Lesson Plan

Printable Version (PDF)

Title

How to Get the Premier’s Ear: Creating a Concept Paper

Audience

Grades 10, 11, or 12 Social Studies, Civic Studies, Social Justice 12, Law 12

Overview

Students will select an issue and work through the process of creating a concept paper.

Objectives

To develop an understanding of the process required to create a legislative bill. To understand that the concept paper is merely the first step in a more comprehensive process to develop legislation. To engage in the process of initiating change. To understand that legislative gives effect to government policy (a.k.a. decision).

Activities and Method

Discussion:

1. How does a Bill become a law? (Review)
2. How is an issue presented for consideration? (Cabinet Minister, Stakeholder, Public Servant)
3. What is the process of taking an idea to a Bill?
4. What is the role of a concept paper in the creation of a Bill?
5. Brainstorm school rules students would like to see created or have changed?

Activities:

6. Break into groups to complete the concept paper student worksheet.
7. Present the concept paper worksheet to the class.
8. Class may act as Cabinet in a review of the concept papers.
9. Students and teacher to develop a rubric for evaluation.

Preparation (by teacher and by students)

The students will have prior knowledge of:

• Passage of a Bill to a law
• School rules and policies

Duration of Activity

1-2 Lessons

Learning Outcomes

• Apply critical thinking skills – including questioning, comparing, summarizing, drawing conclusions, and defending a position – to make reasoned judgements about a range of issues, situations, and topics
• Demonstrate effective research skills, including
  • accessing information
  • assessing information
  • collecting data
  • evaluating data
  • organizing information
  • presenting information
  • citing sources
• Demonstrate skills and attitudes of active citizenship, including ethical behaviour, open-mindedness, respect for diversity, and collaboration

Materials and Resources

Appendix 1 - Legislation from Idea to Bill

Appendix 2 - Concept Paper Student Worksheet

Appendix 3 - Getting the Premier’s Ear Concept Paper Information Sheet

www.leg.bc.ca - Discover Your Legislature, Purpose section

www.parl.gc.ca

Evaluation of Activity

Criterion Based Rubric

Submitted By

Krista Bogen, Gleneagle Secondary School, SD # 43 (Coquitlam)
Natalie Charlton, Smithers Secondary School, SD # 54 (Bulkley Valley)
Chris Foster, Stanley Humphries Secondary, SD#20 (Castlegar)
David Mayert, Nanaimo District Secondary School, SD #67 (Nanaimo)
Toby Mundy, Seaquam Secondary School, SD #37 (Delta)

NOTE: The ideas and opinions expressed in this classroom activity belong to their authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia or the Government of British Columbia. The Public Education and Outreach office only edits for clarity.

Appendix – Handouts

Printable Version of Appendix 1 (PDF)

Appendix 1

Legislation from Idea to Bill

Idea			Sources:  Executive, public service, external
⇓
Sponsoring Ministry			The sponsoring Ministry is usually the Ministry that will be responsible for administering the proposed legislation
⇓
Request for Legislation Cabinet Submission (RFL) prepared			The RFL is prepared by the sponsoring Ministry It includes:   ⇒ Policy Review “3 Column Document”   ⇒ Drafting Instructions   ⇒ Comments of Treasury Board Staff   ⇒ Comments of Legislative Counsel
⇓
RFL submitted to Cabinet			Cabinet will approve or reject the RFL If approved, Cabinet sets the RFL’s priority in the legislative program
⇓
Policy review by Government Caucus Committee (GCC)			The appropriate GCC reviews the 3 Column Document The columns describe: ⇒ the current legislation, if any ⇒ the proposed policy change ⇒ the reasons for the change GCC may direct changes to the proposed policy
⇓
Legislative Counsel drafts			Approved RFL is sent to Chief Legislative Counsel Legislative Counsel is assigned to draft In addition to the Legislative Counsel, the drafting team includes: ⇒ the instructing official (sponsoring Ministry) ⇒ the advising lawyer (Legal Services Branch) Drafts are prepared and the policy is refined
⇓ ⇓	⇑ ⇑
consultations and reviews			Consultations and reviews: ⇒ internal consultations and reviews as necessary ⇒ external consultations if directed or approved Draft legislation is finalized and edited
⇓
Cabinet Committee review of final draft legislation			The Legislative Review Committee of Cabinet is attended by the sponsoring Minister, policy analysts, Legislative Counsel The Committee may approve the legislation, approve it with changes or recommend that it not proceed
⇓
Bill prepared			The Bill is prepared by the Office of Legislative Counsel on instructions from the Office of the Premier, and sent to the Queen’s Printer for printing The Government House Leader sets the time for introduction into the Legislative Assembly

 

Printable Version of Appendix 2 (PDF)

Appendix 2

Concept Paper Student Worksheet

Group Members:
What is the problem that your concept addresses?
Briefly outline your concept:
Who would be affected by this concept? (Stakeholders)
Briefly predict the position of each of the stakeholders with this concept:
What are the benefits of this concept?
What are the concerns of this concept?
What are the key elements of this concept?
What are the financial implications?
Who would be paying?
How would this concept impact existing programs, rules, and activities?
How long would it take to implement (prepare, develop and educate others for) this concept?
What steps need to be taken to enforce or implement this concept?

 

Printable Version of Appendix 3 (PDF)

Appendix 3

Getting the Premier’s Ear:   The Concept Paper

To enact legislation, the House, through its members (Members of Legislative Assembly, or MLAs), examines, debates and ultimately votes on bills (proposed laws).  Once a bill passes successfully in the House, it is given Royal Assent (final approval) by the head of state, the Lieutenant Governor.

However, a bill needs to be crafted carefully before it even reaches the House.  Who comes up with these ideas for bills, and how does this initial process work?

Who comes up with ideas for bills?

• Ministers of the Crown (such as Education, Health, etc.)
• Public Servants (government employees)
• Outside agencies (ie: Organizations, Industry, Municipalities, etc.)

How does the government decide what ideas need to become bills?

The Executive Branch, (the Premier and Cabinet) ultimately decide in confidential Cabinet meetings which ideas should become priorities for the government.  The ideas often provide solutions to problems or propose new initiatives.  These selected ideas are forwarded to lawyers (Legislative Counsel) in the Ministry of the Attorney General to develop them into bills.  Once the bills are drafted and approved by Cabinet, the government House Leader chooses a time for each bill to be introduced in the House for First Reading.

For an idea to be proposed to Cabinet and reach the ear of the Premier and Ministers, the following documents are created for them to review:

• Concept Paper
• Cabinet Submission
• Request for Legislation

The first stage, the Concept Paper, is essentially a two-page report that proposes the idea’s elements and gives Cabinet a summary of its benefits.  It also suggests the impact of the proposed idea on various stakeholder groups and on existing legislation and government programs.

Cabinet will approve a Concept Paper if it falls in line with the current government’s main priorities and needs expressed by the public.  Once a concept paper is approved, it is sent to the Ministry affected by the proposed idea to draft a Cabinet Submission.  A Cabinet Submission will thoroughly research the idea in depth for its impacts and may request input from stakeholder groups.  The Cabinet Submission then returns to Cabinet for full policy approval.  If approved, and the Cabinet Submission recommend legislation, then a Request for Legislation (RFL) is ordered, setting in motion the process of drafting the idea into a bill.  Ministry officials work jointly with Legislative Counsel to prepare the bill so that it can be approved by Cabinet and sent to the House for the bill-making process.