Legislative School

In The legislative counselors have two functions at Boys State. The first is to conduct the Legislative School for citizen. The second is to oversee the formation and operation of the Boys State House and Senate, once citizens elect their senators and representatives at the Tuesday elections.

The Boys State Legislative School is an intensive participatory course in the legislative function of state government. The school uses the Missouri Legislature as its model. Citizens enrolled in the school are exposed to the full range of activities required of a Missouri legislator. Those activities include: getting elected; terminology, rules, and processes used in the Missouri Legislature; and the role of lobbyists and the Governor. The school utilizes the rules of the Missouri House and Senate and actual bills introduced into both chambers the previous session. Using these real world tools, the school then gives citizens the opportunity to act as legislators and conduct legislative business. The counselors weave in needed concepts and examples as student legislators conduct committee and floor business.

The Boys State Legislature is convened on Tuesday afternoon. It conducts legislative business through Saturday morning, during assigned session times. The Legislative School counselors assist the elected members to form the House and Senate. Formation includes: election of the Speaker of the House, President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, Majority and Minority Leaders, and other party legislative officers; creation of committees and choosing their chairmen; selection and appointment of nonelected staff such as the Chief Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, sergeants at arms, and other assistants; and initiating the introduction of bills for use in the legislative process. Boys State Legislators are permitted to introduce bills concerning both Boys State related topics and any real world topics that interest the introducing legislators. Bills involving Boys State topics, if passed and signed by the Governor of Boys State, are passed on to the Boys State Board of Directors. The MBS Directors then determine if the legislation can feasibly be implemented at future sessions of Missouri Boys State.

Senior Legislative School counselors are experienced in Missouri government. Experiences vary between counselors but include statewide office holders, former members of the Missouri House of Representatives, and former members of the Missouri Governor's staff. The current Dean of the Legislative School is the Honorable Bob Holden, Governor of Missouri. The Governor became Dean in the mid 1980's. Prior to that, he served as a legislative counselor. He is also a former citizen of Boys State. While state business doesn't permit the Governor to attend all week, he makes every effort to be available at as many sessions of the school and legislature as he can schedule.

The Counselors try to make both the school and the legislature as realistic as the short period of time and the facilities will permit. The goal of the Counselors is for Citizens who put their best effort in participating fully in either the Legislative School or the Boys State House or Senate, to end the week with a thorough basic knowledge of what it is to be a Missouri Legislator.

Who's Who in the Legislative School:

Gov. Bob Holden: Dean of Legislative School
M. Scott Murphy: Legislative Instructor, MBS Senate
Bruce Dotson: Legislative Instructor, MBS House