JSA represents Northwood at Winter Conference
Northwood High School’s Junior State of America (JSA) Club attended the JSA Winter Conference from Feb. 13 to Feb. 14.
The JSA Winter Conference, also referred to as Winter Congress, is a two-day event in which the delegates, who are referred to as “congress members,” draft and vote on bills.
“It’s a first-hand look at the legislative process. It was amazing and very informative,” said co-president Kevin Kim.
A total of 14 committees were represented – seven House of Representative committees and seven Senate committees. In each committee, a set of bills was proposed for debate and voted on. The bills were written by students and selected by JSA regional cabinets.
The bills covered a variety of domestic and international topics, such as the prohibition of racial profiling or the resumption of diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
“For each bill, a main affirmative speaker [made] a main speech…followed by a set of affirmative and negative subsequent speeches,” said JSA co-president Grace Kim. “After the debate [concluded] with the affirmative closing argument, the committee [voted] on each bill.”
Bills that were passed by the House of Representatives proceeded to the Senate committees. On the 14th, a full House and full Senate session was conducted. House and Senate members alike congregated to vote on the bills for the final time. The convention ended with the closing session, in which an invited speaker speaks for the entire JSA delegates.
But the conference was not limited to all work and no play.
“[On] Saturday evening after the committee hearings [were] over, there [were] interesting night time activities such as [a] talent show, [a] quiz bowl and [a] dance party,” said Grace Kim.
To learn more about JSA, drop by at their club meetings in Spanish teacher Jeanna Heck’s room in 1123 on Wednesdays at lunch.
