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SPECIAL EVENTS

Student Government Day

Student Government Day

Massachusetts Student Government Day (SGD) is an annual program which encourages students to learn about state government. 
 
Established in 1947, Student Government Day is usually observed on the first Friday of April at the State House in Boston.  This program encourages students from Massachusetts public and private high schools to become engaged citizens and to develop an understanding of the rights and responsibilities that we share in a representative democracy.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education coordinates the logistics for the program and schools are encouraged to conduct elections in the fall so that a student in their junior or senior and an alternate will represent the school at SGD.  The students will be assigned roles and have the opportunity to replicate the activities of Senators, Representatives, Supreme Court Justices or Constitutional Officers.
 All students participate in a simulated Joint Committee Hearing and a simulated Joint Convention of the House and Senate. Legislators and legislative staff offer assistance with procedure and content.  Students assuming legislative roles participate in simulated Senate and House sessions.  Student Supreme Court Justices attend a session at the Court while Student Constitutional Officers attend a seminar with the elected officials in those positions during the program. 
Interested students in grades 11 and 12 should contact their high school administration or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for more details.   Studentgovday@doe.mass.edu
Citizens Legislative Seminar

Citizens Legislative Seminar

The Citizens’ Legislative Seminar (CLS) is a citizen workshop, organized by the Senate Legislative Education Office, which aims to better educate the public on the functions of the Massachusetts State Legislature. CLS was originally established in 1976 through a joint effort of the Massachusetts State Senate and the University of Massachusetts.

The curriculum includes the “History of the Legislature”, “The Formal Legislative Process”, “The Informal Legislative Process”, “The Budget”, “The Parliamentary Role of the Clerk of the Senate” and “The Future of the Legislature”.  The presentations are made by Senators and Senate staff.

Past presenters have included:  Senate President Murray, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Senate Clerk William Welch, Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Steven Panagiotakos and Senators Jennifer Flanagan, Richard T. Moore, and Steven Baddour.

Highlights of the two-day seminar are a simulated legislative hearing and a simulated Senate Session where participants use what they have learned to actively experience the legislative process.

Due to its popularity, participants for the Citizens’ Legislative Seminars must be sponsored by their senator.  Please note that you must be able to attend both days of the seminar in order to participate.

If you have questions or would like to know more about the Seminar, Contact your Senator’s office or the Senate Legislative Education Office at (617) 722-1380.