Understanding Lawmaking: An Extension Activity On Bills And Laws

The process of how a bill becomes a law is a complex and lengthy one, and it's important for students to understand it. There are a variety of extension activities available to help students learn about this process in an engaging way. These activities can be used to supplement class textbooks or internet research, providing a more interactive and dynamic learning experience. One such activity involves students tracking the progress of a current bill in Congress, allowing them to apply their knowledge to a real-world scenario. Other activities include board games, creative writing assignments, and simulations, which help students understand the legislative process and the different roles of the branches of government. These activities not only make learning fun but also empower students to participate in the democratic process and understand their ability to influence it.

Students can create a board game about the process

Step 1: Understand the Process

Firstly, students should research and understand the steps involved in turning a bill into a law. They can use textbooks, online resources, or the provided lesson materials to gain a comprehensive overview of the process. This knowledge will form the foundation of their board game.

Step 2: Define the Game Objective

The objective of the game should be to successfully guide a bill through the legislative process, from its proposal to becoming a law. Players should encounter challenges and decisions that mirror the real-world complexities of lawmaking.

Step 3: Design the Game Board

The game board can be designed to visually represent the different stages of the process. For example, it could be a linear path with spaces or stations representing each step, such as "Proposal," "Committee Review," "House Vote," "Senate Vote," and "Presidential Approval." Include illustrations or graphics to make the board engaging and informative.

Step 4: Create Game Pieces and Cards

Each player will need a game piece to move along the board. These pieces can represent legislators or citizens proposing bills. Additionally, create a deck of cards that players draw when they land on specific spaces. These cards should present challenges, decisions, or events that correspond to the legislative process. For instance, a card might say, "Your bill has been sent to a subcommittee for further review. Go back three spaces."

Step 5: Define Game Mechanics and Rules

Decide on the mechanics of gameplay, such as the number of players, turn structure, and movement rules. For instance, players might roll a die to move their piece along the board. When they land on a space, they draw a card and follow the instructions. If the card directs them to another space, they move their piece accordingly.

Step 6: Incorporate Educational Elements

Ensure that the game reinforces students' understanding of the bill-to-law process. Include educational content on the cards or spaces, such as explaining the role of committees or the significance of different types of votes. This way, players learn as they play.

Step 7: Playtesting and Refinement

Once the game is designed, students should playtest it and make adjustments as needed. They can take turns playing and providing feedback on gameplay balance, clarity of instructions, and overall educational value. This iterative process will help refine the game and ensure it effectively teaches the legislative process.

Students can write a children's book about the process

How a Bill Becomes a Law: A Children's Book

Once upon a time, there was a group of people called Congress. They had a very important job – they were in charge of making laws for the whole country! And it all started with something called a bill...

A bill is an idea for a new law, or a change to an existing one. Anyone can have an idea for a bill, even you! If you have an idea, you can talk to someone in Congress about it, and they might decide to turn it into a bill.

The Bill's Journey

Now, this is where things get a little bit more complicated, so bear with me. There are two groups in Congress – the House of Representatives and the Senate. A bill has to go on a journey through both of these groups before it can become a law.

First, the bill needs a sponsor. This is someone in Congress who likes the idea and wants to help make it into a law. The sponsor will talk to their friends in Congress and try to get them to support the bill too.

Once the bill has enough support, it's ready to be introduced. In the House of Representatives, this means putting the bill in a special box called the hopper. Then, a bill clerk gives it a special number and reads it out loud to everyone in the House.

Off to the Committee!

The next stop for our bill is the committee. This is a group of people in the House who are experts on different topics, like education or health. They will look at the bill very carefully, discuss it, and maybe make some changes. If they need more information, they might send the bill to a subcommittee, which is like a smaller version of the committee.

Back to the House

After the committee (and maybe the subcommittee) has finished looking at the bill, it goes back to the House of Representatives. Now it's time for a big discussion, or debate! Everyone in the House will talk about the bill and explain why they like it or don't like it. They might also suggest some changes.

Time to Vote!

Once everyone has had their say, it's time to vote! The Speaker of the House will ask everyone to say whether they agree with the bill or not. If most people agree, the bill passes the House!

But our journey is not over yet – now the bill has to go through all of those steps again in the Senate. If the Senate makes any changes, the bill has to go back to the House to be voted on again. This is called a conference.

Off to the President

If both the House and the Senate agree on the bill, it's time to send it to the President. The President has three choices: they can sign the bill and make it into a law, they can refuse to sign it (which is called a veto), or they can do nothing (which is called a pocket veto).

If the President chooses to veto the bill, the House and the Senate can still try to make it into a law. They can hold another vote, and if two-thirds of the people in the House and the Senate agree, the bill becomes a law anyway!

The End

And that, my friends, is how a bill becomes a law! It's a long and tricky process, but it's important to make sure that everyone has a say and that our laws are fair.

Students can create a flow chart of the process

The next step is for students to outline the process of proposing a bill, which involves a Representative writing and sponsoring a bill, before introducing it into the House of Representatives. This is done by placing the bill in the hopper, a box on the clerk's desk. The bill is then given a number and read out to all Representatives.

