Centers/Programs
State House Express
A small grants program to enhance civics education
for middle- and high-school students in New Jersey
The program provides $300 grant awards to eligible middle-school and high-school teachers of government, civics, history, and other social studies classes. The grants are designed to help pay for bus rental costs to take classes on a field trip to the State House in Trenton for a guided tour and a first-hand examination of the legislature’s role in our system of representative democracy to encourage civic participation in the American political system. The State House Express program, now in its sixth year, is funded by the New Jersey Legislature and is administered by the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in collaboration with the Office of Legislative Services at the State House.Read/print the announcement with details on the program here. TEACHING DEMOCRACY |
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| In teaching about representative democracy in government, civics and history courses, it helps if the students learn about the lawmaking process while touring the State House. A special tour has been developed by the Office of Legislative Services for Eagleton's State House Express. It focuses on the legislature as an arena where different public values, interests, and priorities are deliberated and negotiated, and where settlements are reached. |
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| VISITING THE STATE HOUSE | ||||||||||||
| The goal of the tour is to teach students about the legislature's role in representative democracy and encourage civic participation in the American political system. On a typical tour students will see the rotunda, Governor's reception room, General Assembly, and Senate caucus room. Students may also participate in a "make-a-law" exercise in which they will learn about discussion, negotiation, compromise and voting in the enactment of legislation. Time permitting, they may also engage with several multimedia exhibits located in the State House Welcome Center.
Each teacher will be asked to fill out an evaluation form at the conclusion of the tour. Please note: The State House is a working office building subject to periodic unannounced room closings, so tour routes may be altered somewhat. Room closings are more likely to occur on Mondays and Thursdays, while the legislature is in session. |
 New Jersey State Assembly Chamber |
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| APPLICATION PROCESS |
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Teachers may submit applications for the 2009-2010 program to Eagleton at any time during the
academic year – awards will be made on a rolling basis with decisions made as soon as the
applications are received.Eligibility criteria are as follows:
2009-10 Application available to mail or fax (pdf file) |
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SCHEDULING THE STATE HOUSE TOUR |
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| After the award of the grant and assuming the permission of school and/or district authorities, a teacher may schedule a tour by calling the Tour Office within the Office of Legislative Services at 609-633-2709.
Teachers must specify that they are coming as State House Express participants. The program runs about two hours, but may be shortened on request. Tours are subject to availability and limited to 50 people per tour, which includes chaperones. The Tour Office will notify the school district's legislators of the scheduled visit, but the school must make special arrangements for any meeting with legislators. The Governor and legislators do not routinely meet with tour groups. |
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For further information, contact: |
 New Jersey State Senate Chamber |
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