On Monday February 3, Timpview and Provo High student leaders were able to spend a day on Capitol Hill. After a tour of the Utah Capitol building, students were able to see an appropriations committee meeting on education, watch debates and voting on the House floor, and meet with many representatives. The students met with Representatives Shepherd, Clancy, Shallenberger, Thurston and they also met with Senator Stratton. They learned about the Congressmen’s current bills and their motivations. 

This opportunity was super unique for the student leaders at Timpview. One student noted how they learned from the Congressmen and how it was a cool experience to see the Utah leaders in action. Another student said “I really enjoyed hearing the different bills and the way representatives responded to them.”

Another interesting aspect is that the Congressmen mentioned that the key to everything in government is balance. This led to a discussion between the students from Timpview and Provo and how they run their student governments and the differences in ideas in both of the schools.

This opportunity also opened up some new doors for Timpview students. If a student is interested in government, they  can intern at the Capitol in Salt Lake while still in high school! It is a great way to get to see how the Utah government works through working different jobs right in the heart of it all. Overall, it was a remarkable day on the Hill and Timpview leaders were inspired.

During the field trip, students learned more about how the government of Utah works. The State operates under a constitutional framework that includes three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch is headed by the governor, who is elected for a four-year term and oversees state agencies and implementation of laws. The legislative branch consists of a legislature, comprising the Utah House of Representatives and the Utah Senate, responsible for creating state laws and budgets. The judicial branch interprets laws and administers justice through a system of courts, including the Utah Supreme Court. The Utah government has some very remarkable leaders and a very well led government! 

For the students, this was an amazing experience and a great learning opportunity.