Apply For The Citizens Legislative Seminar

The Citizens’ Legislative Seminar (CLS) is a citizen workshop organized by the Senate Legislative Education Office that aims to better educate the public on the functions of the Massachusetts State Legislature.  CLS was originally established in 1976 through a joint effort of the Massachusetts State Senate and the University of Massachusetts.The curriculum includes the “History of the Legislature”, “The Formal Legislative Process”, “The Informal Legislative Process”, “The Budget”, “The Parliamentary Role of the Clerk of the Senate” and “The Future of the Legislature”.  The presentations are made by Senators and Senate staff.  Highlights of the two day seminar are a simulated legislative hearing and a simulated Senate Session where participants use what they have learned to actively experience the legislative process.

The new two-day format of the Citizens’ Legislative Seminar proved to be remarkably successful during the March, 2010 CLS.  Over 45 involved citizens participated in this fun and informational program, learning about how the Legislature works firsthand.  Presenters included Senate President Murray, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Senate Clerk William Welch, Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Steven Panagiotakos and Senators Jennifer Flanagan, Richard T. Moore, and Steven Baddour.

Due to its popularity, participants for the Citizens’ Legislative Seminars must be sponsored by their senator.  Please note that you must be able to attend both days of the seminar in order to participate.

If you are a resident of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, you can submit your name by calling Senator Murray’s State House office at (617) 722-1500 or district office at (508) 746-9332 to indicate your interest.

If you have questions or would like to know more about the Seminar, Senator Murray’s Boston office at (617) 722-1500 or the Senate Legislative Education Office at (617) 722-1380.