How a Bill Becomes a Law

How a Bill Becomes a Law Grade Level: 5-6 Teacher Guidelines pages 1 2 Instructional Pages pages 3 5 Activity Page pages 6 Practice Page page 7 Homework Page page 8 Answer Key page 9 10

Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 5 6 1. Ask: What do you think the House of Representatives and Senate do in their positions? 2. Allow for responses and discussion. Introduce bills becoming laws is the responsibility of Congress. 3. Distribute How a Bill Becomes a Law content pages. Read and review the information with the students. Save the final question for the closing of the lesson, telling students to think about it for a future discussion. Use the additional resources to enhance understanding. 4. Distribute Activity page. Read and review all of the instructions and steps with the class. Place the students in groups of 4 or 5, preferably an odd number. Depending on your class, three in a group may work as well. 5. The activity may take up to two class sessions if done correctly. You may wish to time the students for each step. 6. Monitor the groups during the activity. Intervene where necessary to keep the discussion on topic. Schedule time for the end of the activity when the teacherpresident approves or vetoes each law, in which the students must vote to override or not. 7. Once the activity is completed, ask students which step was the most difficult and where the most problems or disagreements occurred. 8. Allow for responses and discussion. 9. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students responses. 10. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and review the students responses. 11. In closing, ask: What current law would you like to see changed before you become an adult? Why? 12. Allow for responses and discussion. 13. Ask students if any of them have an interest in becoming a representative or senator and why or why not. 14. Allow for responses and discussion. Objectives: The students will be able to identify and explain the steps in how a bill becomes a law in the United States. Common Core State Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.3 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.3 Class Sessions (45 minutes): At least 3 class sessions Teaching Materials/Worksheets: How a Bill Becomes a Law content pages (2), Activity page, Practice page, Homework page Student Supplies: scrap paper for activity, note paper, handouts Prepare Ahead of Time: Create groups of 4 or 5 for the activity. Copy handouts. Options for Lesson: Students may work in 3s, 4s, or 5s, for the activity. Assign specific bills or ideas for the students to debate during the activity. Use a previously actual debated bill in history for students to use for the activity. Split the class in half, house and senate to do the activity, breaking into smaller committees or groups. Record each group s discussions to be played back later for a class discussion and comments. You may point out how some students may have more influence than others, etc. Assign the Practice page prior to the activity. 1

Teacher Notes The lesson includes the steps in a bill becoming a law in the United States. Though the steps are rather straight forward, it must be understood by students the complexity of bills becoming laws, which involves many outside influences, rewriting, compromising, and much debate. A general outline of the process is important for students to be aware of and be able to clearly explain at lesson s end. Additional Resources: CONTENT: https://votesmart.org/education/how-a-bill-becomes-law#.v7rqzi-cguk https://kids.usa.gov/government/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law/index.shtml http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4702 http://www.ushistory.org/gov/6e.asp http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_law.html WORKSHEETS: https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/lesson-plans/government/how-a-bill-becomes-law/index.shtml https://educators.brainpop.com/bp-topic/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law/ http://www.hasdk12.org/cms/lib3/pa01001366/centricity/domain/467/howcongworksp2_enghs_v2%5b1%5d. pdf http://mercury.educ.kent.edu/database/eureka/documents/howabillbecomesalaw_teacherandstudent.pdf http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/files/documents/lessonplans/howbillbecomesfederallaw.pdf (and more) https://quizlet.com/subject/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law-worksheet/ VIDEOS: https://www.congress.gov/legislative-process (9 videos) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffromqlkiag (3 min-music video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfgn8qhhmxo (2 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld4dazsx1z4 (13 min-lecture) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66f4-nkeyz4 (7 min) 2

