1. Mock Congress: Day 1 - Writing Bills
Chapter 15 - Government for and by the People

2. Bell Activity Turn in your orange organizers.
No gum in class. Throw it in the garbage before class begins!
Bell Activity
Turn in your orange organizers.
Your word is “bill” (hint: NOT something your parents pay OR part of a duck!)
Find the word on your blue study guide and complete the following information for the word.
Find the definition using a glossary.
Use your own knowledge and experience to complete the rest of the definition.
Where should your backpack be?

3. Does your work look something like this?
Word: bill
My Understanding:
Definition:
Draw a picture of it:
Sentence:
Synonym/ Example:
Antonym/Non-Example:

4. Does your work look something like this?
Word: bill
My Understanding:
Definition: a written proposal for a law
Draw a picture of it:
Sentence: The senator proposed a bill
would make it illegal to text while
driving.
Synonym/ Example: proposed law
Antonym/Non-Example: law

5. Today we will learn…
History Objective – We will be able to describe how a bill becomes a law, and we will learn how to write a bill.
Behavior Objective – Work Ethic: We will listen to how to write a bill then write our own bills.
Language Objective – We will write our own bill for the Mock Congress.

6. Welcome to Congress
Over the rest of the week the MLMS Mock Congress will be in session.
Our first job is to understand how to create new legislation or laws that will benefit the class.
(How a bill becomes a law)
(Preamble)

7. What a bill does…
Your bill should do something to benefit the class or make a positive change.
You cannot, however, violate any school rules (such as no cell phones, hats, etc.). Bills that violate school rules will either be discarded during the Mock Congress or they will be subject to Judicial Review.

8. A Good Bill…
A good bill is well thought out, carefully considers all of the possible consequences of the law, and will take steps to make sure the class suffers no negative side effects.
You also have to consider who will see that the law is carried out (it cannot be Ms. Thatcher!), will it cost anything (you have to figure out where the money is coming from), and how much time it will take, etc.

9. Let’s look at a good bill…
The Mount Logan Middle School 2014
Blank Bill
Super Activity
Super Activity

10. Political Parties
For most of us, when we think of political parties we picture the Democrats and Republicans.
What comes to mind when you hear these names?
Political Parties were created as a way for people with similar opinions about how government should work to get together and get candidates elected to office who will represent their beliefs in the government.
(How a bill becomes a law)
(Preamble)

11. Political Parties
Political Parties start with people who want to make their lives better through the political process.
What are some things that you would like to change if you could at MLMS?
(How a bill becomes a law)
(Preamble)

12. Issues
Come up with a list of 5-10 things your party would like to do to improve our class.
(How a bill becomes a law)
(Preamble)

13. Sample Issues Bell Activity w/partners Free time Bathroom passes
Allow treats in class
Listen to music
More Partner/Group work
Review day- More time for teacher to answer questions
Fun Day
Work Day - No Homework
Get out of class early
Study Guides on tests
Free Answer on test
Play w/Smart Board
Drinks in class
Gum ok in class

14. Polling the Parties (4 min.)
The class will have different political parties, each with a different platform.
Each party will be trying to get their candidate elected to the class government.
Choose three or four of the issues your group came up with to be part of your campaign.
(How a bill becomes a law)
(Preamble)

15. The Caucus (3 min.)
Choose the person in your party that you think has the best chance of being elected governor.
Then choose the person who know the rules of the school the best to be your candidate for attorney general.
Then list 4 people who want to be Senators and 8 who want to be members of the House of Representatives. There can only be 1 senator for every 2 representatives.
Fill out a ballot and send someone to report who these people are to Ms. Thatcher.
(How a bill becomes a law)
(Preamble)

16. Campaign Poster (10 min.)
Create a name for your party (one word, simple, easy to say and remember).
Choose a mascot (animal symbol) that represents your strengths.
Make a poster explaining why others should vote for your candidate.
Candidates for governor should use this time to write a short speech explaining why their party should be elected to office.

17. Speeches (3-5 min.)
Each candidate for governor will give a one minute speech to convince the rest of the students to vote for them and their political party.
Then the class will vote for officers.
The winners will be announced tomorrow.
Note: All students will have a job to do in the Mock Congress whether they are elected or not.

18. Elections
For a large part of the rest of this unit, we will be holding a Mock Congress in which you all will be able to propose laws to make our class better.
To help get your laws passed, you will need to form political parties to help pass laws in the Congress.
Get together with some friends and other students who all have similar ideas to create a political party.
(How a bill becomes a law)
(Preamble)

19. Ballot – 1st Hour Party Governor Att. General Senators House of Reps.
Voting:
1 governor 6 for the Senate
1 attorney general 12 for the House