Welcome to the sausage factory

1. Welcome to the sausage factory Grant High School Constitution Team http://wifflelevertofull.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/extracts-from-bobs-1984-diary-volume-248/

2. Warm Up Activity Take your elements of the legislative process and tape them on the back wall, in order. • Work together • Several elements may point to the same place • No duplicate elements at the same place It may help to think about the following “stages” in the legislative process: • Idea Stage • Drafting • Introduction • Senate Action

3. EXAMPLE Stage # ____ Input Input Input Input Input Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Input Input Input

4. Steps in the Legislative Process STAGE # 1: Idea Formation • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.) STAGE # 2: Drafting a Bill • Staff writes a draft bill • Legislative Counsel rewrite • Consult stakeholders STAGE # 3: Bill Introduction • Introduce bill • Parliamentarian rules • Committee Assigned • Subcommittee Assigned

5. Legislative Process -- continued (2) STAGE # 4: Senate Action • Committee or Subcommittee Hearing • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.) • Committee Markup • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.) • Committee Vote • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.)

6. Legislative Process -- continued (3) • Committee reports on bill • Leadership negotiates floor time 1) Unanimous Consent agreement, OR 2) Floor time (debate) • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.) • Cloture vote • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.)

7. Legislative Process -- continued (4) • Vote on amendments • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.) • Vote on final passage • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.) • Conference Committee • Constituents • Special Interests (lobbyists, stakeholders, grassroots organizations, etc.) • News article about an issue • Administration (President, OMB, federal agencies, etc.)

8. “Laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion as we know how they are made.”John Godfrey Saxe, American poet (1816 – 1887) http://www.uncrate.com/men/culture/food/harry-david-international-sausage-sampler/

9. Notebook AssignmentTitle: Welcome to the sausage factory Individually, take 5 minutes to answer the following questions: • What would you change about the legislative process? • Why would you make that change? • What is the outcome you are seeking by making changes? (bullet points, outline, or rough notes are fine)

10. Pair Share • Pair up with someone near you. Take turns discussing your answers. • After each partner has shared their answer, try to identify some possible unintended consequences of making your proposed changes. • When you are done, draft a short essay answering the questions. • What would you change about the legislative process? • Why would you make that change? • What is the outcome you are seeking by making changes? • Complete the essay as homework if not completed in class. http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm