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Trust for Representative Democracy

America's Legislators Back to School Week

Return to: Middle School Lesson Plan VI: How Should Our Guest Legislator Decide?

A Public Hearing

• One of the major causes of death in our nation is automobile accidents. Studies have shown that a large percentage of these accidents are caused by inexperienced teenage drivers. A bill is before our state legislature that would raise the driving age from 16 to 18.
• Some of the constituents in our guest legislator's district believe that many teenagers are too immature to drive without supervision. These constituents believe our roads would be safer if the age at which a person can drive was raised from 16 to 18.
• However, if our guest legislator votes for the bill, employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles would probably lose jobs and used car dealerships in his/her district would lose business. On the other hand, insurance companies would benefit because there would be fewer claims filed.
• Our guest legislator is supposed to support laws that protect people's rights and must decide how to vote on the bill. Should he/she vote against the bill to protect jobs? Should he/she vote for the bill because many lives would be saved? The legislator's staff has scheduled a public hearing in your community to seek input from interested parties. Your interest group plans to present testimony identifying and defending your position on the proposed legislation.

________________________________________________________

Your group should prepare a 2-3 minute position statement to be given at this public hearing. Your testimony/presentation should address the following questions:

• What rights are involved in this situation?
• Which rights do you consider most important? Why?
• What is the common welfare in this situation?
• How do you think our guest legislator should vote?

This project is supported by a Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grant sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, Pekin, IL.

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