S.Res. 701: A resolution designating the week of May 19 through May 25, 2024, as “National Public Works Week”.

What would this resolution do?

1. In a few words, what would you say is the subject of this resolution?

This question is asking you to determine what areas of policy this bill is meant to impact. Doing so is an important first step in analyzing the intentions behind the policy and its possible effects. To start, look at the bill’s title and see if it helps.

2. This resolution is only 3 pages long. Are you able to understand it? Does being short make the resolution less significant?

If you can understand the bill from reading it, bravo! If not, don’t worry. Even a short bill can be challenging to understand.

Try your best to read the text of the bill to get a sense of how it is written, and take note of what is easier or harder to understand. Don’t feel bad if the actual policy is unclear; sometimes it’s better to rely on analysis from legal experts to know what a bill would do. It may also be helpful to revisit the text after reading a summary or a press release.

3. Who is this resolution likely to impact? Is this resolution important?

These questions are related. Be sure to answer the first question before you answer the second. Even if you think this bill looks boring, is there anyone who would say otherwise?

Participating in a democracy isn’t just about representing your own interests; it’s also about understanding and empathizing with the interests of your peers. When you look at a resolution before Congress you should consider who it will impact and how. Then you can make a judgment about whether the resolution matters and whether you support it.

Try coming up with a list of who will be affected by this resolution and how. When you think you’re done with your list, ask yourself one more time: Is this resolution important?

What else do you know about this resolution?

1. What do you know about the sponsor? Is this the kind of resolution you would expect from them? Why or why not?

The resolution’s primary sponsor is displayed at the top of the overview tab. The sponsor's GovTrack page provides information about their history and recent actions in Congress. Similarly, you’ll find a list of cosponsors at the top of the details tab.

The most immediate thing you might notice about the sponsor is their party. Here are some other factors to consider when thinking about the resolution’s sponsor, all of which can be found on the sponsor’s page:

Where do they represent? Is this resolution uniquely important to the sponsor’s constituents?

What committees are they on? If they are on a committee this resolution was assigned to, they will have greater influence over its passage.

Where do they fall on the GovTrack Ideology-Leadership Chart? We publish an analysis of members’ cosponsorships to give an idea of where each member falls on the political spectrum, and how much influence they have in Congress. This information could be helpful context for understanding the resolution.

These are only a few of the factors at play when a member chooses to sponsor legislation. What wasn’t on this list that should be?

2. Step away from GovTrack for a moment. Is anyone talking about this resolution? How does their perspective help you understand the resolution?

It’s important to compare information from various sources. What other resources could you use to put the information on GovTrack into context? Has anyone else written about the resolution? Try putting the name of the resolution into your favorite search engine to see what comes up. You might find there is already a conversation going on around the resolution, or perhaps this resolution isn’t getting much attention.

If you can, you should look at multiple sources with varying perspectives. Don’t take what any news article or organization says for granted without comparing it to a few other sources.

3. What kind of expert would be able to tell you more about the policies this resolution would impact?

Congress often calls in expert witnesses to explain nuanced policy issues. Members of Congress on whichever committee has been assigned to review the resolution will seek out these experts depending on the legislative topic. For example, legislation about nuclear power plants might be referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Since most of the representatives who serve on that committee are likely not nuclear scientist, they will call in those scientists to explain important details about nuclear energy.

By now you should have an idea of the policies, or at least areas of policy, in this resolution. Given that knowledge, what type of experts would you want to hear from to learn more about this resolution? Try to get as specific as you can.

What can you do about this resolution?

1. How can you impact your government?

Start with the basics. What are some of the tools available for Americans to interact with their government? How would you apply those tools to this resolution?

Keep in mind that resolutions sometimes get reintroduced to multiple sessions of Congress before ever getting a vote. Odds are good that a given resolution won’t get passed, but maybe there are ways you can help give it another shot. If you think this resolution is not likely to pass in the current session of Congress, how might you try to get it reintroduced in the next one?

2. What can your Member of Congress do to impact this resolution? (Hint: Are your representative or senators on a committee this resolution was assigned to?)

In our representative democracy, each member of Congress has an obligation to their constituents. That means your representatives are the most likely to be responsive to your concerns, since they care about your vote. What can you ask of them?

At a minimum, they can vote for a resolution if the chance comes up. But maybe they have more power than that. Is your representative on a committee this resolution was assigned to? If so, they can push for the resolution to get a floor vote. Is your representative in a leadership position? Maybe they can trade favors with another Member of Congress to help advance this resolution.

If you aren’t sure who your representatives are, you can find them by entering your address here. Then try looking at their GovTrack pages to see information such as their committee positions, leadership scores, and frequent cosponsors to get a sense of what they can do.

3. What organizations are working to impact the passage of this resolution?

The best way to impact a resolution is to get help. It’s nigh impossible for one person to make a significant change in a democracy, but as a group you can make a difference. Advocacy organizations, think tanks, caucuses and other legislative stakeholders are constantly working to influence whether a resolution passes. Are there any organizations interested in this resolution? Try using your favorite search engine to find out.

If there are, and you agree with their positions and methods, you may want to join or support that organization. You can help that organization accomplish its goals by volunteering for them or donating some money.

If there isn’t an organization you like, maybe you need to do the next best thing: Make one! Grassroots movements form all the time when many people care about an issue that isn’t getting enough attention. Do you know many other people who care as much about this resolution as you do? Starting a grassroots movement is a challenging task, but if there are a lot of people who care about this issue who aren’t being heard, it can be worth the effort.

Each bill’s study guide is a little different — we automatically choose which questions to include based on the information we have available about the bill.