How a Bill Becomes a Law You may not vote until you are 18. You can join one of the armed forces when you are 18. When you begin driving, you must follow a speed limit. One day you will be paying taxes on money you make from a job. All of these are laws that have been passed by the United States government at some point during the history of the United States. Laws are not created overnight. It is a long journey for an idea to become a law. Follow the arrows to learn about how a bill becomes a law in the United States: 1 IDEA Every law begins with an idea. They may come from a representative or from ordinary citizens like you. The ideas are researched by representatives and then the process begins. 3 INTRODUCED Next, the idea is written as a bill. The bill is proposed, meaning one representative talks to others to get sponsorship and support. Once the bill has a sponsor it is on to the next step and must be introduced. PROPOSED 2 The bill is now introduced as it is placed in a hopper, which is a special box on the side of the clerk s desk. The bill clerk assigns it a number, a reading clerk reads it to the representatives, and the Speaker of the House sends it on to a committee. 6 DEBATED 4 COMMITTEE It is now in front of a committee for review. A committee is a group of representatives who are experts on topics such as education, foreign policy, farming and others. They review it, may seek more information through a subcommittee who gives it a closer look, gets opinions, and then it goes back to the committee for possible approval. The debate begins. The representatives discuss the bill, tell whether they agree or disagree and why, and recommend changes. When changes are made, the bill is ready for a vote by the House. If approved by the committee, it is then reported to the House floor where it is ready to be debated by the House of Representatives. 5 REPORTED 7-10 NEXT PAGE 3

8 TO THE SENATE 7 VOTED ON Time for a vote by the representatives, using one of three methods: Voice Vote: The speaker asks who supports the bill, they say aye, those against say no. Division: The asks those who support the bill to stand and be counted, and those against the bill to do the same. Recorded: An electronic voting system is used. They can vote yes, no, or present, if they do not want to vote on the bill. If the majority vote yes, the bill is sent to the Senate. 9 TO THE PRESIDENT The President has three choices: In the Senate, the bill follows many of the same steps as in the House, to committees, subcommittees, debate, etc. The Senators vote by voice. Those who agree say yea, those against say nay. If the majority vote for the bill, then it is ready to go to the President for approval. 1. Sign it, the bill passes and becomes a law. 2. Veto the bill, which means refuse to sign. The bill is then sent back to the House of Representatives along with the reasons for the veto. If they believe it should still be a law, they vote again. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law. 3. The President can choose to do nothing. This is called a pocket veto. If Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill does not become law. If the bill becomes a law this means it was passed by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, and has been approved by the President, or the veto was overridden. The law will now be enforced by the government. 10 BECOMES A LAW 7-10 NEXT PAGE 4

Most bills that begin the process in becoming a law rarely leave a committee and are never heard from again. There are thousands of bills that are sent for review and only about 10 to 15% actually receive reviews by committees in the House or Senate. Sometimes the bills that go through are those that have more urgency depending on the events occurring in society. There have been times when emergency bills were passed very quickly, taking just days instead of months or even years. Other times, bills are more popular if the head of a committee is in favor of a bill. Just like when you are with your friends, sometimes one or two friends have more influence over other people. This happens in politics too, when turning bills into laws. Regardless of the length of time it takes for a bill to become a law, or the number of steps, every law began with an idea from a representative or an ordinary citizen just like you. What current law would you like to see changed before you become an adult? Why? 5

Activity Name Date Instructions 1. Each group will vote each time there is a disagreement during any of the steps below. 2. There will be no loud arguing. Discuss quietly. It is okay to disagree, but be civil. 3. One group member will take notes on a separate sheet of paper during each step. (You may vote on who the secretary will be.) STEP ONE: Each one of you privately will think of an idea for a rule or law change at the school or in your town. Write it down on a separate sheet of paper. After all are complete, share your ideas with each other. STEP TWO: Each of you will take a few minutes to propose your idea and share it with the rest of the group. You will try to convince them to "sponsor" your idea. The group will vote on the idea that they like the best and cannot vote for their own. STEP THREE: The secretary will prepare a short summary of the "bill" and once he/she has it written out neatly and clearly, will introduce it by re-reading it to the rest of the group for further discussion. STEP FOUR: The further discussion will take place in two sub-committees. Break into two smaller groups and discuss the bill. After several minutes, come back together, discuss changes or edits, and then decide on a final draft of the bill. STEP FIVE: The final draft will be read and reported by each secretary to the rest of the class when all groups are ready. Each group will receive another group's bill. STEP SIX: The debate will begin about the bill created by the other group. Each member will tell why they agree or disagree wit the bill. They may make changes, the secretary will record them and write a final draft. STEP SEVEN: The final draft will then be voted on by the group using one of the three methods. (Electronic voting will be writing out the votes on slips of paper.) If the majority say yes, the bill is sent on to the senate (another group). STEP EIGHT: Each bill that was approved is now in the senate to be debated and voted on. If there are less bills approved by the Congress, two groups may join together to debate a bill. If each senate approves the bill, it is sent to the President. STEP NINE: The president (teacher) will now approve or veto the bill (and may not use a pocket veto). Each bill will be read aloud to the class. The president will make the decision. If vetoed, the entire class will vote for a possible override. STEP TEN: The bills that have become laws will be displayed for the class to refer to as a reminder of the process of how a bill becomes a law. 6

