ssi summer track
House Track
In the Legislative Track first-time students begin their SSI experience by being sworn-in as members of the House of Representatives. Designed to challenge students to understand the moral principles to current issues, students role-play as state lawmakers, discussing actual bills taken from the Michigan legislature. Students are assigned to a committee and a caucus, and each caucus has one bill to sponsor and support and one bill to oppose. They learn the process of how a bill becomes a law, as well as the responsibilities of citizenship. Students also learn and engage in activities such as:
– Public Speaking
– Critical & Strategic Thinking
– Speech Writing
– Teamwork
Each caucus utilizes the SSI Media to bring attention to their sponsored bill by calling a Press Conference. The biggest challenge here is to make sure the SSI Media doesn’t misquote you!
Judicial Experience
Below you will find the two advanced tracks contained within our Judicial Experience.
Mock Trial Track
In the Mock Trial track a team of students study elements of our legal system through instruction and coaching provided by gifted attorneys and law school professors. Students participate in mock criminal and civil trials before real-life judges, who critique team strategy and individual presentation skills following each trial, and a jury of peers who decides the verdict. Supreme Court justices provide small group interviews and courtroom tours, giving SSI students opportunities to interact with top judges in Michigan’s judiciary.
Mock Trial students learn all the elements of a Trial, including:
– Legal Strategy and Case Presentation
– Trial Procedure
– Pretrial Motion Hearings
– Rules of Evidence
– Opening Statements & Closing Arguments
– Direct & Cross Examination
– Witness Preparation
– Juries
– Courtroom Decorum
– Making motions
Moot Court Track
Advanced students who choose the Moot Court track have the opportunity to argue case law before a panel of three Appellate Judges. Legal Professors, attorneys, and judges provide SSI students with critiques and instructions on their presentations in court and throughout the week. The intensive training and instruction throughout the week challenges each student’s critical thinking and presentation skills; judges have remarked that students are better prepared and more convincing with their arguments than many practicing attorneys.
Campaign Experience
Open to 3rd year students or 2nd year high school seniors & juniors, the SSI Campaign Track is political involvement like you’ve never experienced it before!Campaign students learn, Campaign strategy, Platform Creation, The basics of Campaign Finances, Campaign Ethics, Influencing the Public, Political Ad Creation, Political Debate, Writing a Press Release, One-on-One Campaigning, Fundraising, Current, and Real Issues.Named by 2011 alumni as the most challenging, but most fun, track of all, The SSI Campaign Track will thrust you and your teammates into the fast and furious action of running a gubernatorial campaign. As key members of a candidate’s campaign staff, you and your team must perform a balancing act of raising money, managing and allocating funds appropriately, understanding campaign ethics, and convincing the public that your candidate is the best candidate. Experienced coaches and instructors will be on hand to assist you through the intense competition, working with you to push your candidate to the top. Participate in a number of true-to-life campaign events, like conducting fundraisers, designing print and TV ads, handling and utilizing the press, and engaging in an exciting live-audience debate, all leading up to the ultimate vote to determine the next governor of Michigan!
http://ssionline.org/ James Muffet, President
In the Legislative Track first-time students begin their SSI experience by being sworn-in as members of the House of Representatives. Designed to challenge students to understand the moral principles to current issues, students role-play as state lawmakers, discussing actual bills taken from the Michigan legislature. Students are assigned to a committee and a caucus, and each caucus has one bill to sponsor and support and one bill to oppose. They learn the process of how a bill becomes a law, as well as the responsibilities of citizenship. Students also learn and engage in activities such as:
– Public Speaking
– Critical & Strategic Thinking
– Speech Writing
– Teamwork
Each caucus utilizes the SSI Media to bring attention to their sponsored bill by calling a Press Conference. The biggest challenge here is to make sure the SSI Media doesn’t misquote you!
Judicial Experience
Below you will find the two advanced tracks contained within our Judicial Experience.
Mock Trial Track
In the Mock Trial track a team of students study elements of our legal system through instruction and coaching provided by gifted attorneys and law school professors. Students participate in mock criminal and civil trials before real-life judges, who critique team strategy and individual presentation skills following each trial, and a jury of peers who decides the verdict. Supreme Court justices provide small group interviews and courtroom tours, giving SSI students opportunities to interact with top judges in Michigan’s judiciary.
Mock Trial students learn all the elements of a Trial, including:
– Legal Strategy and Case Presentation
– Trial Procedure
– Pretrial Motion Hearings
– Rules of Evidence
– Opening Statements & Closing Arguments
– Direct & Cross Examination
– Witness Preparation
– Juries
– Courtroom Decorum
– Making motions
Moot Court Track
Advanced students who choose the Moot Court track have the opportunity to argue case law before a panel of three Appellate Judges. Legal Professors, attorneys, and judges provide SSI students with critiques and instructions on their presentations in court and throughout the week. The intensive training and instruction throughout the week challenges each student’s critical thinking and presentation skills; judges have remarked that students are better prepared and more convincing with their arguments than many practicing attorneys.
Campaign Experience
Open to 3rd year students or 2nd year high school seniors & juniors, the SSI Campaign Track is political involvement like you’ve never experienced it before!Campaign students learn, Campaign strategy, Platform Creation, The basics of Campaign Finances, Campaign Ethics, Influencing the Public, Political Ad Creation, Political Debate, Writing a Press Release, One-on-One Campaigning, Fundraising, Current, and Real Issues.Named by 2011 alumni as the most challenging, but most fun, track of all, The SSI Campaign Track will thrust you and your teammates into the fast and furious action of running a gubernatorial campaign. As key members of a candidate’s campaign staff, you and your team must perform a balancing act of raising money, managing and allocating funds appropriately, understanding campaign ethics, and convincing the public that your candidate is the best candidate. Experienced coaches and instructors will be on hand to assist you through the intense competition, working with you to push your candidate to the top. Participate in a number of true-to-life campaign events, like conducting fundraisers, designing print and TV ads, handling and utilizing the press, and engaging in an exciting live-audience debate, all leading up to the ultimate vote to determine the next governor of Michigan!
http://ssionline.org/ James Muffet, President