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Subject: U.S. Government, Social Studies
Grade Level: 9-12 and above
Author: Beth Traxler traxleeet@gvltec.edu
Introduction
[NOTE: Beth Traxler prepared this WebQuest for the 108th Congress.
Dirksen Center staff updated for the 109th].
The November 2, 2004, election is history. The Republicans gained
strength in both the House and Senate, with President George
W. Bush winning re-election to the White House. In the House
of Representatives, Republicans hold 232 seats compared to 202
for the Democrats and one Independent. There are 55 Senate Republicans,
44 Democrats, and one Independent.
The 109th Congress will assemble January 4, 2005, in the nation's
capital to begin their session. One of the first tasks facing
them will be to select their leaders. Will there be a change
in those holding the leadership positions in the House? What
about the Senate? Which members would best fill these positions?
Task
You are working on a project for Congressional Institute, a
think tank in D.C. The project seeks to offer advice to governmental
decision-makers that will ensure more efficient and more effective
functioning of the national government. One area that has been
targeted is more adept leadership in both houses of Congress.
As a part of this project, your task is to identify the traits
that make success in these congressional leadership positions
most likely. Your analysis will provide a guide to members of
Congress as they evaluate their colleagues who seek leadership
positions.
Process
- You will need to identify the major leadership positions
for both majority and minority parties in each house of Congress.
For the purposes of this report, limit yourself to positions
from the top through the whip positions.
- You will then need to clearly delineate the major job duties
or roles of each position.
- Based on these job duties and your understanding of American
government, you will need to define "success" for these leaders.
Success is a tricky concept. You will need to read some statements
by former congressional leaders. Since there is no single agreed-upon
definition, ultimately you will have to decide how you view
success - to what extent is success measured by holding firm
to the party's public policy positions? To what extent is success
working across party lines if need be to craft legislation?
To what extent is success working as a team with the president?
You must come up with your own yardstick by which you would
measure success in a congressional leadership position.
- Defining "success" will help you to identify the qualifications
necessary for success in each position. Consider personal qualities
as well as professional experience, etc.
- Finally, you will write a report that presents your analysis
of the job duties, definition of success, and requisite qualifications
for each leadership position. This will be presented to the
535 members of the 109th Congress for guidance as they make
their decisions.
Resources
Basic information on leadership positions:
http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_leadershippositions.htm
http://www.conginst.org/congressleaders/
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Majority_Minority_Leaders.htm
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm
Current and former leaders' conception of their positions:
http://www.speaker.gov/features/role.asp
http://freedom.house.gov/
http://democraticleadershouse.gov/corner/meet_the_leadership.asp
http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_histmats_congldrstatements.htm
http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_michel_leadershipstatements.htm
Congressional
Leadership statements on CongressLink
Speaker
of the House Dennis Hastert on the Speakership
Evaluation
Your report will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Category |
Excellent |
Good |
Satisfactory |
Unsatisfactory |
Analysis |
Offers clear, concise descriptions
of each leadership position; develops a thoughtful, measurable
definition of success based on those job duties and writings
of past leaders; concludes with a presentation of qualifications
necessary for achieving the defined success |
Offers clear, descriptions
of each leadership position; develops a definition of
success based on those job duties and some of the writings
of past leaders; concludes with a presentation of qualifications
necessary for achieving the defined success |
Offers descriptions of each
leadership position; attempts a definition of success
(but which does not display much reading or thought);
concludes with a presentation of qualifications related
to the job duties |
Describes each leadership
position; does not include a discussion of success in
any meaningful way; concludes with a limited discussion
of qualifications needed |
Writing |
Clear, concise, well-organized;
provides transition from job duties to success measurement
to qualifications; no errors in grammar and spelling |
Clear, well-organized; provides
transition in most cases as moves through paper; makes
a few errors in grammar and spelling |
Includes all required elements
of paper, but transitions among them are not always apparent;
writing lacks clarity in places so that it is difficult
to follow the trend of thought; a few errors in grammar
and spelling that detract from the overall work |
Missing significant elements
of the paper and/or transitions nonexistent; numerous
grammatical and spelling errors that detract from the
overall work |
Conclusion
The Congressional Institute thanks you for a job well done!
They would like to offer you a contract to "test" your work.
Should you be interested, a team will be assembled to evaluate
the leading contenders for congressional leadership positions
in the 109th Congress on the basis of the qualifications you
have identified. Good luck! Congress certainly could use some
guidance in choosing its leaders! |
