Procedures

• STEP 1.

  Introduce the topic of Congressional Committee hearings through an assigned reading and engage in a class discussion regarding their procedure and purpose.

• STEP 2.

  Show the following clip. Have students summarize the pros and cons of celebrity testimony according to Ted Johnson of Variety.

  VIDEO CLIP: Celebrity Testimony in Congressional hearings (1:17)

• STEP 3.

  Have students participate in a “Take a Stand” activity:

  A. Post a “celebrity” sign on one side of the room and an “expert” sign on the other. Pose the question, “Whose testimony before a Congressional Committee do you think would be more effective?”

  B. Have students summarize their opinion in a brief paragraph. Students can use this to compare their positions after completing the lesson.

  C. Have students divide themselves into the two categories. Explain that the students may fall somewhere in between the two choices, and should position themselves accordingly.

  D. Have students from each group explain their rationale for their position.

• STEP 4.

  Divide students into groups to view videos of celebrities and experts testifying before Congressional Committees. Group size will vary depending on class size, time available, and the number of videos you want each group to watch.

• STEP 5.

  Assign each group one or more hearings to watch from below. As they are watching the testimony, have them complete the following handout and discuss their findings within the small group:

  HANDOUT: Celebrity vs. Expert Testimony (Google Doc)

• STEP 6.

  Have a member from each group report on their findings to the entire class. Ensure they summarize the issue and present the testimony of each participant and explain the effectiveness of each.

• STEP 7.

  After hearing from each group, have students write an essay that should include:

  A. The role of Congressional Committee hearings

  B. The importance of testimony at the hearings

  C. The effectiveness of both celebrities and experts giving testimony

  D. Their opinion on the appropriateness and impact of celebrity testimony

• VIDEO

  Ben Stiller, Actor and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency (05/01/2019)

  EXPERT CLIP: David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (5:06)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Ben Stiller, Actor (7:44)

• VIDEO

  Patricia Arquette, Actress and Activist (04/30/2019)

  EXPERT CLIP: Kathleen Marie Sullivan, Lawyer and partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (5:52)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Patricia Arquette, Actress and Activist (5:15)

• VIDEO

  Ashton Kutcher, Actor and co-founder of Thorn (02/15/2017)

  EXPERT CLIP: Elisa Massimino, president and CEO of Human Rights First (8:55)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Ashton Kutcher, Actor and co-founder of Thorn (15:39)

• VIDEO

  Helen Mirren, Actress (06/07/2016)

  EXPERT CLIP: Monica Dugot, International Restitution Director for Christies Inc (6:41)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Helen Mirren, Actress (7:42)

• VIDEO

  Bono, Musician (04/12/2016)

  EXPERT CLIP: Gen. James Jones (Ret.), Former Obama Administration National Security Adviser (7:33)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Bono, U2 lead singer (9:56)

• VIDEO

  Elton John, Musician (05/06/2015)

  EXPERT CLIP: Dr. Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (7:15)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Elton John, Musician (7:02)

• VIDEO

  Seth Rogen, Actor (02/16/2014)

  EXPERT CLIP: Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (12:21)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Seth Rogen, Actor (6:14)

• VIDEO

  George Clooney, Actor (03/14/2012)

  EXPERT CLIP: Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for USAID Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Bureau (6:20)

  EXPERT CLIP: Jonathan Temin, Director of the U.S. Institute of Peace Sudan (5:13)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: George Clooney, Actor and Satellite Sentinel Project Co-Founder (5:58)

• VIDEO

  Steven Colbert, Host and Executive Producer, The Late Show (09/04/2010)

  EXPERT CLIP: Phil Glaize, Represents the U.S. Apple Association and the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform and Farmer (6:03)

  EXPERT CLIP: Arturo Rodriguez, President of the United Farm Workers (5:30)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Stephen Colbert, Host and Executive Producer, The Late Show (5:17)

• VIDEO

  Kevin Costner, Actor (06/09/2010)

  EXPERT CLIP: Dr. Jeffrey Short, Director of Oceana, Pacific Science (4:53)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Kevin Costner, Actor and Ocean Therapy Solutions Partner (8:57)

• VIDEO

  Sean Penn, Actor (05/19/2010)

  EXPERT CLIP: Chris Milligan, Disaster Assistance Coordinator at the U.S. Agency for International Development (4:59)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Sean Penn, Actor (9:55)

• VIDEO

  Gabrielle Union, Actress (06/10/2009)

  (Testimony contains violent descriptive content which may offend)

  EXPERT CLIP: Karen Tronsgrard-Scott, Director of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (5:51)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Gabrielle Union, Actress (4:23)

• VIDEO

  David Banner and Master P, Rappers (09/25/2007)

  (David Banner's testimony contains derogatory language which may offend)

  EXPERT CLIP: Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Author and Georgetown University Sociology Professor (7:52)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: David Banner, Rapper (7:24)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Master P, former Rapper (7:22)

• VIDEO

  LL Cool J, Rapper and Actor (09/30/2003)

  EXPERT CLIP: Mitch Bainwol, Chair and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (6:44)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: LL Cool J, Rapper and actor (6:08)

• VIDEO

  Michael J Fox, Actor and Muhammad Ali, Boxer (05/22/2002)

  EXPERT CLIP: Dr. Audrey Penn, Director of National Inst. of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (6:46)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Michael J Fox, Actor with Parkinson’s Disease (7:58)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Muhammed and Lonnie Ali, Former boxer with Parkinson’s disease (6:56)

• VIDEO

  Lars Ulrich, Musician (07/11/2000)

  EXPERT CLIP: Fred Uhlrich, President, New Technology of Sony Corporation (5:20)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Lars Ulrich , Drummer in the rock group, Metallica (7:54)

• VIDEO

  John Travolta, Actor (09/18/1997)

  EXPERT CLIP: Rev. Drew Christiansen, former Director of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops (7:44)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: John Travolta, Actor and Scientologist (9:42)

• VIDEO

  Oprah Winfrey, Media Executive and Television Host (11/12/1991)

  EXPERT CLIP: Gordon Hardy, Inspector General for Texas Health and Human Services Department (5:18)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Oprah Winfrey, Former talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist (12:51)

• VIDEO

  Robin Williams, Comedian and Actor (05/09/1990)

  EXPERT CLIP: Connie Perez, Director of the Children's Hope Program (11:43)

  CELEBRITY CLIP: Robin Williams, Actor (6:18)

• CONCLUDING QUESTION:

  • Are celebrity testimonies effective in changing public policy?