Subject: U.S. Government, Social Studies
Grade Level: 9-12 and above
Author: Frank H. Mackaman fmackaman@dirksencenter.org

Introduction for Teachers
President Barack Obama will face a divided Congress as he attempts to pass his legislative programs in 2011-12—leading right up to the presidential election. The Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, 51 to 47 Republicans and two Independents. On the other hand, the Republicans substantially outnumber Democrats 242 to 193 in the House (the numbers may vary during the Congress because of departures, special elections, etc.). The shift from Democratic to Republican leadership in the House means we have a new Speaker—John Boehner of Ohio. The leaders of both parties will play key roles as the nation confronts the current economic cataclysm, the war on terror, and the strain on the federal budget.

The Task for Learners
You are a free-lance writer who has been commissioned by a national monthly magazine to report on the leaders of the 112th Congress. You have decided that your “angle” will be this: what qualities or shared experiences do these leaders have, and how will these factors shape their approach to leadership in Congress.

The 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 your story, 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.

Select four leaders to evaluate in detail: a Republican in the House, a Republican in the Senate, a Democrat in the House, and a Democrat in the Senate.

Based on your own experience, develop a working hypothesis about the qualities required for successful leadership. For example, you may have participated in a sports team, a student council, or a school club in which you observed leadership in action. Make a list of eight to ten qualities that leaders typically exhibit (hint: the ability to communicate is one example).

After you have come up with your list, read about the four congressional leaders you have selected to find out if they have shown some or all of the qualities on your list. You may also decide to expand your list based on this research.

Finally, you will write a report that presents your analysis of the job duties, definition of success, and requisite qualifications for congressional leadership. Remember, thousands of readers will see your work once the magazine publishes your story!

The Resources
Basic information on leadership positions:

 http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_leadershippositions.htm
 http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_113leaders.htm
 http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Leadership_vrd.htm
 http://www.house.gov/house/orgs_pub_hse_ldr_www.shtml
 http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/leader.htm

Your editor will use the following criteria to evaluate your submission to the magazine: