Procedures

• NEEDED RESOURCES

  • Computer with internet access
  • Projector and speakers to present clips
  • Handout: Tracing the Legislative Process (Google Doc)
  • Slides: Legislative Process - USA PATRIOT Act (Google Slides)

• Background Information (Suggested Activities)

  Introductory Lecture on How a Bill Becomes a Law.

  Student reading in text and filling out a flow chart of How a Bill Becomes a Law.

  Vocabulary activity from textbook on section in book on How a Bill Becomes a Law.

• STEP 1.

  Distribute the Tracing the Legislative Process handout (linked above) to each of the students.

• STEP 2.

  Students view the video clips tracing each stage of the legislative process leading to the passage of the PATRIOT Act using the slideshow (linked above).

  While the slideshow contains additional information and questions for students about the process and contents of each video, the video clips contained in the slideshow are also linked at the top of this lesson.

• STEP 3.

  Students then answer the questions about each clip highlighting the various stages of the lawmaking process found on the handout.

• Wrap Up/Assessment (Suggested Activities)

  • Quiz on How a Bill Becomes a Law

  • Create an infographic of the process of How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Extension (Suggested Activities)

  Have student groups of 8 pick a bill that was passed, search C-SPAN's Video Library, and create clips of the bill at each stage of the lawmaking process using the handout.

  Research a current Bill in Congress identifying the stages the case has gone through in the lawmaking process and present to the class.