How Laws Are Made

Essential Question

How is a law made?

I'm Just A Bill

Activity 1: How does a bill becomes a law?

Read the "The Legislative Process" on the United States House of Representative's Website" or Watch the videos on the U.S. Congress' Website and use the information to create an thinking map answering the question. It is a complicated process with many loop arounds. Complete this assignment digitally or on paper. It will be collected in your portfolio.

Discussion Questions

Where does a bill start the process of becoming a law?
Why does getting a bill passed require so many steps?
What is a veto? How it undone?

Activity 2: How did a bill of your choosing become a law?

Visit the Congress' Website and click on "Most Viewed Bills, Top 10" and pick a bill. Click on the highlighted number of that bill, and then on “Actions” to see the process that the bill took to become a law or didn't. It is recommended older bills because they will have a complete process while more recent ones may have only just been introduced. Collect your information, compile it in a flow map, and share what you have learned with the class. Include the steps through which the bill passed, the committees and dates, the number of this public law, and a short explanation of the law. Complete this assignment digitally or on paper. It will be collected at the end of the lesson and it will NOT be in your portfolio.