ASSIGNMENT: We have been discussing the "Bill to Law" Process in class and how bills can be amended in committee.  To see this in action, students will simulating the "Bill to Law" process in class by analyzing bills that are currently active in Congressional committees.

THE BILLS: Here is a list of the proposed bills that will be analyzed in committee.

PROCESS: Each student will be assigned a bills from the table above. Students will review the bill and answer the following questions regarding the bill on a separate piece of paper (If two students have the same bill they ARE NOT partners, they will each analyze the bill separately):

QUESTION ONE:  From your bill page link, what is the FULL TITLE of this bill?

QUESTION TWO:  This bill has been introduced in Congress and sent to committee, where it is waiting for further action. In a short paragraph, summarize the original purpose of this bill.

QUESTION THREE:  Outline, as best you can, the PROs of this bill and the CONs of the bill. Include ANY possible costs or benefits that you see regarding your bill. INCLUDE FINANCIAL COSTS!

QUESTION FOUR: Describe, as best you can, if your bill contains issues of LIBERAL CONCERN/ CONSERVATIVE CONCERN or NEUTRAL.

QUESTION FIVE:  You will be required to quickly present your bill to the class for assignment to committee.

SIMULATION DETAILS:

1. Class Assignments:
• Each class is divided into two parties, Democratic and Republican, based upon earlier party quizzes taken in September. Students will act as a member for the party assigned for all purposes of this simulation (Here is a link to the Democrat/Republican Characteristics Slideshow, use it as needed). Students who refuse to do this or cannot take their role seriously will be removed from the simulation and will not receive any of the class benefits that may be awarded in the simulation.
• 5th and 6th Period classes will be divided into four committees: 1) Health and Education, 2) Military and Technology, 3) Environment and Agriculture and 4) Transportation and Employment. Due to their smaller size, the 7th Period class will be divided into two committees: Health and Welfare and Commerce and Employment.
• Each class will elect a Leader, who will function in a fashion similar to that of the Speaker of the House.
• The Speaker will assign class members (including themselves) to the four committees in equal numbers.
• When committees are formed, student(s) will present their sponsored bill with a very brief summary.
• The Speaker, with the assistance of the Committee members of each chamber, will assign each bill to the proper committee for consideration.
2. Committees:
   • ALL STUDENTS MUST BE RESPECTFUL OF THE INPUT AND IDEAS OF OTHERS AT ALL TIMES!
   • Committees will receive hard copies of the ACTUAL BILLS under consideration to analyze and amend, as needed. Each committee will have exactly 30 minutes to review the bills they have received.
   • Committees should use any resources at their disposal to analyze these bills, including the bill itself, online summaries as linked above, etc. I expect to see ALL COMMITTEES to be actively working to improve bills under consideration. If committees are not using their time appropriately, Mr. B. will call an "illegal procedure" and all test benefits will be lost.
   • Committees MUST ATTEMPT TO MAKE at least TWO ADDITIONS or SUBTRACTIONS from their bills to be able to pass it out of committee. All students MUST play their roles as Democrat or Republican to the best of their ability when working in committee. These ADDITIONS and SUBTRACTIONS can be anything that fits with the category of the bill and can be major or minor changes. All additions, subtractions and recommendations MUST approved by A MAJORITY of the committee members.
   • Please note your PROPOSED CHANGES on a separate piece of paper by indicating sections that you will ADD or sections that you will TAKE OUT in writing. DO NOT WRITE ON THE ORIGINAL BILL! Please note that each line on each page of a bill is number. Please use this system when making changes to your bills.
   • In this simulation, classes are rewarded for attempting to have the two political parties working TOGETHER to come up with areas of agreement that will allow bills to pass through committee and through another class. PLEASE MAKE SURE that while in committee, you are putting effort into bills that you feel might be able to pass committees with bipartisan support, if possible. If a bill is TOO partisan or too complicated to amend properly, let it go.
   • If NO AGREEMENT can be made about the additions and subtractions from the bill in the committee the bill DIES.
   • If the bill does not finish the “editing” process in time it DIES.
