The Student Congress consists of two parts. One is a ten month leadership program for two high school students (from each of the participating high schools) who meet once a month for a two hour period at Sonoma State University. The other is the Congressional seminar (see below) which they represent and which meets, on a weekly basis and is facilitated by Sonoma State University students. Continuity is built in because once they graduate, the high school students become "alumni" who are expected to advice and participate in the Student Congress.

During the first hour, the Congressstudent(s) who represent their high schools in the Congress:

• Report on events taking place in their schools, and discuss the issues their constituencies (the Congressional Seminar or their schoolmates) find in their daily lives,
• Explore ways in which these issues can be confronted,
• Make specific suggestions to solve the problem(s),

The second hour is allotted to a seminar discussion with the Congressional Staff and/or an invited guest who is knowledgeable about a particular topic of interest to the students.

NOTE: These latter meetings may be dedicated to a Speaker Series that is scheduled and advertised ahead of time and which are open to high school students involved in Student Congress activities and to the general public.

The duties and responsibilities of Congressstudents are to participate in monthly meetings.

Additional activities include:

• Bi-yearly retreats (to learn leadership skills and plan activities).
  
  
• An annual conference (to share information with students at large).
  
  
• Aa graduation ceremony (to honor and recognize congresstudents and welcome the new ones).
  
  
• Keeping a journal of experiences as Congressstudents.
  
  
• Sharing the information, decisions, projects, etc. discussed at the Congressional meeting with her/his high school's Congressional Seminars and/or other clubs/organizations.
  
  
• Making presentations on the Student Congress to elected governmental bodies (city councils, boards of trustees, supervisors, education), businesses, unions, and social service organizations.
  
  
• Cultivating working relationships with elected officials at the local, state and federal levels.
  
  
• Participating in a major Congressional Project such as:
  
  
  • A Congressional Monthly Newsletter, listserve or website.
    
    
  • A theater play or a video that deals with current youth issues and which can be shared with other high school students.
    
    
  • Joint research projects with college students, teachers, faculty and others to gather information to address policy issues, the writing of grants or publications.