National E-Congress Phase II & Phase III: Researching a Topic and Writing a Bill

National E-Congress Phase II & Phase III: Researching a Topic and Writing a Bill

Research must be done by beginning of class on: Wednesday 2/6

Final bill must be submitted to me before class on: Tuesday 2/12

We will be in the Media Center on Friday 2/1 (D Day) and in Room 53 on Monday 2/4 (A Day). During those class periods you should be working on Phase II: Research.

1. I will distribute the Phase II Research Guide for you to fill out.
2. Log in to the same way you did for Phase I.
3. Click on the “Research” tab and work through the steps, filling out the Research Guide as you go.
4. YOU DO NOT NEED TO COMPLETE SECTION 6 – CONTACTING A MEMBER OF CONGRESS
5. You must turn in your completed Research Guide at the beginning of class on Wednesday 2/6.

Once you are done with the research phase, you must write your bill, which is Phase III in E-Congress.

1. Review the “Rubric for YLI E-Congress Legislation” so you understand the criteria upon which your legislation will be judged by me.
2. Review the “E-Congress Bill Review Guide” so you understand the criteria upon which your legislation will be judged by the students who will analyze your bills in the Committee Phase (Phase IV).
3. Click on the “Writing” tab and works through the steps, as with previous phases.
4. Refer back to your completed Research Guide when writing your legislation.
5. Beginning on the second page of the Writing Phase, you can click on Work on Your Bill to enter your work online.
6. DON’T FORGET TO SAVE YOUR WORK! If you log out of E-Congress without saving your bill, any unsaved work will be lost.
7. For the Fiscal Impact section of your bill:
8. When you get to the first Fiscal Impacts page of the Writing Phase, download the Budget Worksheet for your topic to assist you in completing the fiscal impact section of your bill.
9. You must complete at least 3 categories of the fiscal impact section.
10. Accurate dollar amounts are not critical; the most important thing is to make an effort to complete this section thoughtfully. Cost estimates should be reasonably realistic and should be based on detailed descriptions.
11. Please have me look over your Budget Worksheet if you want me to check your progress. You must hand it in the day you submit your bill (Tuesday 2/12).

GOOD LUCK! I LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR LEGISLATION.