The Legislative Branch

Date	In Class Activity	HW & Long Term Assignments
Mon 3/23	Lecture: The Congress Read through Senate Simulation. Lecture: The Legislative Branch (Gerrymandering & Congressional Careers) Introduce Senate Simulation: Choose Bill Writing Groups Lecture: Factors legislators consider when voting.	Continue researching your specific bill (note that the underlined things are live links). Bills should be completed and up on facebook (with all the group members names and periods) by 3/25 at 10pm Interactively Read the Senate Simulation handout and upload it Take notes on the NYT Coronavirus article Download the Bill Writing form. Print out and bring to each class session the Senate Sim Self Evaluation. Make sure you fill it out as you progress through the simulation.
Wed 3/25	Finish How a bill becomes a law and begin Legislative Branch Issues Senate Simulation: Bill Writing Procedure (start storyboarding PSAs)	Finish your bill with your classmates using the sample bill form by 10:30 pm your bill should be up on facebook with the number, the name, and the period attached. Majority and Minority Leaders need to print out a copy of each bill. Print out, Senate Voting Guide. You must have it for class Your bill writing group will be creating PSAs (for or against - your choice) on your bill. The storyboard is due Monday (remember to turn it into your media class). You will get 20 minutes to help plan it in class Friday. They will be due 4/21 at 10pm on facebook:
Fri 3/27	Senate Sim: Meet in Bill Writing Group: (Work on storyboard PSA), fill in the first section of the Senate Voting Guide based on your state's opinion (first section) by going to https://www.isidewith.com/polls. On some of the issues there wont be an opinion for every state so research the party position Meet in Party Caucuses Continue Lecture: Congress and its issues	Before class on Tuesday, put down your stances on all the bills on your senate bill slip. On the small line include a.) your personal view (for f or against A), b. view as a republican/democrat c. view of your state (on Isidewith) So it might look like this _F/A/70%F_ Start writing your speech for your bill topic. Remember, half of the bill writing group will be for the bill and half will be against. Speeches should be typed and about 1.5-2 pages typed double spaced (they are due Thursday) PSA Storyboards are due Monday at 10pm PSAs due on Tuesday night on Facebook (4/14 @10pm) Please include your bill number and group members in the credits (the credits can take you over 1 minutes) Don't forget to turn in your lecture notes from Wednesday and Friday. AP Watch and take notes on Crash Course Congressand upload them to canvas.
Tues 3/31	Brief Lecture: Congressional problems, oversight, and solutions Republican/Democratic Caucus Congressional Women's Caucus	Standing Committee Chairmen download and have handy or print out the bills in your committee the Format Sheet Be prepared with your senate simulation speech by Thursday AP Watch and take notes on Crash Course Congressional Leadership. This congress Study Guide might be helpful for the AP exam Read and take notes on earmarks. In your summary decide whether or not you think we should bring back earmarks. Remember that will increase the deficit.(due Friday -yes Friday work on your speeches for Thursday)
Thu 4/2	Continue Lecture on Congress and its problems Senate Simulation: President Addresses the Bills: Standing Committee Hearings and Party Caucuses	Make sure you are continuing to fill in your senate simulation Self Evaluation as we go For Extra Credit (up to 20pts): We are going to watch Just Mercy this week (due 4/13). Can we find a way to watch it together? Do the extra credit film form.
Mon 4/13	Lecture: Problems with Congress & Solutions Senate Simulation: Finish Standing Committee Hearings	Start preparing for Senate Floor debate PSA's are due tomorrow night on Canvas and Facebook Watch this 60minutes segment and take notes Go to new website AP Students: Join the AP Government Khan academy course and do Structures, powers, and functions of Congress by next Monday
Wed 4/15	NOTE for 2020 You should ignore the rest of this page and be on the new website Senate Floor Debate	Bring all of your senate simulation materials (don't forget your Self Evaluation) to class on Wed to turn in.
Fri 4/17	Lecture/Activity: Public Policy	Has the Congress been reduced to an advisory body?
Tues 4/21	Lecture/Activity: Public Policy Senior Project Defenses Continue Lecture: Congress and its issues Senate Sim: Party Caucuses and start committee hearings.
Thur 4/23	Senior Project Defenses
Fri 4/27	Lecture/Activity: Public Policy	Prep for Congress Quiz
Tues 4/29	Congress Quiz	Go to new website Print out your home management assignment and bring it to class.