4th Quarter Independent Study I

Rep. Paul Ryan has proposed a budget plan (last week).  Yesterday, President Obama proposed his budget plan.

1.  By Friday, please come up with a list of 10 key points in each plan and share with me at GoogleDocs.
2.  Be prepared on the Monday we return to discuss, in class, the Pros and Cons of each plan.
3.  For Thursday, 28 April, please write a 1-2 page position paper, explaining which you think is the better plan, and why.  You will need support and evidence from multiple sources to back up your position. 
4.  On Friday, 29 April, be prepared to discuss your position in class, and receive the next assignment.

Model Congress V--F Block Docket

The bills which will be considered in the Model Congress are here.

Model Congress V

In class on Thursday, Friday (F), Monday (G), and maybe Tuesday, please do the following with your class's Bill Packet:

____  research the issues in each bill
____  discuss with the bill's author his or her intent behind the bill
____  discuss with your party leadership and other party members your positions on the bill
____  discuss with other committee members any changes to the bill you think might need to be made
____  propose amendments formally by writing them down as follows:
          _____  title the document "An amendment to a bill to .... [fill in with the title of the bill]"
          _____  write out the entire section you want to change
          _____  if you want to delete words, cross them out like this
          _____  if you wish to add words, underline them like this
          _____  SHARE the amendment with me and with the other members of the committee
          _____  push the COmmittee chair to call a vote on the amendment
          _____  When the committee votes on an amendment, and the amendment passes, let me know  so that I can change the bill.

F Block Bill Packet  is found here.

G Block Bill Packet is found here.

____  prepare the speeches you will give in the Model Congress next week for or against each bill.

A congress speech should
____ be about two minutes long
____ contain 2-3 solid facts and sources supporting your arguement
____ should either give new information or respond to the arguments other representatives have made.

I anticipate that over the Model Congress (which ideally will be on Tuesday/Weds/Thurs of next week), everyone will speak at least 5 times.

Model Congress IV

Tuesday, 3/29--Bill Drafting
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Monday--Organization and Committee Meetings
Tuesday-Thursday of next week--Floor Debate on the bills

Bill Drafting.
Divide your bill into sections.  Each section should cover ONE thing.  The bill should include either a penalty for violation of or incentive to comply with the law.

Example:

Section 1.  All principals of schools receiving federal funding shall lead their schools in daily patriotic exercises.

Section 2.  These patriotic exercises may include reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the National Anthem or other patriotic song, reading the Declaration of Independence or Constitution, or other such America-affirming actions.

Section 3.  Failure to engage in such exercises shall result in the school losing 5% of its federal funding for each school day on which such exercises are not conducted, except in cases of emergency.

Please share your bill at GoogleDocs with the file name  <last name subject BILL>

Model Congress III-G Block

G Block

Each member of the class will take on one of the following roles during our Model Congress.  Part of your evaluation is based on how well you play your role; you will need to get a good sense of what a person with your role would think of various issues.

Democrats

1.      Massachusetts  liberal--Elizabeth
2.      Georgia conservative--Roisin
3.      Arizona moderate--A. Ray

4.      California Liberal--Cam
5.      Florida Liberal--Karyn

 

Republicans

6.  New Jersey Conservative--Paige
7.  California Moderate--Matt
8.  Georgia conservative--Jesse

9.  Texas conservative--Danny

10.  Montana Conservative--Stephanie

11.  Alabama Conservative--Amy

By the end of the weekend you should


____  have Model Congress I and II done
____  have a list of your top four choices (make sure you have at least one in each party) for roles
____  have done some background reading on political culture in your four possible states.


Roles will be assigned over the weekend here at the blog.  Bills will also be posted at GoogleDocs and linked here.


On Monday, the Republicans will elect the Speaker of the House, the Majority Whip, and the Chairs of the two committees.  The Democrats will elect the Minority Leader, the Minority Whip, and the Ranking Members of the two committees.

Model Congress III

F Block

Each member of the class will take on one of the following roles during our Model Congress.  Part of your evaluation is based on how well you play your role; you will need to get a good sense of what a person with your role would think of various issues.

Democrats

1.      Massachusetts  liberal--Hannah

2.      Illinois Moderate--Jason

3.      Colorado Moderate--Ashley

4.      California Liberal--Kaitin McD

5.      Florida Liberal--Haleigh

6.      Pennsylvania Liberal--Eliot

7.      Georgia conservative--Kayla

8.      Arizona moderate--Max

Republicans

9.    New York Moderate--Jess A

10.  Minnesota conservative--Sarah K

11.  Arizona Conservative--Ben

12.  Ohio Conservative--Sean

13.  New Jersey Conservative--Aidan

14.  California Moderate--Eddie W

15.  Georgia conservative--Ed N

16.  Texas conservative-Caitlin

17.  Montana Conservative-Grace

18.  Alabama Conservative--Sarah B.

By the end of Thursday you should


____  have Model Congress I and II done
____  have a list of your top four choices (make sure you have at least one in each party) for roles
____  have done some background reading on political culture in your four possible states.


Roles will be assigned over the weekend here at the blog.  Bills will also be posted at GoogleDocs and linked here.


On Monday, the Republicans will elect the Speaker of the House, the Majority Whip, and the Chairs of the two committees.  The Democrats will elect the Minority Leader, the Minority Whip, and the Ranking Members of the two committees.

Model Congress II

Once you have submitted your draft bill, please write a 1 page (double-spaced) argument explaining why the bill should be passed (think of this as the Speech you will give in the Congress for the bill).  The argument/speech should have some specific facts/statistics/quotations supporting your argument.

The bill and argument should be emailed by the end of class on Thursday (F) or Friday (G).