One Bill from each Legislative Committee will be nominated for Best Bill. To be considered for Best Bill, it must meet the criteria listed below. Criteria are listed in order of importance. Delegates will vote for the Best Bill. Results will be tallied and considered by Advisors Committee who make the final selection of the Best Bill during Youth and Government Weekend.
Process for selection of the Best Bill
- Each Legislative Committee will nominate a Bill
- Saturday morning, the list of nominees for Best Bill will be posted and distributed to participants and Advisors
- Sunday morning, participants will vote from the list of nominees
- Advisor's Committee will tally delegate votes and make the final selection—student votes are very influential in the decision-making process.
- The Secretary of State will announce the Best Bill Award at the Closing Ceremony.
Best Bill Criteria (in order of importance!)
- Bill was properly submitted online before the deadline
- Content (Must have all to be considered)
- Statement of Fact/Fiscal Statement: This must be Statistical Information supporting the Bill and its costs.
- Justification: Summarization of the Bill, the reasons for drafting it, and opinion on why this Bill should become law.
- References or Sources: Notes that explain where information used to support the Bill originated to show that the source is reliable and verifiable.
- Clarity
- Would you submit this Bill to the Maine Legislature? Would you be willing to stand before Maine’s Legislature to defend this Bill, and is it worth Maine Senate and House Members’ time to hear this Bill?
- Is the Bill’s intent easy to understand?
- Could the Bill be enforced with little interpretation?
- Originality/Uniqueness
- Is it an innovative solution or concept to a problem?
- Did the Sponsor suggest new ideas as a solution?
- Is this Bill an original idea? Bills that have been submitted in previous Youth and Government years will not be accepted unless there have been additions or deletions from the original Bill.
