it will impose on the economy. In Virginia, the regulations for a DUI of alcohol, Virginia has implemented some of the toughest restrictions in the country. Per the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), “you are legally considered driving or operating under the influence if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher.” In House Bill 4, no such regulation...
Security Guards By: Mikayla Johnson One key aspect of MGA that goes unnoticed, and unappreciated are the security guards. Without the security that we have, we could not have the club anymore. One officer said, “During MGA, we are more relaxed with the metal detectors and checking students bags, but we also have a lot more responsibility with having these kids here.” Another officer said, “Though we are not considered high security, we do make sure we have more than enough security to cover the grounds and keep the kids ad advisors safe.” The last officer said, ”MGA is extremely safe, I do believe however, we need to find a safer way to get the kids from the hotel to the Capitol.” Even though you wouldn't normally think about how the security guards have to be extra alert while we are up here. They aren't thanked nor appreciated enough for their work, so the next time you see a security guard, be sure to thank...
The Impact of MGA By: Christopher Fowler Whether you have been a part of MGA for four years or just one year, we can all agree that this experience has made a huge impact on us, and rightfully so, we have made a huge impact on MGA. For some underclassmen legislators, meetings seem to last forever, and some begin to question why they decided to come to Richmond in the first place. Yet somehow in the craziness of debating and passing bills in underclassmen legislature, the experience grows on them, and they cannot wait to return the following year. For seniors, the final weekend at MGA flies by and is very bittersweet. Our Youth Governor, Mark Johnston, said in a press conference today, that he believes his “people skills” have benefited the most from his MGA experience, and he hopes to transl...
70th Year YMCA By: Christine Brady The Model General Assembly was founded by New York State. Virginia held their first Model General Assembly in 1948. This first event hosted between one-hundred and two-hundred people. This conference used to last four days, instead of three. The names of conferences vary based on the state. MGA has historically always been co-ed, but the first woman Youth Governor was elected in 1971. Sharon Davies has been attending MGA for eleven years. To her dismay, her school never had the opportunity to attend MGA. However, she has been able to get involved in other ways. She has been the YMCA Executive Director of MGA since 2009. She feels that if MGA grows much more in the state of Virginia, another house or senate might have to be added. She feels that the best part of MGA is that “there are no parties and everyone ...
A New Election Holiday! By Thomas Dannenfelser Virginia has a brand new holiday! Commonwealth bill SB12 has made the day of the national presidential election a legal holiday. The proposal’s goals are twofold. First of all, the bill aims to honor the civic duty of voting. Secondly, it aims to increase voter turnout at the polls. Senator Emily Provenzo, the bill’s sponsor, urged lawmakers to pass this measure, saying, “We need to become a better democracy.” She mentioned that the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has had voter turnout substantially higher than the rest of the United States. This is due to the fact that election day is recognized as a holiday in Puerto Rico. In fact, turnout on the island was 10% higher than the national average. David Khettouch was strongly in favor of SB12, and he defended the measure on the floor of the Senate Chamber. “Before and after work is when voter lines are longest, and it’s a hassle for people with service jobs,” said Khettouch. “A...
What Brings People Back to MGA By: Jackson Aldridge Every year at MGA, a staff of MGA alumni work to make the experience possible. These alumni work in chambers, the underclassmen legislature, and even as reporter coordinators. Despite being part of MGA for many years and even attending CONA (Council On National Affairs), these alumni always come back. So what is about MGA that draws these college alumni back each year? One MGA alumni, who is also the program director, Spencer Snyder, is involved with almost everything going on at MGA. Spencer got started with MGA when he was asked to be the vice president of his Hi-Y club. After winning the election, Spencer was the only person from his club who was able to attend MGA, and he did so without knowing much about it. The MGA experience changed Spencer in that he pursued a degree in political scien...
The Rewards of MGA By: Rachel Bradley Model General Assembly (MGA) introduces interested high school students to the intricate legislative process. Students will learn about the legislative process of the Commonwealth of Virginia, by creating their own bills and arguing them in Richmond in front of different parts of the U.S. congress. The MGA mock conference is held once a year. This year the MGA conference is being held on March 23-25. There are a total of 39 schools involved with MGA. Within their school clubs, students have the chance to hold the jobs of being bill patrons, lobbyists, reporters, delegate and even a committee chair. The diversity of all the students that attend MGA brings a plethora of innovative bills to attention. I think that MGA is a very rewarding club that more people from Virginia schools should get involved with...
