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The Winona Model Legislature is a unique experience for Middle School and High School Students Grades 6-12 and Winona State University "Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary" students to experience American Democracy in action in the new Maxwell Leadership Center on the campus of Winona State University.

The Winona Senior High School Model Legislature has a 50 year history of allowing students to create and participate in a Model Legislature. The legislature is held on the campus of Winona State University the first Thursday & Friday in December .

The Student Board of Directors begins planning the 300 page billbook in September. All bills for inclusion in the billbook need to be at WSHS by the first week of November.

Students from area high schools are invited to this year's Model Legislature which will be held the first Thursday in December and the first Friday December from 9:00am to 3:15pm in the Maxwell Leadership Center at Winona State University. The event is hosted by the Winona Senior High School American Government classes and is advised by Gene Pelowski. Participating Schools have included Winona Senior High School, St. Charles High School, Cotter High School and Winona Middle School.

Model Legislature Quick Links

To participate as a legislator, students in grades 9-12 must write and research a bill for inclusion in the billbook. Students in grades 6-8 participate as pages to the model House of Representatives, Senate and Governor's office.

If you are interested in participating in this year's Model Legislature, please contact Gene Pelowski at Winona Senior High School, 901 Gilmore Ave. Winona, MN 55987. The WSHS phone number is 507-453-3848, Gene's home phone number is 507-454-3282 or you can email gene@pelowski.org. Please visit the Model Legislature Participation page for more information and to download a sign up form.

Model Legislature, Schedule of Events

First Thursday in December

  • 8:30-9:00 Registration
  • 9:00-9:15 Candidate Speeches
  • 9:15-9:30 Elections of Officers
  • 9:30-9:40 Swearing in of Elected Officers
  • 9:55-10:00 Governor's Address State of Model Legislature
  • 10:10-12:00 Committee Meetings
  • 12:00-12:45 Lunch at Krysko Commons
  • 12:50-1:05 Parliamentary Procedure Workshop In Joint Session
  • 1:05-2:40 House and Senate Convene or Committees Continue
  • 2:40-3:00 Announcements
  • 3:00 Recess

First Friday in December

  • 9:00-11:00am Committee Meetings
  • 11:00-11:30 House and Senate Convene
  • 11:30-12:30 Lunch
  • 12:30 -3:00 House and Senate Convene
  • 3:00-3:15 Governor Address and Presentation of Awards
  • 3:30 Adjournment of Model Legislature 

The Model Legislature is truly unique in that it involves students and educators from all levels of education in Minnesota.  It includes high school students, middle school students and university level students from around the state.  It is advised by Gene Pelowski a high school teacher who also happens to be a State Representative.  The Model Legislature website is designed by Steve Kranz , a website developer who also happens to be a School Board Member with Winona Area Public Schools.  The event is hosted by Winona State University.

The Model Legislature is not only a model of how our state government functions, but is also a model for what can be accomplished when all levels of education work together to provide valuable learning experiences for the students of Minnesota.

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Paid for by Pelowski Volunteer Committee, Sue Edel Treasurer 178 Treetops Lane, Winona MN 55987