Michigan 4-H Youth Development 4-H Capitol Experience Post-Conference Activities

ABOUT 4-H
About
Michigan 4-H History
Join 4-H
Become a 4-H Volunteer

4-H TRAINING & EVENTS
MSU Extension Calendar
4-H Volunteer Workshops
4-H Exploration Days
Youth Activities & Events
Michigan 4-H Today Calendar
4-H Children's Garden
4-H Kettunen Center

4-H NEWS
MI 4-H Today Newletter
Media

4-H LEARNING MATERIALS
MI 4-H Educational Materials
MSU Extension Catalog
National 4-H Curriculum

INFORMATION FOR:
Youth
Volunteers
Families
Alumni

STAFF/EDUCATOR RESOURCES
4-H Educators
4-H Downloads (graphics & more)

SUPPORT 4-H
MI 4-HFoundation
4-H Mall

CONTACT US
MI & National 4-H Contacts

| 4-H Home Page | CLS Home Page |

4-H Capitol Experience

After 4-H Capitol Experience…What's Next?

4-H Capitol Experience
	About Capitol Experience
	Pre-Conference Activities
	Post-Conference Activites
	Staff Information
	Application Form (PDF)
	Citizenship, Leadership & Service Main Page

Post-Conference Activities

As a participant at Michigan State University Extension's 4-H Capitol Experience Program, you learned about a current policy issue and about how policy decisions are made. You had an opportunity to examine a selected issue from a variety of viewpoints. You talked with people who influence policies, including lobbyists, state agencies personnel, representatives of local organizations, legislative aides and legislators.

Resource Materials

Visiting the Capitol The post-conference resources listed below are available in Adobe PDF format and can be photocopied for distribution and used with others to help them learn more about the political process. (You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view or print. If you don't have the Acrobat Reader, you can download it from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.) Here are some of the ways to share the information:

At a 4-H leadership group or other 4-H meeting
As you work on an issue in your local community
With a church or civic group
As part of a classroom project

Post-Conference Resources

Suggestions for What's Next…
A listing of actions you can take; also a listing that can be used with a group to help others learn more about issues and about the political process.
Citizens Guide to State Government
A reference tool that includes information on the Three Branches of Michigan State Government, Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate Directories and the Michigan Senate and House Legislative Committees.
Who Represents You? — Know Your Elected Officials
An outline to help you identify the people who represent you at the local, state and federal levels of government; can be used individually or as a group activity.
How a Bill Becomes a Law in Michigan
A diagram of the process from bill introduction to becoming a public act
Share Your Views With Elected Officials
Suggestions for how to most effectively share your views on an issue with policymakers.
How Do Local Governments Serve You?
General overview offers basic background information about the different units of local government in this state.
What's Your Opinion? Exercise in Policy Decision-Making (Facilator's Guide)
An exercise in policy decision-making; can be used with any sized group. Exercise contains a listing of issues, background information on the issues and instructions for the facilitator.
How Should Government Spend Our Tax Dollars? Consensus Exercise (Facilator's Guide)
An exercise to help participants learn about the consensus process and about some of the funding issues faced by a unit of government. One version deals with state government, the other with county government.
YOU Can Make a Difference
An outline to help you plan how to take action on an issue you care about.
Legislative Committee Role Play (Directions for Facilitators and Issue Group Role Plays from 2005 Conference)
An exercise designed to help participants learn more about the legislative process and about a specific current policy issue. Role plays have been developed for juvenile crime, criminal sentencing and prison facilities, environment/wildlife, school and health issues. A full set of directions, and the role play used by the Capitol Experience participant, are included in this packet. Additional role plays can be obtained from the State 4-H Office.

For More Information

Cyndi Mark
Program Leader
4-H Youth Development, MSU Extension
160 Agriculture Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1039
Email: markc@msu.edu
Phone: 517-432-7602 For more information about the materials in this packet or about the legislative process, contact:

For information about the Michigan Legislature, visit www.michiganlegislature.org

For information about state government visit www.michigan.gov