Engaging Lawmaking: A Fun Guide To Bills Becoming Laws

Teaching students about how a bill becomes a law can be challenging, but there are several fun activities that can help them understand the process. These activities are designed to be engaging and interactive, allowing students to actively participate in the learning process. For example, students can create a comic strip or a children's book that explains the lawmaking process in a simple and creative way. They can also play a board game that simulates the journey of a bill becoming a law, or even create their own classroom laws by following the same steps as the U.S. government. These activities not only make learning fun but also help students develop a deeper understanding of the legislative process and its complexities.

Students play a board game to learn about the legislative process

Playing board games is a fun and engaging way for students to learn about the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law. The "How a Bill Becomes a Law Board Game Activity" by Wise Guys is an excellent resource for this purpose. This game covers key topics such as two-thirds vote, veto, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President.

Game Setup

The game is designed to be played in small groups, large groups, or with partners. The teacher needs to print out the game boards and game cards for each group. Additionally, they will need some dice and small game pieces, which can be made from pencil erasers or paper. Using colored paper or cardstock is recommended for the game pieces.

Game Play

As students play the game, they navigate the intricate path of a bill's journey, encountering challenges and decisions that mirror the legislative stages. They roll the dice and move their game pieces along the board, following the instructions on each space. The game cards provide additional instructions or questions that enhance the learning experience.

Learning Outcomes

Through repeated play, students will gradually memorize the steps of the legislative process while having fun. They will also develop a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in creating and passing laws. This hands-on approach makes abstract concepts more tangible and enjoyable for students.

Another similar activity involves students creating their own board games. They are provided with a handout, worksheet, video questions, and board game templates. They then design games that reflect their understanding of the legislative process. This creative approach reinforces their knowledge and allows them to express their creativity.

Additionally, students can be assigned to create a comic strip that teaches younger students about the lawmaking process. This activity includes roles and a template for each group member, fostering collaboration and a fun learning experience.

These interactive activities offer a dynamic learning experience, helping students grasp the complexities of the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law.

Students create a comic strip to teach younger students about lawmaking

In this activity, students will create a comic strip that teaches younger students about the lawmaking process. This activity is a fun and creative way to help students understand how a bill becomes a law. It will also allow them to learn about the different roles and procedures involved in the legislative process.

Procedure

Step 1: Understanding the Lawmaking Process

Before creating the comic strip, students should have a good understanding of how a bill becomes a law. They can research the topic and learn about the different steps, such as the bill being proposed and introduced, going to committee, being reported and voted on, and finally being sent to the President.

Step 2: Planning the Comic Strip

Once students have a good understanding of the lawmaking process, they can start planning their comic strip. They should decide on the main characters and the storyline that will effectively convey the information to younger students.

Step 3: Creating the Comic Strip

Students can use the provided template to create their comic strip. They should include clear and simple explanations in their comic strip, along with colorful pictures that engage younger students. Each group member will have a specific role, such as writer, artist, or editor, to ensure a collaborative and organized process.

Step 4: Presenting the Comic Strips

Finally, students can present their comic strips to the class or to a group of younger students. This will allow them to receive feedback and see how well their comic strip teaches the lawmaking process.

By completing this activity, students will not only gain a deeper understanding of the lawmaking process but also develop their creative and collaborative skills. This activity provides a fun and interactive way to learn about the legislative process and engage with civics and government topics.

Students write a children's book about how a bill becomes a law

Students can be introduced to the concept of lawmaking through a fun activity where they create a children's book outlining the journey of a bill to becoming a law. This activity will require students to delve deeper into the legislative process and explain it in a simple, engaging manner suitable for younger audiences.

The Book's Content

The book should cover the following key steps in the process of a bill becoming a law:

• Idea Generation: Begin by explaining that laws start as ideas, which can come from Representatives or even citizens. Encourage students to include examples of possible law ideas and how they can be proposed by citizens.
• Proposing the Bill: Describe how a Representative finds sponsors and gains support from other Representatives for their bill.
• Introducing the Bill: Illustrate the process of introducing the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. Explain the role of the bill clerk, who assigns it a number, and the reading clerk, who reads it aloud.
• Committee Review: Talk about the committee members who review, research, and revise the bill. Mention the possibility of the bill being sent to a subcommittee for further examination.
• Reporting and Debating: Explain how the approved bill is reported to the House floor for debate. Describe the process of Representatives discussing and recommending changes to the bill before it is ready for voting.
• Voting: Discuss the different methods of voting in the U.S. House of Representatives, such as voice vote, division, and recorded vote.
• Referral to the Senate: Mention that the bill then goes through similar steps in the U.S. Senate, including committee review and voting.
• Presidential Approval: Explain the three choices the President has: signing and passing the bill, vetoing it, or doing nothing (pocket veto). Include information about what happens if the President vetoes the bill.

