Michigan House Civics Commission
The Michigan House Civics Commission (MHCC) is a bi-partisan, ad-hoc legislative committee that holds public hearings statewide within Michigan's K-12 schools. Students learn the legislative process in an interactive, authentic way by researching and developing their own bill ideas and presenting written and oral testimony before the commission in hopes of finding a legislative sponsor. As a result, in the first year of this effort, one student-initiated resolution has passed the House and one student-created budget amendment was successfully added to an appropriations bill.
The Michigan House Civics Commission provides a unique learning opportunity for students by empowering young citizens to start behaving and taking on responsibilities as citizens. Its focus is to enable Michigan’s primary and secondary students to fulfill their citizenship responsibilities now in their classrooms, not only later in adulthood! We believe that if students become competent and engaged citizens during their school years, the future will take care of itself.
The MHCC is presently being piloted in 60 public school districts, 10 public school academy buildings, and 27 private school buildings. This program is taking Michigan by storm and is regarded as a premier civic education initiative by National Center for Service and Learning.
Fourteen hearings were held during the 2003-2004 school year.
Here’s a review of what the Michigan House Civics Commission currently offers:
MHCC Web Services and Resources
Effective Citizen Lesson Plans
Through a highly interactive and resource-rich web page, the commission is providing our state’s elementary and secondary school teachers with many lesson plans to prepare our young people for effective citizen advocacy.
Student Legislative Updates
The commission is making semi-monthly legislative updates available to elementary, middle, and high school kids on current issues relevant to them. Updates are written by teachers.
Capitol Speakers Bureau
Bureau participants include over 100 individuals representing the lobbying community and legislative and executive branches of state government. They visit Michigan K-12 classrooms.
K-12 Student Survey Questions and Current Issue Lesson Plans
The commission is providing monthly survey questions specific to elementary, middle, and high school students. Several education departments within Michigan higher education institutions are providing lesson plans to help teachers prepare students to competently participate in surveys.
Partners include Calvin College, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Oakland University, Olivet College, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University.
College Student Survey Questions and Current Issues Briefs
The commission is now partnering with Campus Compact to provide monthly survey questions to Michigan’s higher education students. Michigan State University, through an “American Thought and Language” course, is developing monthly survey question issue briefs.
WDWB-TV Partnership
The Civics Institute and WDWB-TV Detroit are collaborating on a new project to engage Detroit-area young people. These young people will be encouraged first to sign up for online MHCC legislative updates and participate in online surveys, and second to come and testify before the Michigan House Civics Commission (MHCC) at a Detroit Public Hearing on the issues that impact their lives.
The Civics Institute’s MHCC will construct and administer a web page for this project and implement the Detroit area MHCC youth hearing. WDWB-TV will provide the MHCC technical assistance in developing a web page for this project, creating two public service announcements, and co-hosting the Detroit MHCC youth hearing. PSA creation and website design begins in January.
At-Risk Young Males of Color Project
The Michigan At Risk Young Males of Color Project is an attempt to formally link Michigan young people with local and state policymakers for the purpose of discussing possible solutions to challenges confronting these youth. This effort is an overt attempt by members of the Michigan House of Representatives to harness the rich insights and collective wisdom of Michigan’s youth regarding a significant cultural dilemma that has plagued local and state policy makers for decades.
The mission of this project is to develop, in Michigan communities, a network of youth who are both knowledgeable about the unique challenges facing Michigan’s young at risk males of color, as well as dedicated to creating state and community strategies to assist this population in being successful in and out of school.
The legislative members of the Michigan House Civics Commission not only expect this enterprise to bear worthwhile academic fruit, but are equally convinced about this efforts potential to profoundly impact public policy as well.
MHCC Teacher Testimonials
“ Students who were involved in the Michigan House Civics Commission had the unique opportunity of getting involved in politics at the state level. Even though we, as teachers, teach civics in the classroom, it really comes alive for them through research, problem solving and public speaking.”
~Carole Cotts, Northern Hills Middle, Forest Hills Public Schools
“ Real life experiences are a most effective learning tool. The Civics Commission has provided Michigan teachers with a valuable, new, educational activity.”
