Simulating Democracy: Teaching How Bills Become Laws

Teaching students about the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law can be challenging, but simulation lesson plans offer a fun and interactive approach to make this topic engaging and memorable. In this lesson, students will not only learn about the steps involved in passing a law but also experience it firsthand through role-playing and group activities. By participating in mock congresses, drafting and proposing bills, and debating with their peers, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of lawmaking and the functions of government.

Students simulate the legislative process, creating their own bills and acting as Congress

Students Simulate the Legislative Process

Lesson Plan: How a Bill Becomes a Law

Objective: Students will simulate the legislative process, creating their own bills and acting as Congress, to gain a practical understanding of how a bill becomes a law.

Materials:

• Legislator cards
• Student-led discussion prompts
• Flow chart
• Creative writing assignment
• Vocabulary puzzle and quiz
• Step-by-step directions for students
• Template for students to write their bills

Procedure:

• Introduction: Begin by explaining the basic concept of laws, rules, and how they impact our daily lives. Highlight the fact that laws are created to protect people and property, and provide examples relevant to students' lives (e.g. traffic rules, school rules).
• Understanding Law-making: Introduce the legislative process and explain how laws are made at the local, state, and federal levels. Emphasize the role of elected officials and the limitations they have, such as state and federal constitutions.
• Bill Creation: Students will work in groups, each representing a committee, to draft and propose their own bills. They will be tasked with identifying a problem and proposing a solution through their bills. Encourage them to be creative and think about issues that matter to them.
• Presentation and Discussion: Once the bills are drafted, each group will present their proposal to the class. After the presentations, facilitate a class discussion to review and analyze the bills. This is an opportunity for students to ask questions, provide feedback, and share their thoughts on the potential impact of each bill.
• Simulation: Divide the class into two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. If the class size allows, further divide these houses into smaller committees. Each student will take on the role of a real congressperson from a state in the USA. They will present their bills to their respective houses and engage in debates.
• Voting: After the presentations and debates, each house will vote on whether to pass the proposed laws. If a majority of the group approves, the law will be proposed to the other house for their approval. This process mimics the legislative procedure and helps students understand the importance of discussion and consensus.
• President's Role: If both the simulated House and Senate approve a law, introduce the role of the President, who has the power to sign or veto the bill. Explain the potential outcomes if the President chooses to veto, and the steps that follow, as outlined in the "How a Bill Becomes a Law" activity.
• Reflection: Conclude the lesson by discussing the benefits and drawbacks of having multiple steps in the legislative process. Encourage students to reflect on the challenges and considerations that come with creating and passing laws.

Extension: For a longer-term project, students can work on implementing their approved laws within the school or community, with the support of school administrators. This provides a real-life impact and reinforces the understanding of the legislative process.

Understanding the role of the House of Representatives and the Senate

The United States Congress is made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Together, they are responsible for enacting legislation and represent a "Great Compromise" that seeks to balance the effects of popular majorities with the interests of the states.

The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also six non-voting members, representing Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and a resident of the state they represent.

The House has several exclusive powers, including the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an Electoral College tie. It also has substantial investigative powers, allowing it to compel the production of evidence or testimony.

The Senate, on the other hand, is composed of 100 Senators, two from each state, serving six-year terms. Senators must be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens for nine years, and residents of the state they represent. The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate and can cast a tie-breaking vote.

The Senate has the sole power to confirm presidential appointments and provide advice and consent to ratify treaties, except in the case of trade agreements and the confirmation of the Vice President, which require the approval of the House as well. The Senate also tries impeachment cases referred to it by the House.

While both chambers are equal in their legislative roles, they have developed different ways of processing legislation due to their constitutional differences. The House rules generally allow a numerical majority to act quickly, while Senate rules favour deliberation and provide more leverage to individual senators.

In both chambers, standing committees play a crucial role in developing and assessing legislation. These committees are chaired by a member of the majority party and include members from both parties, allowing for the development of specialised knowledge in certain policy areas.

How to create a law that addresses a problem

In this lesson, students will learn about the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law through a hands-on simulation activity. They will work in groups to create, propose, and pass laws, understanding the complexities and challenges of the lawmaking process.

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain the steps involved in the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law.
• Identify and describe the roles of different stakeholders in the legislative process, such as lawmakers, constituents, and the President.
• Understand the impact of laws on society and the importance of following established rules.
• Develop critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills through group work and discussions.

Materials

• Lesson plan and student instructions
• Role cards or task cards for each student
• Handouts or slides outlining the legislative process
• Blank flow charts or spider maps for note-taking
• Discussion questions or writing prompts
• Optional: Access to online resources or devices for research

Procedure

Step 1: Introduction and Icebreaker

Begin by introducing the topic of lawmaking and the legislative process. Ask students to share their prior knowledge or experiences related to laws and rules. Explain that they will be participating in a simulation activity to create their own laws.

Step 2: Understanding the Legislative Process

Provide students with an overview of the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law. This can be done through a lecture, presentation, or handouts. Explain the roles of different stakeholders, such as lawmakers, constituents, and the President, and how they influence the process.

Step 3: Group Work and Law Creation

Divide the class into small groups, each representing a committee or a specific interest group. Assign roles within each group, such as a group leader, spokesperson, and note-taker. Instruct students to identify a problem or issue they want to address through a new law. They should consider the impact of this problem and how a law can help solve it.