Old Dominion House Bill 62 By: Morgan Broom Avery Dick from YMCA-Woodlawn aims to legalize the medical practice of Assisted Suicide with House Bill 61. According to Delegate Avery, the current law states that assisted suicide is considered murder.” Avery and her bill partner, Emma Janks were inspired to propose this bill to the personal interaction that Emma experienced watching a family member suffer form a terminal illness. Delegate Avery Dick stated that watching those you love go through an illness causes one to struggle to “remember how they were before.” She claims that denying humans the right to choose life or death is cruel and “subjects them to suffer” for the rest of their lives. Delegate P.J. Barua agrees with this bill because she “would rather not see someone she cares about in pain” and that she would hate to watch her family members pass away but definitely does not want to watch them suffer. ...
Things Are Rapidly Changing By: Christine Brady The role of the Model General Assembly Reporter is often overlooked. Reporters do a variety of tasks. They are the eyes and ears of the citizens of the Model General Assembly. While others are restricted to their committee meetings, reporters have free reign of MGA. They report and follow bills and discuss the controversial issues at hand. The Reporter program at MGA is rapidly changing. Catherine Long stated that “she was unsure of where the articles are published after Reporters write them.” The 2017 MGA conference is the first year that the articles written will be fully accessible online, on the Yapp app. Also, a new elected office is in the process of being introduced at MGA. During next year’s 2018 conference, the role of Editor in Chief will be up for grabs for a high school Sophomore or Junior experienced with both writing and grammar skills.
The Roles of a Committee Chair By: Tyler Snipes The roles are you must recognize the person who wants to speak before they can speak, we must announce that the bill is either being debated, voted on, passed, or vetoed. they must keep the meeting in order and on topic. They should keep their paper work in order between passed and vetoed bills. Committee Chairs have a very important role because they are what keeps the debates and conversations going, they make sure everyone gets to say their opinion or ask their questions unless someone make a motion to end the debate and vote on the bill. Committee Chairs bring the Bill Patrons, Lobbyist, and Delegates all together so that they can make new friends and speak out about what they think even if they are scared and don’t want to. They make sure that no one gets too scared to mess up and just stop their explaining the bill so that later down the road when they are required to get up in front of a big group of people they won’t b...
The Yapp By: Christopher Fowler Model General Assembly is back in full swing, and with it, brings the addition of a new form of distributing and receiving information. Forget keeping up with your bill book, schedule, and other usual MGA necessities, because our advisors have created our very own MGA account on the Yapp . The Yapp , which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, will keep all participants on track with copies of schedules, seating charts, and even a live news feed. The app also allows for our advisors to upload pictures from throughout the weekend and allows participants to follow the MGA Twitter feed. Delegate Josh Mortensen from Kecoughtan mentioned that he utilizes the schedule feature the most on the app. Along with the entire weekend schedule, the Yapp allows the user to make a personalized schedule that consists of his/her own meetings, sessions, and press conferences. This fe...
MGA Fashion Choices By: Haley Velasquez Here at MGA you have a certain dress criteria: business casual. Many people took that as wearing plain neutral tones. Some people have changed the perspective on it all. I thought when I came to MGA that everyone would look like the stereotypical lawyer, but I was very wrong. I was thrilled to see that other people had decided to branch out but still follow the dress code. I saw things from a kid in a casual suit with a yellow bowtie with black polka-dots; to people who wore all black and looked very plain. I’m not saying that being “plain” is a bad thing. I’m just saying that I was expecting to see people looking exactly the same. The different array of fashion statements goes to show just how diverse everyone who attends really is. From what you wear to how you present yourself shows your unique personality. All of the different personalities that I have seen here today shows just how one thing can unite us all. MGA is a great...
Minimum Wage By: Samantha Lewellen During the Senate Meeting today, a bill regarding raising the minimum wage was debated. Originally, said bill required the state to raise the minimum wage by $1.00 each year until the year 2021 starting January 1, 2018 . Last night in committee, it was unanimously amended to raise the wage by $0.50 each year from $7.25 rather than $1.00. A senator said that having the minimum wage at $7.25 motivates people to work harder to get to higher paying jobs. He said the minimum wage is not a living wage and that it’s for high schoolers in entry level jobs, but the patron contradicted his statement by saying that many people have dependents that they have to support with $7.25 an hour. She said that sometimes employers pay their employees the minimum wage because they can. ...
