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Interactive
iCivics

I Civics: Games: Lawcraft

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Interactive game that takes the student through the law-making process. Pick a member of Congress and an issue, then see what is necessary to get the bill passed and made into law.
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Activity
Other

Project Vote Smart: How a Bill Becomes a Law

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Project Vote Smart provides a detailed guide to the process of making a bill become a law. Content also includes links for more explanation on certain topics.
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Website
Other

Dirksen Center: Resource: How to Communicate Effectively With Congress

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Resource provides expert tips for reaching your Congress person. Describes the role of Congressmen and women and what they can and can't do for citizens. Site for students and others to better understand Congress.
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Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: How Our Laws Are Made

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This page provides links to every step in the legislative process, from sources of legislation through publication.
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Lesson Plan
Other

National Council for the Social Studies: Cloture Motion to Cease Debate

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Using the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 as an example, students will understand the congressional procedures of cloture and filibuster. An in-depth article on how a filibuster was used during debate on this bill, the actual signed cloture...
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Activity
Other

Project Vote Smart: How a Bill Becomes a Law

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Project Vote Smart provides a detailed guide to the process of making a bill become a law. Content also includes links for more explanation on certain topics.
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Unit Plan
Indiana University

Center on Congress: Learn About Congress

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Learn about the role of the US Congress, how it works, its history, and the principles behind its creation and operation. Wonderful set of resources including FAQs, short articles and video clips, "interactive learning modules" (i.e., a...
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Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives: Advanced

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource from Khan Academy provides questions about the Senate and the House of Representatives. This lesson is intended for students taking a high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP...
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Voting in Congress

For Teachers 9th - 10th
n this lesson, students learn what factors members of Congress consider when deciding whether to vote for a bill, including the powers given to Congress by the Constitution, what a member's constituents want, his or her political party's...
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Website
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Legislatures and Democracy Recap: The Lawmakers

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
You are a congressperson trying to pass your education bill. Join in the extensive public debate, committee work, and parliamentary maneuvering necessary to achieve majority legislative support for your bill.
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Activity
US Government Publishing Office

U.s. Government Publishing Office: Congressional Bills

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The government directory for making current and past bills accessible to the public. Very useful for finding bills pertinent to classes. Will require teacher direction at the elementary levels.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: The Legislative Process: Congress at Work

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Students will analyze historical records of the House and Senate to understand the sequence of steps in the legislative process. The students will work collaboratively to study documents and identify the step in the process that each...
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Handout
Other

Mine Safety and Health Administration: How a Bill Becomes a Law

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
This website provides a very simple walk-through of how a bill becomes a law, with minimal explanation.
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Activity
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: The Legislative Branch: Making Laws

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Discover how laws are made in the United States, and then complete the trivia questions as a follow-up activity.
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Primary
Other

Schoolhouse Rock: I'm Just a Bill

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from Schoolhouse Rock provides the lyrics to a song from History Rock. Follow the trek of this little bill, all the way to becoming a full-fledged law. This comes from the popular 1970s cartoon series, Schoolhouse Rock.