Introduction

Your Role in SPARTA. Most of you will be a member of the SPARTA House of Representatives who represents a particular district in a SPARTAN State. You are also a member of a particular political party in SPARTA. A large part of your grade will depend on how you represent your state AND party. 3 or 4 of you could serve as newspaper reporters who will be responsible for publishing two issues of your paper during the SPARTA legislative session.

The SPARTA Legislative session. Beginning Thursday May 12^th we will begin preparing for the Sparta Legislative session that begins on Friday May 27^th and continues until Thursday, June 2nd . Your parents may attend the sessions on May 27^th through June 2nd. The first Week will also include preparation of your State’s GAZETEER/POS PAPER.

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
May 9^th TESTING	May 10^th TESTING	May 11^th TESTING	May 12^th Receive Folders and Badges Receive Bills Explain SPARTA And DRESS FOR SUCCESS	May 13^th EXPLAIN SPARTA And POLL DATA
May 16^th POS PAPER STATE CAUCUS PER 1,2,3	May 17^th POS PAPER STATE CAUCUS PER 4,5,6	May 18^th Receive Folders Name Tags Pick Leaders REGULAR SCHEDULE	May 19^th Assign Pro/Con Speakers Prepare Speeches PER 1,2,3	May 20^th Assign Pro/Con Speakers Prepare Speeches PER 4,5,6
May 23^rd Party Speeches Organize Schedule Newspaper #1	May 24^th Party Speeches DRESS FOR SUCCESS POS PAPER	May 25^th Party Speeches DRESS FOR SUCCESS POS PAPER DUE	May 26^th Finish Party Speeches Select PRO/CON Speakers DRESS FOR SUCCESS	May 27^st Swearing In Ceremony Bill #1 Newspaper #2 DRESS FOR SUCCESS PARENTS INVITED
May 30^th MEMORIAL DAY	May 31^st Pledge of Allegiance Bill #2 Bill #3 DRESS FOR SUCCESS PARENTS INVITED	Jun 1st Pledge of Allegiance Bill #4 Bill #5 DRESS FOR SUCCESS PARENTS INVITED	Jun 2^nd Pledge of Allegiance Bill #6 Bill #7 Newspaper #3 DRESS FOR SUCCESS PARENTS INVITED	Jun 3^rd SPARTA CONCLUDES

* Speaker leads Pledge on Monday, Party Leaders/Whips on Tuesday through Friday

Where is SPARTA? SPARTA is a simulated country consisting of ten sovereign states. The Geography of SPARTA is the exact same as the real United States of America without Hawaii and Alaska. The ten states of SPARTA are: COLUMBIA [WA/ID/OR/MN/WY] EUREKA [CA/NE/AR/UT] MESA [CO/NM/TX/OK/KS] BADLANDS [ND/SD/MN/NB/IO] HOPE [MO/TN/AR/MI/LA] WABASH [MI/IL/IN/WI] DAHLONEGA [NC/SC/GA/AL/FL] POTOMAC [WV/VA/MD/KY/OH] YORK [NY/CN/NJ/PN/DE] MAINE [ME/VT/NH/MA/RI]. The laws and people of SPARTA are the exact same as the present-day United States of America.

Strategy

1. You as a player must try to please both your district in your state AND your political party. When it is not possible to please both, you will have to decide which group to please.

2. Players need to realize that every issue has TWO sides. Listening is as important as speaking.

3. Players will have a limited amount of time to get across important points. Your speeches must be clear and persuasive,

4. Players must recognize the value of compromise and make appropriate compromises as necessary.

5. Players will have to make choices under pressure.

6. Players, who are prepared and participate fully, will succeed in SPARTA.

PARTY DESCRIPTIONS

ORANGE PARTY

The ORANGE Party follows a philosophy of conservatism. In general the party endeavors to control the forces of change in such a way as the preserve the best elements of what has been successful in the past; to maintain, in so far as possible, traditional institutions.