   • If a bill passes floor action, the sponsoring committee must complete a neatly organized and printed "BILL SUMMARY" to be sent to the other class. This should outline the following, at a minimum:
     • Title of Bill
     • Outline of the intentions of the bill.
     • Brief description of the changes made to the bill in committee.
     • Possible benefits and costs of the bill (be sure to included any funding requirements.)
     • Any other definitions or points that will help to explain the bill to the other house.
   • Any bills which have passed through committee will be sent to another class, along with the original bill and the BILL SUMMARY.
   • If at any time, a committee is bill-less, it will be dissolved and dispersed into
     other committees.
3. WHEN CLASSES RECEIVE BILLS FROM OTHER HOUSES:
• The Speaker will review and assign bills to committee.
• Once the bill is in committee, the committees will have 20 minutes to discuss the other house's bill.
• Committees can make ADDITIONS or SUBTRACTIONS as they wish, there are no requirements on this portion of the simulation.
• If NO AGREEMENT (majority of committee must agree) can be made about the bill in the committee the bill DIES
• If the bill does not finish the “editing” process in time it DIES.
• Committees are not simply allowed to kill a bill for no reason. Bills can be killed, but only for valid, political reasons. If committees are not performing their roles properly, Mr. B. will void any upcoming benefits on the test for "illegal procedure."
• If the bill is changed and then passed, the bill moves to a CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, made up of selected members of each class in question (Mr. B. will decide these). Conference committees will have 5 minutes to fix the bill, if possible. If an agreement cannot be reached in 5 minutes, the bill dies.
4. Floor Action (the entire class will participate in floor action):
   • If an identical bill is passed through two committees or a bill passes through Conference Committee, it will be presented to the floor for action. The bill and its changes will be summarized for the consideration of the whole, including the Costs and Benefits of the bill. Amendments may be made at this time, if the class wishes.
   • After floor discussion and amendments, if the Speaker wishes to have a vote, there will be floor vote on the bill. If the bill passes, it will move to the PRESIDENT’S DESK. The political party of the President will be decided by a coin flip. Bills that are passed from the floor will be quickly analyzed to determine if the bill is LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE or PARTY NEUTRAL. If the bill aligns with the party affiliation of the President or is Party Neutral, it will be signed into law. If it is not aligned with the party of the President, it will be vetoed.
   • If the bill is SIGNED it becomes a LAW.
   • If the bill is VETOED it returns to the floor for a vote in an attempt to OVERRIDE THE VETO. A 3/4 vote of all members of class will be required to overturn a veto. Again, this vote must be on political grounds, not "we want to pass a bill" grounds.
5. Classes the participate in a thoughtful and respectful manner will have an extra two days to study for their test, having the test next week. Any classes that manage to have 1-2 bills passed into law by the President will be allowed a "Mad Minute" on the upcoming tests. Classes which have 3 or more bills passed into law by the President will be allowed to use their notes on the upcoming test. Classes that do not participate properly will not be allowed to use their notes on the upcoming test and may have their simulation cut short, moving the date of their test up.

GRADING: Students will be graded on the following criteria:

• BILL SUMMARIES: Thoughtful completion of the bill summary questions above, bill presented to class= 50 points, bill summary incomplete or incorrectly analyzed, bill not presented to class= 25 points, bill summary not completed or presented to class= 0 points.
• COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES: Proper participation in all committee activities, including amending and adding to bills, as required above= 50 points, Incomplete or improper activities in committee= 25 points, Refusal to participate in committee activites= 0 points.
• FLOOR ACTION: Proper participation in floor activities, including commenting appropriately at least twice in the discussion= 50 points, Limited participation in floor activities= 25 points, refusal to participate in floor activities= 0 points..
• Thoughtful, respectful and proper interaction with others throughout the course of this project= 50 points, Interactions occassionally inappropriate to the task at hand or disrespectful of the simulation process= 25, student is removed from the simulation for improper interactions= 0 points.