Handout 1: “Create a Bill” Activity
Situation:
You are a member of Congress (the total number of students in the class). You and three other members of Congress have decided that in order to solve a problem you are going to write up a bill and present it to Congress. Your bill must be persuasive since it must pass by a majority vote in the House & the Senate. If all goes well & your bill passes & is signed by the president your bill will become law.
Directions:
1. Get in a group of no more than four students. I WILL ASSIGN GROUPS!
2. Brainstorm on problems in your school, community, state, or nation that you would like to see resolved.
3. Write-up a bill that will solve the problem that your group has identified.
4. Present your bill to the class. Students will take notes on the bills as everyone presents.
5. Answer questions from students regarding your bill.
6. The class will vote on your bill (a simple majority will send it on to the president (teacher). Failure to get a simple majority will kill your bill.
7. If the class approves your bill then the president (teacher) can either approve or reject (veto) your bill.
8. If the president approves the bill it becomes law, if it is vetoed you will have another opportunity to argue your case to the class.
9. The class will once again vote on your bill, if 2/3rds of the class votes for your bill it will override the president’s veto and become law.
10. Once your bill has been made into law or killed turn in your hand written version of the bill.
____/25 points written summary of the bill
____/25 points format
____/25 points presentation & notes
____/25 Activity Reflection & Questions
TOTAL: /100pts
Bill Activity Reflection & Questions
Directions: Use your bill that your group created and your notes to help you answer the questions that follow. Please write in full sentences.
1. What is the MAIN IDEA of your bill? Cite two examples from you bill that backs up your main idea.
2. Are there any bills that the other groups presented that support (in favor of) your bill? Yes or no? Which bill? Cite at least two examples from another bill that shows it SUPPORTS your bill.
3. Are there any bills that the other groups presented that CONTRADICT (go against) your bill? Yes or no? Which bill? Cite at least two examples from another bill that shows how it CONTRADICTS your bill
4. What was the most interesting aspect of this project? Why?
5. What was the least interesting aspect of this project? Why?
6. If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? Why?
Everyone will help brainstorm and create your bill, however we must assign specific roles to each person to help keep us on task!
Mediator: (keeps the peace): _______________________
Time keeper (makes sure you are on time/task): __________________________
Researcher: (choose 1 or 2, depending on group size) ____________________ ________________
Writer (writes draft of bill and writes on posterboard) ____________________
Presenters (choose 1 or 2) ______________ _________________________
Time frame: Just for your reference!!!!
Day 1: You will have the class period to brainstorm and begin to create your bill.
Day 2: Finish up writing your bill on the posterboard, practice your presentation.
Day 3: Groups will present. You will take notes on each group.
Homework (or if time in class): Bill reflection and question sheet. Due the next day!
Brainstorming/Draft: Use your journal pages to brainstorm. When finished, write the draft of your bill in the space below (use journal pages if necessary). This is what will be turned in to me to check over. When I approve it, you may summarize your bill (in bullet points) on a large piece of paper. Don’t forget to give your bill a title!