Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

For Immediate Release: September 12, 2003

Senators Go “Back to School”

(Oklahoma City) - Senators across the state will once again be traveling to schools in their districts to personally meet with students, answer questions and share ideas from the students in the public school system.

The Senators will also provide the students with a greater understanding of the legislative process through explaining how a bill is drafted and the steps a bill goes through to become law.

America’s Legislators Back To School Week is September 15th through 19th and is sponsored by the National Conference for State Legislators (NCSL).

The event is designed to teach young people who will become Oklahoma’s future voters and leaders what it is like to be a public servant. Legislators Back to School week will enable students to learn the ins and outs of our representative democracy.

The program was introduced in 1999 by NCSL as a one-day event. That one day was such a great success and was well-received by legislators and schools that it was turned into a one-week event in 2001.

According to an NCSL report in 1972, half of the population of 18 to 24-year-olds voted, but in the 2000 election, only 33 percent participated in the polls.

The Legislators Back to School Week emphasizes the importance of involvement and the value of a representative democracy.

For more information, contact:
Senate Communications Division - (405) 521-5774