This party emphasizes a philosophy of individual initiative, and favors policies that enhance private ownership and control of property and institutions. The party generally promotes policies that develop and protect SPARTAN business enterprises. The ORANGE Party also favors reduction of taxes to spur individual initiative.

The ORANGE Party is very opposed to any concentration of power or growth in the Federal government except in matters of national security. Minimal government in public affairs is the preferred method with reliance on state and local governments to promote the general welfare and insure domestic tranquility.

The ORANGE Party seeks to avoid international “entangling alliances” and maintain SPARTAN sovereignty through the employment of a strong, unmatched military.

BLUE PARTY

The BLUE Party follows ideas associated with liberalism. The party stands for the freest and fullest development of individual rights and opportunities in a way that harmonizes with the realities of present and future social conditions. The BLUE Party has called itself the party of the “common man.” The party feels that government should regulate and change forces of society in such a way as to enhance human equality and development.

“Minority rights” must be protected. The party holds that traditional documents and policies must be continually reviewed in order to undertake positive government programs to solve social problems of the times. The BLUE Party generally advocates programs to aid the development of public health, education, and welfare. The party generally favors legislation to regulate fair employment practices, to provide federal economic regulations to insure stable economic growth, to protect civil rights, to provide adequate housing, to give federal aid to education, etc.

The BLUE Party feels that SPARTA should face its responsibilities of being the world’s greatest power. By supporting various aid programs to underdeveloped countries to provide for their welfare.

KEY ROLES

POSITION	FIRST PERIOD	THIRD PERIOD	FOURTH PERIOD	FIFTH PERIOD	SIXTH PERIOD
SPEAKER
ASSISTANT
MAJORITY PARTY
PARTY LEADER
PARTY WHIP
MINORITY PARTY
PARTY LEADER
PARTY WHIP
NEWSPAPER REPORTERS

RULES FOR DEBATE

1. Each Party Leader will assign each person (including the House Speaker, Party Leader & Whip, and Speaker’s assistant) to speak on at least one bill during the Party Meetings May 18^th to May 26^th.

2. Each party will select at least two speakers promoting bills [PRO] sponsored by their party.

3. Each party will select at least two speakers against [CON] bills sponsored by the opposing party.

4. Each party will select at least two speakers promoting [PRO] and two speakers against [CON] the Bi-Partisan Bill #3.

5. Speakers may only speak for one (1) minute unless a majority of the members vote to let the speaker continue for up to one (1) additional minute.

6. PRO and CON speakers will speak before their parties on May 18^h through 26^{th .}Each Party Leader will select the final speakers for the Legislative session.

7. During the Legislative Sessions the following procedure will be used for each bill:

a. Speaker Reads Bill.

b. Formal Debate [Speaker order determined by House Speaker]

i. Sponsoring Party PRO Speakers [one minute each*].

ii. Opposing Party CON Speakers [one minute each*].

c. Open Debate. Questions using Robert’s Rules [five minutes*]. Players may ask specific questions of PRO/CON speakers after being recognized by Speaker of the House.

d. State Caucus [two minutes]. Governors meet with state representatives to discuss strategy.

e. Party Caucus [two minutes]. Parties meet to discuss strategy.

f. Vote. Speaker of House calls for roll call or stand-up vote. Clerk assists with counting

i. You vote “PRO” or “NO” for each Bill or

ii. You may abstain.

8. Players [except Party Leaders] must sit with their parties until State Caucus.

GRADING FOR SPEECHES

10 POINTS-EXCELLENT: The student clearly describes the reason for speaking and provides a strong, logical reason for supporting their point of view. Specific information is given to support their argument. Eye contact is made and all heard the student’s words. There is strong evidence of preparation, organization, and enthusiasm for the topic.

8 POINTS-EFFECTIVE: The student describes the reason for speaking and provides a reason for supporting their point of view. Adequate information is given to support their argument. There evidence of preparation, organization, and enthusiasm for the topic.