Step 4: Law Proposal and Discussion

Once groups have created their laws, facilitate a class discussion or debate. Each group should present their proposed law, explaining the problem it addresses and their suggested solution. Encourage students to ask questions, share their thoughts, and provide constructive feedback.

Step 5: Voting and Revision

After the presentations, guide students through the voting process. Each group should vote on whether to pass their proposed law. If a law is not passed, encourage groups to revise their proposals based on the feedback received. This step can be repeated to allow for further refinement and consensus-building.

Step 6: Implementation and Reflection

Finally, discuss with students the potential impact of the passed laws and how they could be implemented in society. Reflect on the challenges and considerations that arise during the lawmaking process, and emphasize the importance of collaboration and compromise.

In conclusion, this lesson plan provides a hands-on approach to teaching students about the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law. By participating in a simulation activity, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of lawmaking and the impact of laws on society. This interactive approach engages students in active learning, critical thinking, and collaboration, fostering a more meaningful understanding of civic engagement and the legislative process.

The benefits and drawbacks of a lengthy legislative process

The legislative process is an important aspect of a democratic society, where laws are made by elected representatives in Parliament. This process typically involves multiple stages, including committee reviews, debates, and votes in both Houses of Parliament, which can result in a lengthy process. While a lengthy legislative process has several benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider.

Benefits of a Lengthy Legislative Process:

• Democratic Accountability: The lengthy process allows for greater democratic accountability. Elected representatives have the responsibility to make laws and represent the views of their constituents. Every few years, during general elections, citizens can vote out representatives who are not adequately performing their duties or creating laws that are not in line with the citizens' wishes.
• Thorough Consideration: The multiple stages of the legislative process, including the committee stage and three readings of the bill, allow for thorough consideration of the proposed law. This reduces the likelihood of a new law being passed without careful scrutiny and helps ensure that modern statutes are well-drafted, clear, and easy to follow.
• Consultation and Inclusion of Diverse Views: The lengthy process facilitates a consultation stage, where Green Papers and White Papers invite comments from various interested parties, such as pressure groups, individuals, and affected organisations. This ensures that a broad spectrum of opinions and potential consequences are considered before implementing a new law.
• Comprehensive Reform: The legislative process allows for full and comprehensive reform of the law in a specific area. Parliament can repeal all old laws in a particular area, creating a straightforward and easy-to-follow set of rules. This helps legal practitioners provide clearer advice to their clients, potentially leading to fewer breaches of the law.

Drawbacks of a Lengthy Legislative Process:

• Time-Consuming: One of the main drawbacks of a lengthy legislative process is the time it takes for a bill to become a law. The multiple stages of consultation, debate, and voting in both Houses of Parliament can take several months. This delay can lead to criticism of the government for being too slow to address urgent issues.
• Lack of Flexibility: The lengthy process may hinder the ability to quickly address pressing issues. In some cases, laws may need to be enacted rapidly to respond to changing circumstances or emergencies. The lengthy legislative process may not always allow for such agility.
• Government Control: The government controls the parliamentary timetable, and the process can be influenced by political will. This can result in limited time being allocated to private members' bills, which often deal with important moral and ethical issues. Consequently, very few private members' bills become law, and certain moral issues may not receive the legislative attention they deserve.
• Complexity: The legislative process can result in complex Acts of Parliament, making them challenging to understand and interpret. This complexity can lead to numerous appeal cases and create difficulties for citizens trying to comprehend their rights and obligations.

In conclusion, while a lengthy legislative process has advantages in terms of democratic accountability, thorough consideration, and inclusion of diverse views, it also faces challenges related to timeliness, flexibility, government control, and complexity. Finding a balance between ensuring careful consideration and responding to urgent matters is essential for an effective legislative process.

The process of changing unfair laws

Changing unfair laws is a peaceful and democratic process. It is important to remember that until a law is changed, everyone must obey it, whether they agree with it or not. However, there are ways to propose and implement changes.

Identify the Law

Firstly, identify the law that needs to be changed. This could be a law that is outdated or was never just to begin with. It is important to research and understand the law, its history, and why it was implemented in the first place.

Propose a New Bill

The next step is to propose a new bill, which is a suggested new law. This can be done by elected officials or representatives, who are responsible for creating and changing laws. These individuals are limited by state and federal constitutions, which outline what they can and cannot do. The new bill must fall within these guidelines to be considered.

Discuss and Debate

Once the new bill has been proposed, there will be a lot of discussion and debate before a vote is taken. This is because laws affect a lot of people, and it is important to consider all perspectives and potential consequences. The bill will be discussed in committees and on the house/senate floor, where arguments for and against the bill will be presented.

Vote

After the discussions and debates, a vote will be held. This vote typically occurs in Congress (state or federal) and the outcome will determine whether the bill passes or fails. If the bill passes, it will then be proposed to the other house for approval.

Implement the New Law

If the bill receives approval from both houses, it can then be signed into law by a designated individual, such as the teacher or a student acting as the President. This new law can then be enforced, replacing the old, unfair law.

Simulation Ideas

To make this process engaging and interactive for students, simulations can be designed to mirror these steps. For example, students can work in groups to create and propose new laws for their school or community. They can then present these laws to their classmates acting as Congress, with each student taking on the role of a real congressperson. This allows students to experience the process of drafting, presenting, debating, and voting on a bill, giving them a deeper understanding of how laws are changed.

Frequently asked questions