As a rite of passage from any American history or government class, the obligatory field trip to the statehouse delights students who view it as a chance to skip school.

Heady from the diesel fumes emanating from the crowded yellow bus as it jounces along the interstate, these students are more likely to chatter about the next dance or the latest group rather than discuss the next legislative session or the latest bill.

Since I never seemed to be in the right history class at the right time, I waited many years before I had the privilege of a field trip to Maine’s Statehouse in Augusta. But last Friday, I made up for lost opportunities when I “skipped work” to visit the imposing structure and to observe state government in action as the guest of Rep. Gary Moore (R-Standish).

As I waited for Moore to meet me, I walked around the voluminous open space like a tourist on a first visit to New York City. Although those who work in this handsome building must become tediously accustomed to its beauty, I eagerly took in its architecture, art and craftsmanship with fresh appreciation.

I imagined the painstaking labor required to lay such intricate mosaic tile floors; the precision measurements demanded to craft the lofty pillars. In a place where history and magnificence have intersected, splendid paintings of famous statesmen (and women) lined the walls, reminders of those who have become an important link to Maine’s past; an important bridge to her future.

But, as our day progressed, it was Maine’s present that impressed me most.

Moore was scheduled to testify at a public hearing in front of the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government. As the sponsor of L.D. 1908, “An Act to Increase the Salary of the Governor,” he would speak first in support of the bill that would raise salaries for future governors.

Once the idea for a bill is conceived, it must go through a multi-step process before becoming a law. This public hearing follows the drafting of the bill, the assignment of its legislative document (L.D.) number and its allocation to a specific committee.

Following the public hearing, the bill goes through a committee work session or several work sessions to fine-tune and clarify its intent. The committee makes a recommendation as to whether it should pass (as is, amended or in new draft) or should not pass, or if it should be referred to another committee. It then goes through four steps on the floor of the House and the Senate: a first reading, a second reading, engrossment and enactment. Only then, if passed, is it presented to the governor to be signed into law.

On this day, before Moore’s bill was introduced, we were silent observers while three other bills were presented first. And, even within a committee specific to state and local government issues, these bills demonstrated the variety of topics bills cover.

The first was a name change to a small island. There was little discussion and Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, chair of the committee was able to dismiss it swiftly with her gavel.

The second bill introduced was L.D. 1769, “An Act to Strengthen the State Purchasing Code of Conduct Laws.” Sponsored by Sen. Peggy Rotundo of Androscoggin, this bill drew a multitude of comments from the public.

As the minutes progressed to hours, one concerned citizen after another advanced to the microphone to voice support of this bill.

Though the hearing was long, and some repeated what had already been said, it was encouraging to see democracy in action. Every person who so desired had the opportunity to speak. Many of them were college students, who traveled to Augusta to make their opinions known on this bill, which would strengthen the state’s policy against sweatshop labor.

The next bill, L.D. 1880, “An Act to Promote Youth Involvement in County and Local Government,” drew other students to the podium. Sponsored by Rep. Emily Cain (D-Orono), the bill encourages local government summer internship programs for college students.

Of note during this public hearing were comments in support of the bill made by Brigham McNaughton, president of the student body at the University of Maine in Orono. McNaughton’s confident stance and clear speech – visual and audible evidence of the benefits of college internships to communities – ultimately promoted the bill’s intent better than anything else could have.

Though the hearing had started at 9 a.m., it was afternoon when the committee finally got to Moore’s bill. Although he didn’t wear his cowboy hat – his trademark to many of his local constituents – he did sport a harness racing pin on his lapel, a reminder to everyone of his support of a racetrack casino in Washington County.

Many committee members expressed their surprise that the governor did not make a higher salary. They dialogued with Moore about some of the details of his bill, offering suggestions on how to come up with a reasonable salary figure. Moore assured them that his initial salary suggestion – 10 percent more than the highest paid Maine government employee, about $210,000 – was made to get people’s attention.

Sen. Bill Diamond (D-Windham) was on hand to testify in support of Moore’s bill. And the governor issued a letter in opposition to the legislation.

The bill is slated for a committee work session Monday, Feb. 6.

Although I had but this one window into the workings of state legislature, my “field trip” taught me a lot.

Many of us view government procedure through the eye of a TV or movie camera, watching top stars argue their points on a fake Senate floor. Or we watch a 15-second clip on the news of a representative at a podium and we think, how hard can this be? How long can this take?

But, as in most endeavors, it is the work that goes on behind the camera and out of the spotlight – the nitty-gritty, get-down-to-business, crank-it-out work, that ultimately gets things done.

I will never read a bill the same way again, now that I know all the steps that go into it.