"The Current Bill Analysis Project"

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 be researching a bill being considered in the current Senate.

LINKS: Below are a number of links from govtrack.us, which outlines all of the bills currently being considered in the Senate that have passed the House of Representatives. Each student will be given a bill that is under consideration, investigate it, answer some questions regarding the bill and report back to the class regarding the bill.

POSSIBLE BILLS FOR CONSIDERATION:

  1. The "Electrify Africa Act of 2014": /ISAAC
  2. The "Strengthening Education through Research Act of 2014": /ROGER
  3. The "Save American Worker's Act of 2014" /GAGE
  4. The "Public Access and Lands Improvement Act of 2014" : /AMANDA
  5. The "Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014": MATTHEW/FAUSTINO
  6. The "GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act of 2014"; DAKOTA/
  7. The "TSA Loose Change Act of 2014": JOSH/OMAR
  8. The "Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act of 2014": LIZ/NATE
  9. The "Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2013: /ASHLEY
  10. The "Student Success Act": /JESSICA
  11. The "Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act of 2014"; ALYSSA/
  12. The "National Blue Alert Act of 2013" /TRISTAN
  13. The "Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2014": TIFFANY/MIREYA

INVESTIGATION and PRESENTATION: Read over the summary of the bill and answer the questions below:

  1. TITLE: From the bill's webpage, what is the FULL TITLE of this bill, including the H.R. Number?
  2. DATE: When was the bill introduced?
  3. SPONSOR: Who is/are the sponsor(s) of the bill? Include state and party information.
  4. COMMITTEES: To which House Committee was the bill assigned? To which Senate Committee?
  5. PROBABILITY: In the opinion of govtrack.us, what is the percentage chance that this bill will become law?
  6. SUMMARY: Click the link to read the FULL TEXT and/or the SUMMARY of the bill. Under the heading "A BILL," there is a summary of the contents of the bill. Summarize this summary, putting the actions of the bill into your own words.
  7. DEFINITIONS/TERMS: MANY bills include a "Definitions" or a "Findings" section or an area in the bill where they outline any specific terms that are used in the bill. List and briefly explain any terms outlined or defined in your bill, if there are any.
  8. RIDERS: Taking the bill summary into account, review all of the sections of the bill. Do any of the sections appear to be riders that do not appear to pertain to the original intent of the bill? Do any of these riders increase federal spending? Explain.
  9. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY: At the bottom of the bills webpage on govtrack.us, there is a link to THOMAS, the Library of Congress page for that bill. Click on that link. On the new webpage is a table of links regarding your bill. Click on the "CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT." Using this link, what part of the Constitution gives Congress the right to consider and pass this Bill?
  10. PERSONAL OPINON: Were you a Senator considering this bill for the first time in committee, would you support the bill? Why or why not? Use your personal beliefs, political leanings and the beliefs of the public and media in crafting your response.
  11. PRESENTATION: Pretend that you have been asked to steer this bill through your committee and you are making your first presentation regarding the contents of the bill. Be prepared to SUMMARIZE the bill for the other members of the class, including its contents and the pros and cons of the bill, as necessary.

GRADING: This will be a 50 point assignment and will be graded as follows:

  • Thorough and thoughtful answers to all questions, especially questions 6 and 10= 50 points.
  • Correct answers to questions 1-5, overly brief or poorly written questions 6-10= 25 points.
  • Answers completed, but showing a lack of effort or understanding= 10 points
  • Assignment not completed= 0 points.