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Developing Your Idea

Choosing Your Topic | Developing Your Idea | What Does A Good Bill Look Like? | Writing Your Bill | Bill Format | Bill Requirements | Banned Topics | Sample Bill | Next Steps

Once you have decided upon a topic area, you need to do some preliminary research:

• Make sure your topic is not on the “Successful Legislation List” of the last 3 years.
  
• How big is the problem? Is anyone currently addressing the issue and how?
  
• Find out what the present law is on the subject. Ask an attorney, go to the library,
  check with local or state Legislators, etc. Some excellent resources are the New York
  Time Index, the Reader’s Guide to Periodic Literature, and New Jersey General
  Laws, Annotated.
  
• What is the “solution” to the problem you have identified?
  
• Does your proposal require:
  - A new law?
  - An amendment to a current law?
  - The repeal of an existing law?
  - An amendment to the State Constitution?
  
  Prepare a preliminary draft of your Bill
• Write a proposal in outline form, making certain you cover all aspects of the solution.
  - Will this cost money? How much? Where will it come from?
  - What will happen if someone does not obey this law?
  - Will a specific agency administer or monitor this law? Which one?
  
• Share your draft Bill with the appropriate local authority (i.e. Police Chief, School
  Superintendent, Health Officer, etc.). Most officials are quite flattered to be asked for their assistance and input.
  
• Determine the Constitutionality of your Bill – refer to a copy of the State Constitution and/or confer with an attorney, legislator, or teacher.
  
• Seek out opposing views of your Bill. Ask others to critique your Bill. Highlight all
  arguments for and against your Bill.
  
• Collect articles and other research materials that may strengthen your argument
  during debate. Note: If you use the internet use more than one search engine. Each one picks up different websites and different opinions.
  
  Attend Pre-Leg and present your draft Bill. This impartial setting can give you hints on further revisions to make your Bill more precise and on target, present ways to better organize your facts, and rally support for your Bill among Youth Legislators.
  
• Revise your Bill as necessary after evaluating the feedback and additional research.
  
  Remember this is your project. Get all of the advice and counsel you need, but be sure the final product is your own.