House Bill No. 1: Burning Up the Floor With Fiery Debate By: Thomas Dannenfelser A spirited debate took place on the House floor today. The matter of contention was House Bill 1, a bill protecting undocumented witnesses to and victims of a crime. The debate was a passionate back-and-forth that lasted nearly fifteen minutes. House Bill 1 is the bill fostered by Tiffany Hidalgo, an impassioned advocate from Arlington’s Wakefield High School. Hidalgo urged fellow Senators to pass the bill, saying the undocumented feel they have nowhere to turn. She made the case that victims and witnesses are effectively “self-reporting themselves as undocumented.” Hidalgo cited the case of Gina DeJesus, a 25-year-old victim of a heinous kidnapping and subsequent rape. Gina was abducted by Ariel Castro, a Cleveland man. For ten grueling years, DeJesus was held captive in her kidnapper’s basement alongside two other victimized women. Castro dissuaded DeJesus from seeking out law enforcement by r...
Fizz Running Dry: A New Virginia Soda Regulation By: Kobe Mora Delegate Joshua Payne is pulling no punches as he presents his bill to the Old Dominion Senate. The bill entails a new regulation preventing stores from selling soda to unaccompanied minors and requiring a ID to be provided when completing a sale. Although it is a controversial subject, the bill was able to stay afloat in the first committee meeting. As Delegate Payne puts it “in recent years we have seen a correlation between soda and obesity and type 2 diabetes”. He went on to provide shocking statistics: “20% of Virginians ages 2-4 are obese, the largest in the US” and “13-15% of Virginian high schoolers are obese”. He has a base to move on but can he pull the bill through? According to Lobbyist Addison Lilley, the plain and simple answer is, no. The lobbyist said: “I think it’s good intentioned but it is not going to solve anything”. T...
MGA and its Magnificence By: Rosalind Coolidge In the Opening Session for the 70th annual Model General Assembly, Mark Johnston, the Youth Governor, inspired Assembly participants as he welcomed them to the “awesome program” about to unfold, stressing that the gathering was about much more than just enacting a bill into law. Governor Johnston said that through this opportunity he has learned much about the political process, but has also made new friends. In his speech, Johnston explained that this learning process can “make them [the students] feel like they can make a difference in the world,” and that's what the Governor intends to do in his term and as he advances in his future. Regent University Sophomore, Stacey Reibold, an alumna of MGA, said her involvement with this program “taught leadership even though people look down on our generation and think that they are immature and that they don’t really know what they are doing. MGA gives you that voice you want to p...
The Issue of Immigration Reform By: Rachel Bradley Immigration and rights for immigrants is a very controversial topic in 2017. Two bill patrons at the 2017 Model General Assembly (MGA) in Richmond are arguing for the protection of illegal immigrants. The bill, Commonwealth House Bill No. 1, presented by the bill patrons Sophia Polestar and Tiffani Hidalgo of Wakefield High School, States that: “No officer of any state or local law-enforcement agency shall, in connection with the report, investigation, or prosecution of a criminal violation of state or local law, inquire into the immigration status of any person who(i) reports that he or she is a victim of the crime or is the parent or guardian of a minor victim or the crime or is the parent or guardian of a minor victim of the crime or (ii) is a cooperating witness in the investigation of the crime or the parent or guardian or a minor witness to the crime.”...
MGA: An Incredible Experience By: Hannah Birch It is that time of year again. The best and brightest students from across the state have all gathered in Richmond, Virginia to participate in one of the most educational and inspiring programs our schools have to offer: The Model General Assembly. For seventy years, teens have been provided with the opportunity to become more involved with our state legislature and its innerworkings. We represent everything from members of the House and Senate, speaking passionately about our bills, to lobbyists, vying to get their feelings known. Currently, the city seems to be crawling with young adults looking slightly out of place in their professional attire. The people we meet are incredible. We are all here to congregate over one common goal: to grow and learn within our schools, communities, and state. Despite many disagreements, nothing can replace a bond made over mutual interest in government. It is obvious when we look around at the...
First Day Shutdown By: Christine Brady In the year 2000, the state of Virginia passed legislation which was alike this proposed bill. It had the same requirements as this MGA bill does. Both pieces of legislation add a two-year waiting period after completion of the sentence before said felons are allowed to reregister to vote. Faith Christian High School brought a bill to MGA this year concerning restoring the voting rights of convicted felons. This bill restores voting rights to felons who have convicted non-violent felonies, have completed their full sentence, have completed their parole or probation, and have paid their full amount in court fees. The bill was very controversial during the Old Dominion House Transportation Committee meeting last night. During this meeting, lobbyist Breece Walker from YMCA Arlington, proved the bill to be unconstitutional because in the Virginia Constitution it reads: “no person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote...