~Ann Cooper, East Junior High, Traverse City Area Public Schools
“ How exciting to be able to use technology, civics, issues that concern students, and be able to actively participate in our government!”
~Judy Grifhorst, Crestwood Elementary, Rockford Public Schools
“ I find that any time I can connect kids to the REAL world and REAL issues, they are more interested and involved. The Michigan House Civics Commission is truly an exciting opportunity for students and teachers to feel a part of what is happening in our state government.”
~Vickie Weiss, City Elementary, Grand Blanc Public Schools
“ I have never seen my students so incredibly enthusiastic about Government class. Every student was totally involved in the project, even students who usually don’t do any work, because it was exciting to think that a student from our little school could make an impact! I highly recommend teachers become involved with the Civics Commission.”
~Amber Nasson, Brethren High School
“ I love the issues written at an appropriate level, the chance for kids to vote, and the real participation in government.”
~Andrea Alspaugh, Novi Community Schools
“The Michigan House Civics Commission is an excellent addition to my curriculum. It gives students a hands-on feel to government and helps bridge the gap between the everyday citizen and government. Where once students felt that government had no relevance to them, they now see that they have a part.”
~Douglas Hodges, Baraga High School
“ My students enjoy getting online to take the monthly polls. They understand the idea that every vote counts, no matter what. Hopefully this excitement will stay with each of them as they get older and have the opportunity to vote.”
~Jill Mozdzen, Inkster Public Schools
“ I chose to participate in the MHCC because I wanted to add a hands-on piece to our study on government and the legislative process. Since they (my students) are too young to vote, the MHCC project allows their voices to be heard through the on-line polls, and also allows us to discuss new issues being discussed in the House and Senate through the legislative updates. My students have fun with the polls and are able to comment on each poll, letting others know how important each issue is to them on an individual basis. It also allows me to see how they think about different issues and how they really feel about them without any pressure from me. The MHCC program allows my student to practice using the internet and learn more about their state government. Hopefully, I will be able to do this with future classes as well.”
~Shannon Khane, Resurrection School, Lansing
“ As they worked through the process of presenting a solution to a problem, my students realized what is expected of them to be involved in the governmental process. In an effort to involve students in civic life, the experience of testifying before the Civics Commission has been one of the best hands on, real life lessons I have been able to share with my students.”
~Randy Kreger, Heritage High School, Saginaw
“ We appreciate the regular legislative updates, and our class has enjoyed examining the issues that directly affect them. The opinion poll questions have sparked engaging discussion in the classroom and have given our young people the opportunity to weigh in on the issues.”
~Kevin McCann, Mar Lee School, Marshall
“ Thanks for an interactive way to involve kids in current issues that are relevant to them and to their environment. And thanks for giving teachers topics that help to refresh their classroom discussions. The polls, curriculum, and related websites give new energy and enthusiasm to classroom teachers who are always looking for new ways to engage students and stimulate interest in current events!”
~Eileen Dykstra, Plymouth Christian High School, Grand Rapids
MHCC Student Testimonials
“ This project was a lot of hard work, stress, commotion and scrambling to get everything ready on time. It required some personal sacrifice, gallons of coffee, and was a lot of fun. For a few weeks we were able to see just what politics is all about. I would definitely do it again.”
~James Gezequal, Bay Arenac Community High School
“ When I signed up for Honors Government, I thought to myself, ‘This will be boring.’ Little did I know that we were going to do an extremely cool project like the Civics Commission Hearing. We learned an incredible amount about the proposals…. and the thing is, it was super fun!”
~Jordan Theakston, West High School, Traverse City Public Schools
“ I never thought I would be speaking with our own state representatives face to face. They really listened to what we had to say about our policies.”
~Catherine Coyne, Forest Hills Public Schools
“ My knowledge and understanding of the legislative process grew tremendously as I was able to research and articulate serious matters….”
~Britni Whittaker, Charlevoix High School
“ I feel honored and privileged to be able to be a part of the political process.”
~ Mary Pataky, Bay Arenac Public Schools
“ I really felt that the MHCC listened to my opinions and ideas and appreciated the opportunity to participate. MHCC provided insightful feedback into the ideas that I presented which really made me think about the issue from other perspectives.”
~Kaitlin Gallup, Central High School, Traverse City Public Schools