Storybook County Lessons · Lesson 4
Presiding Officer Training
Running the Chamber
Storybook County Lessons · Lesson 4
Presiding Officer Training
Running the Chamber
Grades 9 to 12, adaptable for younger students · Four 30-minute sessions
Teacher note. Handouts: 1. Presiding Officer Script and Gavel Signals; 2. Mini-Bill Cards, one per student; 3. Clerk's Journal Page; 4. Curveball Cards (for you). Also needed: gavel, timer, placards. Make a rotation list so every student presides once and serves once as Clerk and once as Sergeant at Arms.
The story
The story problem
The Storybook County Assembly has a long calendar of very short bills. Each one needs a Presiding Officer who can get it heard fairly in five minutes.
Teacher note. In Youth and Government, chambers and committees are run entirely by students. In this lesson every student presides over at least one mini-bill, so the class learns that leading a room is a skill, not a personality.
You will be able to
- Open, run and close a bill from the Presiding Officer script.
- Use gavel signals and time signals.
- Recognize speakers fairly and alternate con and pro.
- Rule on points of order and personal privilege calmly, then move on.
- Perform the Clerk and Sergeant at Arms duties.
Session 1 · 30 min
What the Chair Actually Does
- Hook5 min
- The script10 min
- The supporting roles10 min
- Assign the rotation5 min
Hook
The Queen of Hearts just presided. What went wrong?
- Fair recognition
- Predictable order
- Calm rulings
- Clear results
Teacher note. Play the Queen of Hearts for one minute: shout "Off with their heads" at anyone who speaks without permission, recognize only friends, call the vote before debate. Then list the opposite on the board (the points shown).
The script
Read the Presiding Officer Script aloud, one line each.
Teacher note. Take turns around the room, one line at a time. Then teach the three gavel moments on the next slide.
Gavel signals
- One tap: come to order, or 30 seconds remaining for a speaker
- Two taps: 15 seconds remaining, and the end of a bill
- Never pound. Say: "The chamber will come to order."
Presiding Officer script
- (One tap) "The Storybook County Assembly will come to order. Will the Clerk please read the enacting clause?"
- "Sponsors, you have __ minutes for your opening. You may reserve time for summation."
- "We are in a period of technical questions. Members, please raise your placards."
- "We now move to debate, beginning with a con speaker. Is there a con speaker?"
- "Sponsors, you have time remaining for summation."
- "All those in favor, raise your placards and say aye. All those opposed, say nay."
- (Two taps) "Bill _ is passed and will be sent to the Governor" or "Bill _ is defeated."
Teacher note. Shortened from Supporting Document 1. Continue alternating con and pro in debate, and say "We will end on a con speaker."
Ruling on a point
Well taken
- "State your point."
- "Your point is well taken."
- Make the correction
Not well taken
- "State your point."
- "Your point is not well taken; debate will continue."
Teacher note. The goal is a decision, then move on. Rulings are 20 points on the rubric.
The supporting roles
- Clerk
- Reads the enacting clause, keeps the speakers list by district, records the vote in the Journal
- Sergeant at Arms
- Watches decorum, collects amendment forms, counts a division with the Clerk
Teacher note. 10 minutes. Demonstrate with one mini-bill, teacher presiding.
Assign the rotation
Teacher note. Post the order of Presiding Officers, Clerks and Sergeants at Arms for Sessions 2 and 3.
Session 2 · 30 min
Everyone Presides, Round One
- Setup2 min
- Mini-bills26 min
- Quick debrief2 min
Setup
First Presiding Officer, Clerk and Sergeant at Arms: take your places.
One mini-bill, about four minutes
- Call to order
- Clerk reads the enacting clause
- Sponsor opening: 30 seconds
- Two technical questions
- One con and one pro: 30 seconds each
- Summation: 20 seconds
- Vote and announcement
- Two taps
Teacher note. The next Presiding Officer steps up without a break.
Mini-Bill Cards
Sample mini-bills
An Act requiring every bridge troll to post its riddle in advance.
An Act requiring porridge to be served at a single, moderate temperature.
An Act limiting unbirthday parties to one per week.
An Act requiring shepherds to count sheep twice before reporting them lost.
An Act fining anyone who cries wolf without a wolf.
An Act requiring all glass slippers to be sold in pairs.
Teacher note. Supporting Document 2 has 16 one-sentence bills. The sponsor reads the card as the whole bill.
Mini-bills
Each Presiding Officer runs one mini-bill. Expect a curveball.
Teacher note. Hold up one Curveball Card per Presiding Officer: a point of personal privilege, a member who starts clapping, or a second con speaker trying to go when a pro is due.
Quick debrief
Presiding Officers: name one thing that went well.
Session 3 · 30 min
Everyone Presides, Round Two, Harder
- Mini-bills with more curveballs26 min
- Debrief4 min
More curveballs
The remaining students preside. The curveballs get harder.
- A point of order that is wrong
- A tie vote (the Clerk breaks it)
- A member who tries to yield time
- A call for division
- A friendly amendment
Curveball cards
- "I cannot hear the sponsor."
- Clapping loudly when a bill is defeated
- Speaking pro when the Chair called for con
- "I yield my remaining time to the member from Wonderland."
- "The sponsor cannot speak twice."
- "Doesn't the sponsor agree this bill is unfair?"
- A prop (a stuffed wolf) during debate
- Voting both aye and nay
Teacher note. For the teacher; read a card or hand it to a member to perform. "The sponsor cannot speak twice" is a wrong point of order: summation belongs to the sponsor. The unfair question is debate disguised as a technical question.
Debrief
What is the hardest thing about staying neutral when you have an opinion on the bill?
Session 4 · 30 min
Presiding at Length
- Full bill20 min
- Feedback circle5 min
- Wrap-up5 min
Full bill
- Two Presiding Officers split the bill at the start of amendments
- A Deputy Speaker sits beside the chair
- The Deputy keeps the speakers list and whispers the next line if needed
Teacher note. Choose the two Presiding Officers by class selection or ranked choice vote. Use a full bill from the Floor Debate lesson. The Deputy role is how real conference deputies help.
Presiding Officer rubric
- Script and sequence: 30
- Fairness: 25
- Rulings: 20
- Time and gavel: 15
- Clerk and Sergeant duties: 10
Teacher note. Fairness means alternating con and pro, recognizing by placard order, not favoring friends. Time and gavel means signals at 30 and 15 seconds and two taps at the end.
Feedback circle
For each Presiding Officer: one specific compliment and one specific suggestion.
Teacher note. Use the rubric language.
Wrap-up
Who would like to run for office in the Elections lesson?
Teacher note. At the conference the Speaker and Senate President are elected, and the second-place finisher becomes Deputy. Support: let a nervous Presiding Officer read from the script card and pair them with a Deputy from the start. Challenge: no script in hand, or explain a disputed ruling in their own words.
The chair is yours
Coming up: run for office in the Elections lesson
Eyes up here
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