Legislative Process

What actually goes on in the House of Representatives?

We watched an exciting segment of  the House floor session  to find out!

How does a bill become a law?

                                                     Watch our skit!

Homework:

1.   Create your bill! You can propose legislation for MSA, the nation, our state or county. See sample format below.

2.  Opinion Paper:  Power to declare war.  According to the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war but for the last 60 years the President has declared war.  Which branch in you opinion should have the power- Legislative or Executive?

3. Due to the number of students absent Thursday our colloquium on Fifty-Five Fathers will be this week 2/28.


Presentation :  Kaylee

Devotional:  George

Sample Bill Format

Italics = Directions (type Your Information or Delete)

109^th Congress

1st Session

Senate Bill # ____________

A Bill For An Act Entitled: Title of bill

or

An Amendment to the Constitution Entitled: Title of amendment

In the Senate

Write the date

Write: Senators Your names introduced the following resolution which was referred to the Committee on fill in this blank when you know the committee name.

Senate Proposal

Resolved by the U.S. Senate of the United States of America, that the following article is proposed as federal law under the jurisdiction of the Untied States of America, enforceable by Executive action.

For a bill: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that:"

For an Amendment: "Be it amended by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that:"

Section 1: Explanation of terminology- Which terms need to be defined in order to understand the bill?

Section 2: What is the act going to do? Who is going to be involved / impacted /

affected by the act

Section 3: Where? All of U.S. or a certain area / place in the U.S.?

Section 4: How is the act going to be funded? Who is going to enforce / administer

this act?(Which government agency will oversee the bill and its duties?)

Section 5: Penalties (if any) for non-compliance (not following the rules) of the act

Section 6: Enactment Date: When will the law go into effect?

END

In the Senate

109^th Congress

2nd Session

Senate Bill # ____________

A Bill For An Act Entitled:

In the Senate

Date:______________

Senators writing the bill: __________________________________________________________________ introduced the following resolution which was referred to the Committee on _________________.

Senate Proposal

Resolved by the U.S. Senate of the United States of America, that the following article is proposed as federal law under the jurisdiction of the United States of America, enforceable by Executive action.

1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled, that

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Section 1: Explanation of Terminology

6. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

7.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

8. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

9. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Section 2 : Explanation of what the bill will provide for. . .

11. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________________________________________________

12. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

13. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

14. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

15. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

16. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

17. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

18. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

19. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

20. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
21. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

22. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

23. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

24. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

25. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

26. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

27. Section 3: Where would this bill take effect:

28. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
29. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

30. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

31. Section 4: Governing body that will oversee the bill and its duties and how funded

32. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

33. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

34. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

35. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

36. Section 5. Penalty for non-compliance with the legislation:

37. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

38. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

39. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

40. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

41. Section 6: Enactment Date:

42. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

43. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________ President’s signature

Congress

Why is the legislative body divided into two branches, the House of Representatives and the Senate?



  "..the House of Representatives will be elected immediately by the people, and represent them and their personal rights individually; the Senate will be elected by the state legislatures, and represent the states in their political capacity; and thus each branch will form a proper and independent check on the other, and the legislative powers will be advantageously balanced."
                                                                                   C.C Pinckney

How has the 17th Amendment changed senators incentive to watch over their state?


Play the game How a bill becomes a law to prepare for our future study of how legislation is passed.






Homework:
  No paper due this week! We need to catch up on our Constitution studies.

1. Rewrite Article 1 Section 4 and 5 in your own words. 
2. Finish reading Fifty-five Fathers- Colloquium NEXT WEEK 2/21!
3. Continue memorizing Declaration of Independence if you have not already done so.

Presentation: Lilly -Roger Sherman

Devotional:  Tyler

"A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government.  In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing ...than...communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"
                                                                                                          -George Washington

Constitution Studies
We were patient with ourselves as we practiced rewriting Article 1 Sections 1 and 2 in our own words. After our discussion we tested our knowledge in a short Constitution Bowl.  Take the  U.S.I.Q quiz to test your knowledge of the legislative branch.



Homework:

1. Opinion paper: Does Congress have too much power or not enough?
2. Read Fifty-Fathers by Selma R. Williams.To order Click Here.
3. Read Article 1 section 3. An online version with definitions is available at nccs.net

Presentation:  2/14 Tyler -Alexander Hamiliton   Gigi- Governor Morris

Devotional:  2/14 Kaylee Chapman