Additional Instructions

Instruct students to use colorful pictures and simple sentences to make the content accessible and engaging for younger readers. Each step in the process should have its own page, drawing, and explanation. This activity will not only enhance students' understanding of the legislative process but also encourage their creativity and critical thinking skills.

Students create a bill and act out the process of it becoming a law

Step 1: Understanding the Process

Before acting out the process, students should first understand how a bill becomes a law. They can do this by reading about the legislative process, watching educational videos, or playing educational games that explain the different stages a bill goes through.

Step 2: Creating a Bill

Each student or group of students will choose an issue or topic they care about and want to see addressed through a new law. They will then research and write their bill, outlining the problem and proposing a solution.

Step 3: Assigning Roles

Students will be assigned different roles in the law-making process, such as representatives, senators, the president, committee members, and so on.

Step 4: Acting Out the Process

The students will then act out the journey of their bill, following these steps:

• Proposing the Bill: Each representative will need to find a sponsor and gain the support of other representatives before introducing their bill.
• Introducing the Bill: The bill is placed in the hopper, given a number, and read out loud by a clerk.
• Committee Review: The bill goes to a committee for review, research, and revisions. If more information is needed, it is sent to a subcommittee.
• Reporting to the House: Once the committee approves the bill, it is reported back to the House floor for debate and further amendments.
• House Voting: Representatives discuss and vote on the bill using one of three methods: viva voce (voice vote), division, or recorded vote.
• Senate Review: If the bill passes in the House, it is sent to the Senate, where it goes through similar steps: discussion in a Senate committee, reporting to the Senate floor, and a Senate vote.
• Presidential Approval: If the bill passes in the Senate, it is sent to the President, who can sign it into law, veto it, or do nothing (pocket veto). If the President vetoes the bill, it can be sent back to the House and Senate for another vote, and if two-thirds of both chambers support it, the veto can be overridden.

Step 5: Reflection and Discussion

After acting out the process, students can come together to discuss their experiences, the challenges they faced, and the importance of each step in the law-making process.

Students create a classroom rule using the process of US lawmaking

In this activity, students will create a classroom rule by following the same process the United States government uses to pass laws. This activity will help students understand the process of lawmaking and the different roles and limitations of the three branches of the US government.

Step 1: The Idea for the Bill

Students will come up with an idea for a classroom rule that they think will improve their school environment. This could be anything from a rule about more playground time to a special day where everyone wears their favorite color.

Step 2: Find a Sponsor

Once a student has an idea for their bill, they need to find a sponsor. The sponsor is like a Representative in the US government who agrees with the idea and is willing to present it to the class. The student should discuss their idea with their classmates and try to get their support.

Step 3: Introduce the Bill

The sponsor will then introduce the bill to the class. They will need to explain what the bill is about and why they think it should be passed. The sponsor may also want to find cosponsors, who are classmates that agree with the bill and are willing to add their names to it.

Step 4: Assign to a Committee

Once the bill has been introduced, it should be assigned to a committee. In the US government, this would be a group of Representatives who are experts on the topic. In the classroom, the committee can be a group of students who are interested in the topic of the bill. The committee will review, research, and discuss the bill, and may make changes to it.

Step 5: Report to the Class

If the committee approves the bill, it is sent back to the full class to be debated and voted on. The sponsor and any cosponsors will explain why they think the bill should be passed, while those who disagree will explain their reasons. Changes may be recommended, which the sponsor can choose to accept or reject.

Step 6: Vote on the Bill

Finally, the class will vote on the bill. This can be done by a show of hands, or for larger classes, an electronic voting system can be used. If the bill receives a majority of votes, it is passed and becomes a classroom rule!

Extension:

For older students, you could add additional steps to the activity to reflect the full process of US lawmaking. This could include having the bill go through multiple committees and votes, and even a "presidential" approval or veto.

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