Career club packets / Political science
How to run a political science club
Members argue, negotiate, and write like diplomats, then take action: working elections, registering voters, and speaking at the school board.
Part 1
Start the club
A government or history teacher, a room, and people who like to argue.
Start the club
1Get signupsProof people want the club, and when they can meet.
Copy the Doorstop signup form, rename it, and send it to group chats and the classes closest to the field. Every signup is proof people want this, and the form asks when people can meet.
2Ask a teacher to adviseStart with a government, civics, or history teacher.
Hi [Mr./Ms./Dr. last name],
I’m starting a political science club and have [number from the form] students signed up. We’d practice debate and negotiation through Model UN, and do real civic work like registering voters and working as student poll workers. Would you be open to being our advisor?
We’d like to meet [times that worked on the form]. I’ll run the meetings and handle signups; we’d mostly need you there and your name on the club form.
With hope and gratitude,
[Your name]
Once they say yes, ask for your school’s form to make the club official. More on this step: How to start a club.
Split the work
Four jobs are enough for a new club. One person can hold two.
Part 2
Fund it
Meetings are free. The money goes to conferences.
First: find out how your school takes money
- The student activity account
- The PTA, PTO, or booster club
- The district’s education foundation
Who to ask
The front office always knows. Ask the school secretary or office manager who handles club money: usually a bookkeeper or financial secretary. Or ask your advisor; they’ll know who did it for their last club.
Email to askOpen in email
Subject: How can someone donate to our political science club? Hi [name], I’m [your name], a [grade], and I’m starting a political science club with [advisor] as our advisor. We’re about to ask [local businesses, families, or a grant] for [what you need], and I want to make sure the money goes to the right place. Could you tell me: - Who a donation should be made out to, and what to write in the memo line? - Whether the club needs its own account in the student activity fund, and how to set one up? - Whether the PTA or booster club can take a donation earmarked for the club? Thank you so much! [Your name]
Or ask a friend
Someone who’s treasurer of student government, or an officer in a club that already raises money, has done this.
Text to a friend
Hey! Quick question: when your club gets money (a donation or a grant), where does it go? Who did you ask about setting that up?
Find grants, sponsors, and local funders for your club
Enter your school and we’ll search for PTAs, foundations, local businesses, and grants near you, write a one-page proposal, and find your state senator’s office.
Budget
1What it costs, and an email to your principalA typical budget, and the email that asks your school to cover it.
| What | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly meetings | Free | Best Delegate guides and iCivics. |
| Model UN conferences | Varies | Usually a per-delegate fee plus a per-school fee; college-run conferences are often cheapest. Check each one’s site. |
| Mock Trial | Varies | A county or state fee per team. Ask whoever runs it in your county. |
| Placards and printing | $20 | Country placards and position paper copies. |
| Business clothes | $0 | Ask members to share; some schools have a closet. |
Hi [Mr./Ms./Dr. last name],
I’m starting a political science club with [number] students signed up and [advisor] as our advisor. Members are learning to research, write, speak, and negotiate, and a conference is where they practice it against other schools.
To get started we need conference fees for [number] students at [conference name], which would cost about [$ amount]. Is there room in the budget for that, or do you have advice on how we could get it funded?
With hope and gratitude,
[Your name]
Part 3
A semester of meetings
Alternate practice committees with civic projects, so it isn’t only debate.
| # | Meeting | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kickoff: a two-minute speech on a school issue. Everyone speaks once. | Activity below |
| 2 | How Model UN works: countries, committees, position papers. | Best Delegate: get started |
| 3 | Write a 60-second opening speech. | How to write an opening speech |
| 4 | Mini simulation: one topic, one hour. | Run your own mini sim |
| 5 | Guest speaker: a local elected official or their staff. | Part 5 |
| 6 | Write a resolution in blocs. | How to write a resolution |
| 7 | Who decides? Doorstop’s civics lesson on how schools make decisions. | Civics curriculum, activity below |
| 8 | iCivics game day: run a court case or a campaign. | iCivics |
| 9 | Voter registration drive planning. | Part 4 |
| 10 | Full practice committee before a conference. | Best Delegate |
Part 4
Do real civic work
What makes it a political science club, not just a debate team.
- 01
Work an election
Many counties hire high school students as poll workers, usually from 16, and pay them. Ask your county elections office for its student program and when it recruits.
- 02
Run a voter registration drive
Many states let 16- and 17-year-olds pre-register so they’re ready at 18. Table at lunch with QR codes to your state’s site; don’t collect anyone’s personal information yourselves.
- 03
Speak at the school board
Pick one issue members care about, survey students, and bring the results to a board meeting. Our school board guide has the rules for your state and a script.
- 04
Join a youth council
Many cities and counties have youth councils or commissions that advise elected officials. Check your city’s and county’s websites; most apply in late summer.
Part 5
Speakers and mentors
Elected officials and their staff are paid to talk to the people they represent, including you.
Find speakers near your school
Pick your school, and we’ll search for people working nearby whose jobs fit a political science club, ten at a time, or for alumni of your school. Each one comes with an invite already written. Your list is saved in this browser.
- Your city council members, school board members, and state legislators’ district offices. Staff often come even when the official can’t.
- City clerks and county elections staff, on how elections actually run.
- Lawyers: public defenders, prosecutors, and Mock Trial attorney coaches.
- Political science professors at the nearest college, and its Model UN team, which may help judge a practice committee.
- Your own school’s families. Add a line to the signup form: “Does anyone in your family work in this field?” It’s the fastest source there is.
- Alumni. Search LinkedIn for your school’s name plus a job title. People say yes to their old school.
- Local colleges. Professors, program directors, and student clubs at the nearest community college or university often have outreach time to fill.
- People you read about. A news story or a company’s team page is a reason to write: “I read about your work on [thing].”
Hi [name],
I’m a student at [school] in [city], and I run our political science club. I came across [how you found them: a teacher, an article, their website], and I think our members would love to hear about [what they do in government].
What it would involve:
- One club meeting, about [40] minutes, in person or on video.
- About fifteen minutes on what you do and how you got there, then questions. No slides needed.
- A student will meet you at the front office and introduce you.
Research that followed thousands of students for ten years found that hearing from people with real jobs in high school was linked to higher pay later on. A lot of us have never met anyone who does what you do.
Would you be up for it? We meet [day and time], and any [month] date works.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Club name], [school]
Make the line about why you picked them specific; that’s what gets a yes. No answer in a week? Send one short follow-up.
Hi [name],
I’m a student at [school] in [city], and I run our political science club with [advisor], our advisor. I came across [how you found them], and I think you’d be a great mentor for a student who wants to work in law, government, or politics.
What it would involve:
- A video call or meeting with your student about once a month
- Any background check or sign-in rules the school has for volunteers
- Nothing to prepare: just being honest about your work and how you got there
Would you be up for it? Happy to answer any questions.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Club name], [school]