Practice Name Date Match the statements with the correct steps for a bill becoming a law. 1) It is approved or not approved using one of three methods. 2) Representatives talk to each other and try to get sponsors. A 3) The bill is reviewed here by a group of representatives. B 4) Every law begins with this. C 5) Passed by both the House and Senate. D 6) Most of the same steps are followed here as in the House. E 7) This is now enforced by the government. F 8) More information may be needed, such as opinions. G idea proposed introduced committee reported debated voted on 9) Representatives either say aye or no to the bill. H to the senate 10) It gets ready to be debated by the House. I to the president 11) A veto or pocket veto may be used. J becomes a law 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) This may come from a representative or an ordinary citizen. Representatives either say yea or nay to the bill. Representatives tell reasons they agree or disagree with a bill. This is when the bill is placed in a hopper. This takes place after the committee approves a bill. The idea is written as a bill. One of three choices are made at this time. The bill is assigned a number by a clerk. Changes are recommended during this step in the process. Explain the difference between a regular veto and a pocket veto: 7

Homework Name Date Correctly place in order each step of how a bill becomes a law. Include a brief explanation of each. REPORTED INTRODUCED TO THE PRESIDENT PROPOSED VOTED ON TO THE SENATE IDEA BECOMES A LAW DEBATED COMMITTEE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Which step do you think is the most difficult for a bill to go through to become a law and why? 8

Practice Name Answer Key Date Match the statements with the correct steps for a bill becoming a law. G 1) It is approved or not approved using one of three methods. B 2) Representatives talk to each other and try to get sponsors. A D 3) The bill is reviewed here by a group of representatives. B A 4) Every law begins with this. C J 5) Passed by both the House and Senate. D H 6) Most of the same steps are followed here as in the House. E J 7) This is now enforced by the government. F D 8) More information may be needed, such as opinions. G idea proposed introduced committee reported debated voted on G 9) Representatives either say aye or no to the bill. H to the senate E 10) It gets ready to be debated by the House. I to the president I 11) A veto or pocket veto may be used. J becomes a law A 12) H 13) F 14) C 15) E 16) B 17) I 18) C 19) F 20) This may come from a representative or an ordinary citizen. Representatives either say yea or nay to the bill. Representatives tell reasons they agree or disagree with a bill. This is when the bill is placed in a hopper. This takes place after the committee approves a bill. The idea is written as a bill. One of three choices are made at this time. The bill is assigned a number by a clerk. Changes are recommended during this step in the process. Explain the difference between a regular veto and a pocket veto: A regular veto is when the President does not approve and does not sign a bill and immediately sends it back to Congress where they can override the veto. In a pocket veto, the President does not sign it or does anything with it. After 10 days it either becomes a bill if Congress is in session, or it s vetoed if they are not in session. 9

Homework Name Answer Key Date Correctly place in order each step of how a bill becomes a law. Include a brief explanation of each. REPORTED INTRODUCED TO THE PRESIDENT PROPOSED VOTED ON TO THE SENATE IDEA BECOMES A LAW DEBATED COMMITTEE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 IDEA PROPOSED INTRODUCED COMMITTEE REPORTED DEBATED VOTED ON TO THE SEANTE TO THE PRESIDENT BECOMES A LAW A citizen or representative has an idea for a law. The idea is turned into a bill and the rep looks for sponsors. It is placed in a hopper and then read to the reps. A committee reviews the bills, gathers info and opinions. If approved it is reported to the House floor. The reps debate and discuss it, recommend changes. The House votes on it using one of 3 methods. If approved it goes to the senate who do the same thing. If approved, the President can approve it or not. If approved by all, it becomes a law. Which step do you think is the most difficult for a bill to go through to become a law and why? Answers will vary 10