Writing a Town Ordinance
Authored by: Jonathan Hilton, Erskine Academy

Grade Level: 9-12 (adaptable to 5-8)

The MLR performance indicators listed below are for illustrative purposes. Depending on the focus of the lessons as developed by individual teachers, these indicators may or may not be addressed. Conversely this is not a definitive listing of all of the performance indicators which could be addressed in this lesson.

MLR - Secondary Grades: Social Studies: (Civics A - 1, B - 2, C - 4, 6), (Geography A - 1,3); Language Arts: (Information D - 1, 2,3,5), (Writing/Speaking E - 4), (Conventions F-3), (Stylistic G-3,4,5,6,7,8,10), (Research H - 1,3,4,7, 9,10,11, 12)

Task Description

Each group of students will develop a model ordinance to be presented to the Board of Selectmen, [group of selected students, one from each individual group].

Student Products/Performances

Students will be divided into several groups of three or four. Then each will be assigned a topic that is controversial and current in a local town. (Any appropriate topic is acceptable. Looking through MMA's Online Ordinance Links may give some ideas about the topics for ordinances.)

Once the group has identified a problem and it's course of action, it must debate and write an ordinance which helps solve the problem. Students must use the debates and ideas of their group to write and present a model ordinance. In order to do this accurately, students must learn

a) what exactly is an ordinance & what can and can't it do,
b) how is it written and
c) what does it look like. (MMA's Links to Online Ordinances)

Board of Selectmen:
Four or five students should be selected from class to serve on the board. They will decide the format for your presentations. The Board also needs to research the laws concerning a public meeting, how to enact an ordinance, and the rules of parliamentary procedure. Each group will: 1. make a presentation, with PROOF, to the board of selectmen lasting 20-30 minutes, 2. listen to public comments and respond to questions from the board and other citizens, 3. provide a typed copy of the new ordinance for each group. At the close of the meeting, the board members will decide if the ordinance goes on the ballot. 

Resources

MMA [SEE the links above & below];
    Ordinance Enactment, Legal Note, Maine Townsman, April 1989
    Notice Requirements for Public Proceedings, Maine Townsman, January 1990
    Ordinance Filling Requirements
    Preemption Doctrine, Legal Note,  Maine Townsman, June 1991
    Sample Student Ordinance for Classroom Use
    Order of Events to Simulate Passing and Ordinance & Parliamentary Motions
Newspapers;
Selectmen of their town; and
Town Office.

Criteria for Evaluating Quality of Product or Performance

Each student will receive a grade based on the following:

- Participation on an appropriately written ordinance,
- Use of at least three resources,
- Involvement in group presentation with supporting facts and data,
- Articulation of a position during the course of the project,
- Use of time,
- Working to ability.

Teachers should weigh each category at their discretion.

Teacher Resources:

Municipal Home Rule, Maine Townsman, January 1983
What is Home Rule  [brief definition]