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Senate Simulation
Senate Simulation
Objective Students will learn and experience the legislative process by following
the procedures of creating a bill to having that bill signed into law. Through this
assignment students will gain experience in debating and public speaking.
Day 1
Choose three topics that you are interested in and pick one to do research on with
teacher approval.
You will then be assigned to a 4-5 person committee (this committee assignment is
not based on your topic).
Your committee will then elect a chairperson to lead the committee and a scribe to
record the proceedings. [Social skill : Cooperation]
Day 2-3
Research your topic and write your bill. Bills should be 1-2 pages in length.
[Cognitive skills: Critical thinking, research, evaluation]
Your bill should explain the issue clearly and what you want the bill to accomplish.
[Cognitive skill: Comprehension] You must also describe how your law will be
implemented and give a clear time frame for implementation. [Cognitive skill:
Synthesis]
Format your bill as such:
Author
Bill number
Title of bill
Purpose of the bill
Section 1
Section 2
Day 4
You will split into your committees to hear classmates bills and vote on them, and
will be called on to present your own bill to a committee. [Affective taxonomy:
Defending your beliefs; Cognitive skill: Evaluation]
When hearing a bill- The speaker will present his or her bill to the committee with a
short speech 1-2 minutes long. The committee will then have the opportunity to
ask questions, and hold a short debate. The committee will then vote on the bill. If
the bill passes, it will move on to the House floor (the class as a whole).
Day 5
Bills passed in committee will be presented, debated, and voted on in class as a
whole. [Affective taxonomy: Defending your beliefs; Cognitive skill: Evaluation]
Prior to the mock debate you will be given a voting sheet. This sheet must be
completed by the end of the session. To complete this form you must:
1. Fill in how you voted on each presented bill.
2. Give an explanation of why you voted the way you did.
[Cognitive skill: Critical thinking, evaluation]
At the end of the mock debate, please turn in your bills, research and voting sheets
for grading.
Research
Bill was thoroughly researched
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Bill
Mock Debate
Voting sheet filled out correctly for each bill
presented
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Excellen
t
Goo
d
Fair
Poor
Not
done
Presentation
Total: _______/32