Cotter’s in the House!  The House of Representatives that is.

The 2014 session of Model Legislature took place at Winona State University recently. Rep. Gene Pellowski, representative to the Minnesota State House of Representatives, helps to host the event, which takes place in the Tau Center.

Pellowski first organized this event to help students learn more about the process of making laws, and about his participation through his service in government. With the event open to students at WSU, Winona Senior High, and Cotter High School, there are many that go in attendance.

After Cotter’s participation had dropped in recent years, new political science teacher, Ms. O’Keefe, has been working hard recently to change this situation: “I think that this event is a great chance to learn because it allows students to simulate the process that representatives in the legislature actually go through when they meet in the Minnesota House.”

This year’s event tood place on Thursday and Friday, November 20 and 21, and was the first year that O’Keefe wass in attendance,

“I think this can help Cotter students who may be interested in a career in Politics or Government learn about this field. It also is great practice in articulating ideas orally and in writing and gives Cotter students a chance to meet other students in the Winona area.”

Model legislature is an opportunity for students to go through the process of sponsoring bills and making laws. After first choosing a bill that has been introduced to the Minnesota State House of Representatives or Senate. After choosing the bill, you write a one page position paper in support of the bill.

Students work at their respective schools to prepare bills to propose in front of the assembly at the even..During the event, students meet in committees with others who sponsored bills on similar topics, and then discuss and debate their bills. The committee then chooses bills to introduce to the Model House or Senate. They then vote to pass bills into law.

The Ramblers who participated in this year’s event are as follows:  Aidan Beckman, Song Hee Hyoung, Henry Killen, Bryanna Meier, Mariya Swanson, Kris VanderZanden