* NEW LESSON PLAN *

During our annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop –– http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm –– participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms.  A past participant, James Jurgens, St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati, Ohio, presented a lesson entitled, Congressional Committee Simulation: Raising the Minimum Wage.

This classroom simulation of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce allows students to understand the procedures and political process of committee action on a bill.  Students play the roles of Republican and Democratic committee members with four different views on raising the minimum wage.  After hearing arguments of opposing interest groups in a committee hearing, committee members attempt to forge a bipartisan majority through political bargaining and compromise on a bill to increase the minimum wage.

NOTE:  This lesson was modified from the original in April 2008 when the minimum wage was $5.85 and set to increase to $6.55 on July 24.  Congress has already passed legislation that will increase the minimum wage further on July 24, 2009, to $7.25.  Teachers may want to introduce this lesson by saying that Congress often begins to deal with legislative issues well in advance—in other words, committees could begin taking testimony now on what the wage should be after 2009.

Find Congressional Committee Simulation: Raising the Minimum Wage at: http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_congcommsim_miniwage.htm