6 POINTS-GOOD: The student describes the reason for speaking and gives a conclusion. There is some evidence of preparation, organization, and enthusiasm.

4 POINTS- INCOMPLETE: The student describes the reason for speaking but does not explain why we should support their point of view. Evidence of preparation, organization, or enthusiasm for the topic is missing.

2 POINTS- INADEQUATE: The student does not describe the reason for speaking. The topic is unclear and no adequate conclusions are drawn. There is no evidence of preparation, organization, or enthusiasm for the topic.

0 POINTS- No oral presentation attempted.

LEGISLATIVE RECORD

AGENDA/BILL	LEGISLATIVE ACTION (passed/defeated)	PARTY GRADE (+/-)	STATE GRADE (+/-)
1^ST	P / D
2^ND	P / D
3^RD	P / D
4^TH	P / D
5^TH	P / D
6^TH	P / D
7^TH	P / D

PARTY SPEECH (IN-CLASS) RECORD EVALUATIONFORM

YOURNAME: ________________
STATE:________________
PARTY:________________

DATE

PRO SPEAKER NAME

SCORE

CON SPEAKER NAME

SCORE

LEGISLATIVE SESSION SPEECH RECORD EVALUATIONFORM

YOUR NAME: ________________
STATE:________________
PARTY:________________

DATE

PRO SPEAKER NAME

SCORE

CON SPEAKER NAME

SCORE

2009

SUNNYVALE MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Honorable James Realini

The Honorable Lawrence Vedar

Thre Honorable Kathy Ramirez

May 27^th, 2010

United States of Sparta House of Representatives

The oath of office required by Article Six of the Constitution of the United States, and as provided by Section 2 of the act of May 13^th, 1884, to be administered to Members of the House of Representatives, the text of which is carried in Section 5 United States Code 3331:

{ Members of the 42^nd Congress please rise…..}

I, _________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of Sparta against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me Mom.

Congratulations…. You are now officially members of the
43^nd Annual SPARTAN Legislative Session.

EVALUATION

NAME: ________________
STATE:________________
PARTY:________________

ROLE: ________________

1. What did you like best about the SPARTA simulation? Why?

2. What did you like least?

3. What were the two MOST important things you learned about a legislature?

4. What were the two most significant things you learned about being a representative?

5. How did this method of learning compare with other methods of learning?

6. What would you change to make SPARTA better?

7. Did you feel that you understood what you needed to do before, during, or after the simulation?

8. If you had the chance to do something like this again, would you like to do it? Why or why not?

GRADE SHEET

NAME: ________________
STATE:________________
PARTY:________________

ROLE: ________________

#	ITEM	CRITERIA	POSSIBLE POINTS	EARNED POINTS
1	DRESS FOR SUCCESS	HOW MANY TIMES? [seven max]	14
2	NAME TAG	Wear each day	11
3	NAME TAG	Returned by June 6th or $1.00	2
4	FOLDER	Present each day	11
5	FOLDER	Returned by June 6th or $5.00	2
6	PRO/CON SPEECH EVALUATION	See EVAL Sheet (will use best grade if you speak twice)	25
7	DEBATE CONTRIBUTE	Maximum twice per day	10
8	EXTRA CREDIT	Contribute a Newspaper Article on Bill	***
9	EXTRA CREDIT	Daily Journal about SPARTA 150 words per day	***
10	EXTRA CREDIT	Political Cartoon	*
11	EXTRA CREDIT	Magazine Collage	**
12	EXTRA CREDIT	Leadership Position	***
13	SPEECH EVALUATION	Three in Party Two in Legislative Session	10
14	SPARTA EVALUATION	Complete and turned-in Jun 6^tht	5
15	LEGISLATIVE RECORD	Were you re-elected?	10
	TOTAL	91-100=A 81-90=B 71-80=C 61-70=D	100

***=up to 10 points **=up to 7 points *=up to 3 points each