The third step is for students to explain the committee stage, where the bill is sent to a relevant committee to be reviewed, researched, and revised. The committee can also send the bill to a subcommittee for further examination and expert opinions.

The fourth step is to detail how the bill is reported to the House floor, where it is debated and changes are recommended. Once all changes are made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

The fifth step is to describe the voting process, which can be done through voice vote, division, or recorded vote. If the bill passes in the House of Representatives, it is then sent to the Senate.

The sixth step is to explain the process in the Senate, where the bill goes through similar steps of being discussed in a committee, reported to the Senate floor, and voted on. If the bill passes in the Senate, it is sent to the President.

The seventh step is to outline the President's role, where they can choose to sign and pass the bill, veto it, or do nothing (pocket veto). If the President vetoes the bill, the House of Representatives and the Senate can hold another vote, and if two-thirds support the bill, the veto is overridden.

The final step is to explain that if the bill has passed in both the House and the Senate and has been approved by the President, or if a veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law.

Students can write a bill and act out the process

Step 1: Understanding the Process

To begin, students should be given an overview of the process by which a bill becomes a law. They can research and discuss the different steps, such as the introduction of a bill, committee assignments, debates, votes, and the role of the President. This foundational knowledge will help them as they write their own bills and act out the legislative journey.

Step 2: Brainstorming and Writing Bills

Students can be divided into small groups or pairs and asked to brainstorm ideas for their bills. They can consider issues they care about or problems they want to solve through legislation. Once they have chosen a topic, they can start writing their bills, keeping in mind the format and key components of a bill. They should also be encouraged to seek feedback from their peers and make revisions to their bills before the next stage.

Step 3: Assigning Roles and Committees

Each group will then need to assign roles to its members, such as representatives, senators, committee chairs, and the president. Additionally, they should form committees to review and discuss the bills. This mirrors the real-life process where bills are assigned to committees in the House or Senate. Students can also create subcommittees if further examination of their bills is needed.

Step 4: Debating and Voting

Once the bills have been reviewed and revised by the committees, it's time for the class to come together and act out the legislative debate. Each group will present their bill, explaining its purpose and seeking support. This will be followed by a question-and-answer session, where other students can raise concerns or suggest amendments. After the debate, the class can vote on each bill using the same methods as the U.S. House of Representatives, such as voice votes or electronic voting.

Step 5: Presidential Decision and Veto Override

If a bill passes with a majority vote, it is sent to the student playing the role of the president. The president can choose to sign and pass the bill into law or exercise their veto power. If the president vetoes the bill, the class can hold another vote. If two-thirds of the students support the bill, they can override the presidential veto, and the bill becomes a law.

Through this activity, students will gain a deeper understanding of the legislative process and the complexities involved in turning an idea into a law. They will also develop their critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills as they navigate the journey from bill to law.

Students can create a comic strip to teach the process

Creating a comic strip is a fun way for students to learn about the process of how a bill becomes a law. Here is a step-by-step guide on how students can create a comic strip to teach this process:

Step 1: Understanding the Process

Before creating the comic strip, students should first understand the process of how a bill becomes a law. They can research and make notes on the following steps:

• Proposal: A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. The idea can come from a sitting member of the Senate or House of Representatives or be proposed by citizens or citizen groups who contact their representatives.
• Introduction: Once a representative has written and sponsored a bill, it is introduced in the House of Representatives by placing it in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk.
• Committee Review: The bill is then sent to a committee that deals with the relevant issue. The committee reviews, researches, discusses, and makes changes to the bill.
• Voting in the House: If the committee approves the bill, it is reported to the House floor for debate and voting. If the bill passes in the House, it moves on to the Senate.
• Voting in the Senate: In the Senate, the bill goes through similar steps of discussion, consideration, and voting. If the Senate makes changes to the bill, it goes back to the House for another vote.
• Reconciliation: If both chambers pass the bill, they must reconcile any differences between the two versions. Then, both chambers vote on the same version of the bill.
• Presidential Approval: If both chambers approve the bill, it is presented to the president for approval. The president can sign and pass the bill, veto it, or do nothing (pocket veto).
• Override Veto: If the president vetoes the bill, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill becomes a law.

Step 2: Outline the Comic Strip

Students should outline the structure of their comic strip, deciding how many panels or frames they will need to illustrate each step of the process. They should also plan the content of each panel, including the characters, dialogue, and visuals.

Step 3: Create the Comic Strip

Using their outline as a guide, students can now start drawing their comic strip. They should pay attention to the following:

• Clarity of Information: Ensure that each panel clearly communicates the step of the process it represents.
• Visuals: Use illustrations and speech bubbles to make the comic strip engaging and visually appealing.
• Accuracy: Make sure the information presented in the comic strip is accurate and based on the research conducted in Step 1.

Step 4: Review and Edit

Once the comic strip is complete, students should review their work and edit it as needed. They can also get feedback from their peers or teachers to improve the clarity and accuracy of the comic strip.

Step 5: Present the Comic Strip

Finally, students can present their comic strips to the class or a wider audience. This will allow them to teach others about the process of how a bill becomes a law while also receiving feedback on their work.

By following these steps, students can create informative and engaging comic strips that teach others about the complex process of how a bill becomes a law.

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