Goa Higher Secondary-Mock Parliament (SESSION 2) - The ACTiZENS' Club Programme by Desh Apnayen

NOTE FOR TEACHER

Topics -

Energy conservation bill

Anti ragging bill

Cleanliness in school bill

Note – This activity can be run for 3 months or can be finished in 1.5 months in continuation as per schools’ decision. This is to give students the exposure to their role in schools’ development as ACTIZENS’ through parliamentary processes.

Session overview-

Sessions	Steps for the activity	Pre activity planning	Time/duration
Session 1	Introduction of activity Brainstorming activity to understand the process through statement cards Explanation of task for next session Group formation and division of work Selection of topic for drafting bill and research areas by respective groups	1. Research about the parliamentary process to pass the bill in India	45 mins
Session 2	Main activity Two Groups will form the bill with the help of given format and research findings collected Both Groups will come together and collate it as one Bill to be presented to Parliament in next session. Two bills are ready by class for Parliamentary proceedings.	Research on existing policy in school Check points to collect facts to draft the bill	45 Mins (20 Mins for drafting the bill and 25 Mins for compilation by 2 groups)
Session 3	Activity extension 1. Presentation of Bill 1 in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha 2. Voting 3. Acceptance or rejection of bill 4. Rework if bill is rejected 5. Next group will proceed to present the bill 2 and same process to be followed (If time is limited, teacher can ask 1 group to present in Lok Sabha and 1 group to present in Rajya Sabha and decide on accepting/rejecting the bill) If both the bills need rework, then groups will come prepare and present again after the recommended amendments, voting will happen again, and bills get passed and signed by teacher as President 6. If both the bills passed, groups will decide on members of the committee to ensure execution of policy. 7. Take signature from the committee members after sharing the policy to them and display the bill on Desh Apnayen Wall. Present the policy in school assembly or to 11th Grade students if permission given by teacher and principal to spread awareness about the policy	1. Rework on points suggested in previous session by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, if any 2. Drafting policy on plain paper by keeping space for committee signature	45 Mins

Very frequently, we hear about a new bill getting passed by the Cabinet, or a certain law getting amended by Parliament. But have we ever taken a moment to try and understand how laws get made in India? Laws in India can be made by the Union Government (National Laws) or by the State Governments (State Laws). For a law to be recognised in India, it must first be introduced in the form of a ‘Bill’ in either House of the Parliament, then passed by both the Houses and finally, assented to by the President of India before it becomes an ‘Act of Parliament’.

This Activity focuses on the students to learn and experience how a bill becomes a law. Also, students will give students to experience mock parliament setting in classroom. Through this simulation activity students will understand how the bill becomes a law with practical experience by creating a energy conservation bill for their school.

Bill - A bill, also known as a draft act of Parliament, is a proposed law that has not been passed yet. Once passed by both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and approved by the President, it becomes a Law.

OBJECTIVES

To experience the parliamentary process to pass any bill related to school level policies.

SKILLS

Leadership, Communication, Research, Collaboration

VALUES

Equity, Fairness

MATERIAL REQUIRED

Notebook, pens.

PRE-ACTIVITY PREPARATION

Ask students to research on existing policy in school for the chosen topic, Check points to collect facts to draft the bill. Groups Leaders to ensure that task is completed atleast one day before the main activity day.

MAIN ACTIVITY

1. Teacher begins, “Today, we will draft bills that we will present In the next class to experience ‘Mock Parliament’ where we will pass/reject a bill created by students.”

2. Each group will work to draft a bill on the selected topic Ask them to write the bill as below:

Problem statement – Why is (bill) important for school?
Status- What are current practices in school? Why (bill) should be a part of school policy?
Thumb rules– Draft 5-10 rules to be followed by all students in the next 7 days to follow in school.
Punishment– Mention fines and punishment for not following the rules.

Give students Sample Draft Bill for reference. (Given in Annexure 1)

3. Each group will get 15 mins to draft the bill in their respective group. After that, two sub-groups will discuss and present to each other their bill, they will draft it as one bill by merging points to present to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members in next session.