The Tearing Down of the General Assembly Building By: Jackson Aldridge This time next year, the General Assembly, or GAB, will have been completely torn down and construction on a new building will be underway. According to the Executive Director of the Virginia YMCA, Sharon Davies, the renovation of the GAB has been “long overdue.” The GAB itself is in poor condition and presents many safety and health concerns such as the presence of asbestos. There is overwhelming belief that the GAB is a “sick building” and that it needs to be modernized. Delegate Rob Bloxom believes that another significant reason that the building needs to be torn down is because of a lack of space. According to Bloxom, the rooms that are used by subcommittees are extremely small. This is important because a large portion of the debate and discussion around bills happens in these subcommittees, but there is not enough space for a large g...
The Role of MGA Delegates By: Mikayla Johnson Delegates are a key component of MGA; they are the ones who start the fire of debating. They bring out the true essence behind bills by constantly brainstorming brilliant questions, and bring forward some of the unseen intentions of a bill. Delegates represent their delegations by presenting bills and speaking in House committees and on the floor of the House of Delegates. Without a delegate, we could not truly understand every aspect of a bill. A delegate from Salem High School said: “We show the true colors of a bill, we ask questions that uncover points that normally would be overlooked or ignored.” One delegate from Radford stated that “we are the fire beneath MGA’s feet, we keep things moving, and we prove that not every bill that sounds good is truly beneficial to everyone.” Delegates can also help push bills to be put into action, they get to vote on bills which can pass them on to the Youth Governor to be signed into...
The purpose of MGA/High-Y By: Tyler Snipes The Model General Assembly, also known as MGA, serves as a vital tool to teach young teenagers the prosses in which a bill is made, debated, passed among the house and senate, and signed. The bill is made by teenagers that want to make an amendment to a current bill or create an original idea that they would like to see implemented in the Virginia state government. It is debated upon by the bill patron, other members of the committee, and finally after the debate session is over the lobbyist speaks and tries to persuade the House or Senate committee to vote a certain way. The bill is passed among the House and Senate with a majority vote. Then, the bill is signed by being agreed upon by the House and Senate chambers and committees, going on t...
What to Wear and Bring to MGA; the Do’s and Don’t’s By: Morgan Broom As the MGA season approaches each year, many different thoughts and concerns run through the minds of over 400 students in preparation for their time at MGA. For some, the main focus is the bills that their school or club is bringing to MGA, the positions they are holding, or the speeches that they have to give. Yet, for others, their first thoughts are focused around what they are going to wear. According to Delegate Hannah Smith, it is a necessity to remember your “comfy shoes for walking to and from chamber sessions.” Many suggest that you take this advice because walking many blocks in the cold and in heels can be terrifying, as well as painful! If you forget your comfy walking shoes then it is essential for you to remember your Band-Aids for covering your inevitable blisters. ...
A New Hope: A Revamp of Virginia’s Firearm Safety Education By: Kobe Mora Delegate Ben Spencer stated that “265 children died from gun accidents in 2015” after he successfully passed Bill No. 60 unanimously in the House Education Committee. The bill entailed an instructional course for elementary schoolers in grades K-4 which included a bi-weekly 1-hour course based on the NRA’s Eddie Eagle gun safety course. However, for most delegates it wasn’t enough as safety education wasn’t continued past elementary school. Delegate Ronny Malone said “I like the bill and the elementary curriculum but it needs to be more sophisticated for high schoolers” agreeing with most delegates in the room. Even as the bill was passed, there was already talk of a huge floor amendment planned for Friday’s committee. “I think the bill is good, but it can be extreme in cases” said Lobbyist Brooke Tanner who is among...
A Report on HB53 By: Tariq Thomas Keller Raser, E.C. Glass High School Referred to Committee on Courts of Justice Keller Raser, of E.C. Glass High School, started the committee hearing in the Committee on Courts of Justice by acknowledging that the bill he was proposing was controversial. The bill seeks to establish a policy for people who do not identify with their biological sex to gain permission from the superintendent and principal to use the school restroom of the gender that they identify with. Keller stated “It is not designed to discriminate, but to fill a lack of policy.” Some of the more common criticisms of the proposed bill were that it did not address what the process of the schools’ staff, who would be designated to decide the outcome of requests, as well as what could be done to counter administrative personnel who consistently deny cases without a valid reason. The most cited opposition to the bill is that it does not seem solve the issue that is current...