Mr. Ditzenberger, American Government
Time: 3 Periods, 2:15
Unit 2, Civics
Week: 15 Dates: November 19-20
Objectives:
1. Students will define key vocabulary words related to the legislative branch and process.
2. Students will compare the two houses of Congress.
3. Students will simulate the process of a bill becoming a law.
4. Students will list, from memory, the major steps in a bill becoming a law.
Materials: Textbook,
http://ditzenberger.blogspot.com/index.html;
Monday
1. Finish Congress Lecture.
2. Finish vocabulary by Wednesday.
3. Homework: page 108, 2 and 3-a and b, due tomorrow.
Bicameral legislature Censure Congressional Immunity
Expulsion Gerrymandering Joint committee
Reapportioned Sessions Subcommittees
Whips Appropriations Contempt of Congress
Elastic clause Impeachment Bills
Concurrent resolutions Filibuster House Rules Committee
Franking Privilege Majority Party Minority Party
Currency Power Elastic Clause Oversight function
4. Discuss articles.
5. Discuss surveillance article:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=auVHWErvi3HM&refer=home6.
Organization of CongressTuesday.
1.Quiz on Congress Lecture (from Friday and Monday).
1. How many representatives are in the House?
2. Why are there differences in the qualifications between senators and representatives?
3. What are some differences between the two houses of Congress?
4. Which branch approves and rejects treaties and appointments?
5. Was it a good idea to cap the House at the number mentioned in your answer to number one? Why or why not?
6. Bonus: Who appoints a new senator if the previous died or resigned?
2. Continue organization of Congress Lecture.
3.
Congress Chart Lecture/How a Bill Becomes a Law4. How a Bill Becomes a Law Worksheet
5.
How a Bill Really Becomes a Law ArticleWednesday
Simulation-
1. a speaker and whips are chosen for the House. The remaining people divide themselves equally into Dems or Reps.
2. Bill is introduced into a committee (chosen from one of the committees that students are familiar with). After testimony from a special interest group (real or imaginary), the bill is given an official name and reported favorably.
3. The bill is introduced to the entire house. Debate ensues, amendments are tacked on, including some pork, and then it is passed.
4. The bill goes to the Senate. There is a filibuster in the Senate until and interest group (in the guise of a grassroots letter writing campaign) puts pressure on the “filibustering” senators to remove the filibuster.
5. Additional amendments and revisions are made.
6. 2 people from the Senate and 2 from the House are elected for the conference committee.
7. The bill is signed by the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader and sent to the White House.
Thursday-holiday
Friday-holiday
