A Local Look Into the Legislative Process

The Page and Messenger Program With the House of Representatives

Photo by Joel Durkee on Unsplash

Living in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida has lots to offer, including the Page and Messenger Program (P&M). This underground program is an extremely unique experience that gives students the honor to work with Florida legislators. “Pages” are middle school students who help the representatives directly with their time in the chamber. “Messengers” are high school students who deliver mail and relay notes to the representatives. Students are able to page with the Florida House of Representatives or the Florida Senate and are able to learn how bills become laws, immerse themselves into the legislative process, learn about Florida’s legislative history and hear differing opinions of Florida lawmakers as well as the peers in their group. The program occurs throughout session, a 60-day period where the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate come together to create Florida laws.

P&M completely immerses students in the lawmaking process. Depending on the week of session students are participating in the program, students are able to witness debates performed by representatives as well as listen to the bills being read and discussed. Each representative has a small yellow “page” button that, when pressed, calls for the assistance of a page to do any favor they ask. Many of the representatives ask for food, drinks or deliveries, but some lighten the mood by asking for different silly tasks. In the later weeks, pages are allowed in the chamber to watch Florida lawmaking in action. This year, during week 9, I was able to witness many of the representatives give their farewell addresses, looking back on their years of service. I was able to watch the “handkerchief drop” and the closing of the session ceremony “sine die.” The handkerchief is dropped at the end of session by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President to signify the complete budget and passing of laws. Sine die is Latin and communicates the conclusion of a meeting.

I have been involved with the program for many years, allowing me to experience the beginning, middle and later weeks of Session. During the beginning weeks, there is not much interaction with any of the representatives and there is little to no chamber time. Instead, the program is filled with different tours, photo ops, guest speakers and even a mock session. Students are able to learn about Florida’s legislative history by touring the capitol, historic capitol and the Supreme Court and even learn the significance of all the paintings within the chamber. For example, in the chamber, each of the large murals has a small hidden Florida somewhere. The mock session is the most unique experience of P&M that truly allows students to become fully immersed in the legislative process. Students are given the opportunity to come together with peers and create an idea for a mock bill, helping students grasp the process of lawmaking. Based on the variety of activities that happen during each week of the program, there is no “bad” week to be involved and there is always so much to learn.

Students participating in P&M not only learn about legislative processes but also engage with peers from diverse backgrounds, fostering open-mindedness. In a small school environment, students can become insular, but this program exposes them to varying viewpoints from students across different schools, cities and even states. Through collaboration, students share ideas and build connections, learning the value of disagreement and compromise while maintaining friendships. These connections often endure beyond the program, forming lifelong friendships. Beyond the educational benefits, the program offers enjoyable opportunities to connect with others and explore different perspectives, potentially reshaping personal beliefs.

One notable downside of the program is the missed schoolwork and class time during the paging week. While the impact was negligible in middle school, it became more challenging in high school. Missing lessons, assignments and tests in high school can lead to significant stress and difficulty catching up. Many students question whether the program's experience outweighs the stress of managing schoolwork afterward.

In my view, despite the stress and missed school time, the Page and Messenger Program is unquestionably worthwhile. It's a prestigious opportunity, offering unique insights into Florida lawmaking and privileged access to state history. Despite occasional boredom, the experience is enriching, fostering invaluable connections and friendships. With ample free time for makeup assignments, the stress is manageable. Even for those uninterested in politics, the program remains engaging. It provides an immersive understanding of lawmaking behind the scenes, with each week offering new experiences to anticipate eagerly. Personally, I've found joy in assembling professional attire and bonding with peers. Overall, I've cherished my involvement in the program each year.