Writing AssistanceWriting Assistance

Congressional Legislation—Congressional Legislation—IntroductionIntroduction

Using the Spartan Using the Spartan Writing Protocol Writing Protocol

(SWP)(SWP)

Step 1:Step 1: Read the Read the task/question task/question carefully.carefully.

Step 2:Step 2: Circle key Circle key words and underline words and underline key concepts.key concepts.

Throughout United States history, Throughout United States history, Congress has passed legislation to Congress has passed legislation to address important political, social, or address important political, social, or economic issues. These laws have economic issues. These laws have often had a significant impact on often had a significant impact on American society.American society.

Theme: Government (Congressional Theme: Government (Congressional Legislation)Legislation)

Select two laws passed by the United Select two laws passed by the United States Congress and for eachStates Congress and for each•Discuss the historical circumstances Discuss the historical circumstances that led to the passage of the lawthat led to the passage of the law•Discuss the impacts of the law on Discuss the impacts of the law on American societyAmerican society

Task:Task:

Discuss means “examine and Discuss means “examine and talk about all sides of a talk about all sides of a subject or issue in a carefully subject or issue in a carefully organized manner.”organized manner.”

Step 3:Step 3: Read the Read the passage carefullypassage carefully

Step 4:Step 4: Take notes Take notes that respond to the that respond to the task/questiontask/question

HOW FEDERAL LAWS GET MADEHOW FEDERAL LAWS GET MADE•A bill has to be proposed in the House of A bill has to be proposed in the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives• So many bills get proposed, that the House uses So many bills get proposed, that the House uses

committees to decide which bills will get committees to decide which bills will get considered by the whole Houseconsidered by the whole House

• To move forward, it must be passed by a majority To move forward, it must be passed by a majority vote (+51%)vote (+51%)

•The proposed bill then has to go to the other house of The proposed bill then has to go to the other house of Congress, called the SenateCongress, called the Senate• The Senate also uses committees to decide which The Senate also uses committees to decide which

bill get debated and voted on bill get debated and voted on • To move forward, it must pass there by a majority To move forward, it must pass there by a majority

votevote

HOW FEDERAL LAWS GET MADEHOW FEDERAL LAWS GET MADE•The proposed bill then goes to the President of the The proposed bill then goes to the President of the United States, who canUnited States, who can• Sign it and it becomes a law, orSign it and it becomes a law, or• Veto it and send it back to CongressVeto it and send it back to Congress• Congress can override the President’s veto if Congress can override the President’s veto if

they can pass it again with a 2/3 super majority they can pass it again with a 2/3 super majority votevote

• Or the bill dies and never becomes a lawOr the bill dies and never becomes a law

Step 5:Step 5: Complete the Complete the Evidence and Analysis Evidence and Analysis boxes on your Spartan boxes on your Spartan Writing Template Writing Template (SWT)(SWT)

Step 6:Step 6: Write your Write your general lead.general lead.

General LeadGeneral Lead

According to the According to the Constitution, only Congress Constitution, only Congress has the power to make has the power to make federal laws.federal laws.

Step 7:Step 7: Determine the Determine the relevancy of your relevancy of your evidence in supporting evidence in supporting your claim.your claim.

Step 8:Step 8: Complete a concluding Complete a concluding sentence box (claim) on your sentence box (claim) on your Spartan Writing Template (SWT).Spartan Writing Template (SWT).

Two important pieces of legislation Two important pieces of legislation passed by Congress were...passed by Congress were...

Step 9:Step 9: Write your Write your response (using the response (using the Spartan Writing Spartan Writing Template [SWT])Template [SWT])

Step 10:Step 10: Self-Assess Self-Assess your paragraph using your paragraph using the Spartan Writing the Spartan Writing RubricRubric