About Us
Congress: The Context
Bill Drafting
What was your legislative idea(s)?
How did you come up with your idea(s) – what motivated your proposal?
Committee Process
What was the committee process like?
How did you treat the committee process, as a rubber stamp or did you actually read through the bills?
Were you at all pressed for time during the committee process, or did you look at all your assigned bills?
“Leadership” Scheduling
Leaders, in order to represent your party’s interests, you were told to schedule as many of your bills first as possible. How did you approach this challenge?
Did you and the other legislative leader reach any agreement on how to order the legislative calendar?
Floor Debate
What was floor debate like?
Did you detect a “partisan” party line bias?
What is your impression of the legislative (congressional) process?
Someone once said “Making laws is a lot like making sausage. It’s an ugly process, but the outcome can be pretty good.” Do you agree with that statement?
“Catchall” Section
Should ______________ (insert teacher’s name) conduct this exercise again? Why or why not?
What suggestions do you have for _______________ (insert teacher’s name) to improve this activity for future classes?
Paper Procedures
This paper should be at least one page, but no more than two pages, in length. It MUST be typed, font 12, Times New Roman, with one inch margins. It will be worth 20 points. It is due THE DAY AFTER THE CLASSROOM CONGRESS. If you hand the paper in one day late, you will have 25% of your score deducted; if you hand it in two days late, you will have 50% of your score deducted; papers three or more days late will not be given credit.
