FOR THOSE DRIVING

Please arrive at the camp between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 4. Plan to leave the camp between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9. If you are in need of carpooling information for your area, please contact the TeenPact National Office at [email protected].

FOR THOSE FLYING

Please book your flights in and out of Tallahassee, FL (TLH). Plan to fly in between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 4. Plan to depart after 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 9. TeenPact Staff will meet you at your baggage claim when you arrive. Please wear a TeenPact t-shirt to help us find you. We will deliver you back to your ticketing counter for your departing flight.

TeenPact Congress is hosted at our State Class Camp, just outside of Tallahassee Florida. Students, chaperones, and staff stay in buildings onsite and enjoy fellowship through various free time activities around the camp as well.

23564 Woodman of the World Road
Hosford, FL 32334

BRING THIS

• Laptop
• Pillow and Bedding
• Towel and toiletries
• Bible, notebook, and pen
• Reusable water bottle
• Snack to share at Coffeehouse (Girls bring sweet, Guys bring salty)
• Money for the TeenPact Store (optional)

NOT THAT

Remember, we will be media-free during this week so plan on leaving any cell phones, tablets, laptops, books, etc. in your suitcase during the week unless they’re being used for on-site assignments.

To create a distraction-free atmosphere, please bring only clothing that adhere to our Dress Code. Congress requires several types of attire during the week:

• Casual: Bring a casual outfit for every day during free time and evening sessions.
• Traditional Professional: Bring four days of Traditional Professional outfits, as you wore to your State Class.
• Business Casual: Bring one Business Casual outfit for a special evening event.

For more information on the standards for each type of attire, visit teenpact.com/dress-code or email the TeenPact National Office at [email protected].

CONGRESS ROLES

• Senators & Representatives: Will be responsible for researching the bills ahead of time and choosing which bills they would like to sponsor on a first come-first served basis. Each legislator will be assigned to a committee and will participate in the process of examining, debating, & voting bills out of committee. Once bills are passed through committee they are heard during legislative sessions in the House and Senate.
• Reporters: Will be researching different news stories during the Congress legislative session working to report quality news. Reporters may write articles for and publish a daily newspaper, record nightly broadcasts, produce a daily podcast, photograph events for print, or any combination thereof. From political beat writing to editorial columns, broadcast journalism and photography; reporters for TeenPact Congress uphold the important duty of giving the people the news they have the right to know.

CONGRESS TOPIC

This year at TeenPact Congress, we will be diving into the evolving issue of government oversight in technology. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the question of how governments should regulate its use has become a pressing issue. The overarching topic of government regulation of technology encompasses a wide array of challenges that require balancing innovation with ethical, legal, and societal concerns. From artificial intelligence (AI) to surveillance technologies, the intersection of privacy, security, and freedom shapes the ongoing debates about the appropriate role of government oversight. At the heart of these discussions lies the fundamental tension between ensuring public safety and protecting individual rights, particularly in areas such as free speech, privacy, and consumer protections.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press,” firmly establishing a foundation for protecting individual expression. Yet, as technology such as AI, deepfakes, and government surveillance evolve, new ethical and legal tensions arise. Deepfakes blur the lines of free expression by enabling manipulation of information, while surveillance technologies like facial recognition raise significant privacy concerns and the potential for overreach. Balancing the ethical dilemmas, the government’s responsibility to ensure public safety, and the rapid pace of technological innovation underscores the complexity of regulating technology in the digital age.

congress HOMEWORK

To prepare for studying, sponsoring, and negotiating legislation the event, you are required to write two essays. Each essay should be at least 500 words and should demonstrate thorough research, critical thinking, and clear communication surrounding the topic of government oversight in technology.

Essay 1:
Governments play a crucial role in ensuring public safety and promoting the general welfare, but how should they balance this responsibility with protecting individual rights like free speech and privacy? Investigate how technologies such as surveillance tools, artificial intelligence (AI), or content moderation on online platforms present challenges in this area. Using real-world examples, analyze how governments have attempted to balance public safety with constitutional protections. What strategies might help ensure this balance is maintained? Research various perspectives to provide a well-rounded discussion of this complex issue.

Essay 2:
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes, facial recognition, and genetic bioengineering raise significant ethical questions. For example, how should society address the risks of AI bias, the misuse of deepfakes to spread misinformation, the invasion of privacy through surveillance technologies, and potential consequences of genetic bioengineering? Choose at least two technologies to research and explore their ethical implications. As part of your research, examine these issues through a biblical worldview. What principles from the Bible can be applied to the ethical challenges of these technologies? Use your findings to develop an informed perspective and propose potential solutions that reflect both ethical reasoning and biblical values.

TeenPact Congress is an exciting event to be a part of as the students simulate a week in Congress in various roles. Chaperones get to enjoy seeing the week unfold as the students get comfortable in their roles, lobby various ideas, debate legislation, and cover all of the action as reporters. Chaperones are primarily responsible as an adult presence in the dorms in the evenings and mornings, as well as on the busses during the commute to the Capitol. From year to year, we may have additional attendees without space on the bus. If you plan to chaperone and have capacity to assist with transportation, please contact Selah Mallory at [email protected]. At the Congress camp, TeenPact is responsible for providing breakfasts and dinners, as well as catering lunches to the Capitol. If you have interest or capacity to assist with meal preparation, or picking up meals during the day, please reach out to the Program Directing Team to see how you can help. If you’re interested in joining us for TeenPact Congress, you can register for the waitlist using the link above and the Directing Team will be in touch regarding needs and space available as the event approaches.