MASC Legislative Session News

We are excited to have you attend the Legislative Session. Below is important information for your reference, as well as details you should share with the students who will be attending with you.

Click on the graphic to go to the Legislative Session Schedule.

Current forecasts suggest the potential for winter weather in parts of the state. While it is too early to determine the impact, we want to be proactive and ensure the safety of our students and advisors, particularly those who will be traveling longer distances.

We are planning to hold the Legislative Session at Loch Raven High School on Saturday, January 24. Should weather conditions make it unsafe to hold the Legislative Session on January 24, we have the backup date of Saturday, January 31, at Parkville High School. Parkville HS is also located in Baltimore and is very close to our original site at Loch Raven High School. This backup plan allows us to shift locations and dates with minimal disruption if necessary.

This message is precautionary, but we wanted to share this information in advance to support planning. If we have to postpone to the January 31st date, we will post on the MASC website and email the school and attending advisors.

MASC is pleased this year to welcome Dr. Anthony Arend as our opening guest speaker!

Anthony Clark Arend is Professor of Government and Foreign Service and Chair of the Department of Government at Georgetown University. His research and teaching is in the fields of international law, national security law, international legal theory, and human rights. He has published seven books, including Legal Rules and International Society and Human Dignity and the Future of Global Institutions (co-edited). Dr. Arend is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He received a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Foreign Affairs from the Department of Government and Foreign Affairs of the University of Virginia. He received a B.S.F.S., magna cum laude, from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Prior to college, he attended public schools in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where he served as the first voting student member on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education (1975-1976). Prior to that, he was President of the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils (1974-1975).

Thank you for supporting your students’ participation in the Legislative Session. Your role as a chaperone is essential to ensuring a safe, organized, and productive experience for all attendees.

During the event, advisors will be assigned to observe small-group sessions (click on the graphic to see the list). Advisors may complete either the online observation form or a paper version, which will be available in the Advisor Hospitality Area. Please be sure to submit a drawing ticket along with your observation form to be entered into a special prize drawing. All advisors are welcome to attend breakout sessions and are eligible to participate in the drawing upon submission of an observation form.

While regional advisors (or their designee) will lead the Region Breakout sessions in collaboration with the regional president or their designee, other advisors are asked to attend these sessions to assist as needed.

Additionally, advisors are encouraged to be present during the general sessions—not only to sit with their students, but also to help address any questions or concerns that may arise.

We sincerely appreciate your time, flexibility, and continued commitment to student leadership and civic engagement. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Help your students be an educated voter. Have them review the final student member on the Board of Education (SMOB) nominee's resume and personal statement. They can also find information about the nominees on their social media. All is posted on the MASC home page.

Click on the graphic for details.

The Constitutional Review Committee, composed of students from across the state, met monthly since September to review and discuss proposed amendments to the MASC Constitution. The committee unanimously sponsored seven amendments, which will be presented, discussed, and voted on during a special General Assembly at the Legislative Session.

Students are encouraged to review the current Constitution and the proposed amendments in advance.

The MASC Constitution is available on our Documents page; a direct link is provided here: https://mdstudentcouncils.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MASCConstitution.pdf

Please click on the graphic to view the proposed amendments.

Due to the late start of the Maryland General Assembly (January 14th), many bills are just being filed or are still in draft form. So we are not able to share bills this far in advance. However, our State Legislative Affairs Coordinators (SLACers) will be creating a short video to share at the Legislative Session to help explain the bills that are being selected. (see the schedule > Bill Stance Reviews). We also have a Google Form so students can submit questions before and during the last General Assembly that can be discussed before MASC votes on a stance to support or oppose.

During the Legislative Session, MASC's Special Issues department will be hosting a trinket swap! Bring small items like buttons, keychains, notebooks, plushies, or other fun trinkets to swap with fellow students. Give your old trinkets new life, find something you’ll love, and help promote mindful consumption and up-cycling!

Drop off your items at the tables set up outside of the cafeteria during check-in and return during lunch to pick up items to swap. Any extra items will be donated!

MASC is spreading the love with a Wellness Item Drive! Bring new or gently used jackets, socks, hats (winter weather gear), soap, tooth brushes, or hygiene essentials (hygiene items must be in an unopened, new package) to help support members of our community. Every item makes a difference! Taking care of our community is essential, and one form of advocacy is serving others through our actions.

Drop off your items at the tables set up outside of the cafeteria during check-in.