iCivics: Lawcraft

Who represents me?

Pre-Game Activities

1. What is it?

●NO! All of our states are very different. Even within a
state, different districts have different needs.

●For example, in a rural area, they may want more
money for farmers. But in an urban district, they may
want more money for public transportation. And yet,
both may be from the same state!

Representation

The elected officials (people you vote for) in Washington
D.C. represent the needs and interests of the people in
their districts when they are making laws.

2. Is it easy?

Tonya’s issue

●What is her issue?

Air pollution!

●Tonya lives in a big city, or urban
area. The main jobs are in tech
companies, city government and
tourism.

Air pollution in cities across America is
rising to dangerous levels, especially
impacting people who are already sick.
Who can help?

Districts & Demographics

Tonya’s district (area where she lives)is urban and
diverse. Let’s look at the demographics from Tonya’s
district and answer the questions.

1.

Which group would be most likely to support a bill to
limit air pollution?

2.

Do you think it’s a popular issue in this district?

3.

Should she write to her representative in Congress
about it? Why?

demographics: qualities (such as
age, gender, and income) of a
specific group of people

U.S. Congress

How can Tonya’s idea about limiting air pollution become a law?

The Senate
Senators represent
the needs of the
entire state.

The House of
Representatives
Members work for
the people in a
specific section of
their state called a
district.

Let’s find out!

The United States Congress, in Washington D.C., is the lawmaking branch of our
government and it is bicameral (made up of two chambers).

The Lawmaking Process

Mini Lesson

Let’s start with an idea...

●The rough draft of a law is called a bill. Bills can start in either chamber of
Congress.

idea

bill

law

●Laws start as an idea. They represent something people in a certain district
or area need.

●But if all the representatives have different interests or needs, how do laws
ever get made?

Through compromise!

Crafting a Bill

●

Tonya’s representative introduced the idea. It became a bill.

●

Because in order for a bill to become law, it has
to pass the House and the Senate. So, it must
meet the needs of people from different states.

●

But to get it passed in Congress, other ideas (or clauses) need
to be added to that bill.

Why?

Why?

●

By adding clauses, representatives can better represent their
people. The more clauses, the more people are represented.

The lawmaking process...

Tonya’s representative received her letter and likes the idea!

STEP 1. The idea is introduced by the representative. It
then becomes a bill.

STEP 2.Hearings are held to help Congress learn more
about the issue.

STEP 3. Both houses of Congress deliberate on the
contents of the bill.

STEP 4. Call for Vote: The bill must pass both chambers of
Congress to go to the president.

STEP 5. The bill heads over to the white house for
presidential review. If it is signed, it becomes a law. If it is
vetoed, Congress can override it with a supermajority.

My LawCraft district

My district

Demographics

My bill

Brief description:

Age:

Density:

Income:

Topic:

Will people in my district
support my bill?

Why or why not?

Fill in the chart with details about the district
you chose as you play the game. (Use the 1/2 sheet you were given in class)

Want to make a law? Pick an issue take it all the
way through the lawmaking process.

Play in English

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OR

Next...

Represent Me!

Post-Game Activities

Drag and Drop

1. An ​

Placeholder

​ is introduced by the representative. It then becomes a ​

Placeholder

​ .

2. ​

Placeholder

​ are held to help ​

Placeholder

learn more about the issue.

3. Both houses of Congress ​​

Placeholder

or discuss the contents of the bill.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

idea

bill

Hearings

Congress

deliberate

Vote

pass

signed

law

Drag and Drop

4. Call for ​​

Placeholder

: The bill must ​

Placeholder

​ both chambers of

Congress to go to the president.

5. The bill heads over to the White House for presidential review. If it is

​

Placeholder

​ , it becomes a ​​

Placeholder

.​

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Vote

pass

signed

law

idea

bill

Hearings

Congress

deliberate

Draw

Rank the people who could speak on your bill from 1 (the least

helpful) to 5 (the most helpful).

Open Ended

Congress has two parts. What are they? What is the difference between them?

Open Ended

How did your constituents feel about your bill? Were you surprised?

Open Ended

Why do you think the process involves adding and removing so many clauses?

Open Ended

How is the lawmaking process affected by different people’s values?

Know your district!

What does your home district (8th

District) look like?
Create a fact sheet. (Use the paper

handed out in class)

Include:
1)

A description of your district

2)

Demographics (pie charts!
percentages!)

3)

Who represents you in Congress

4)

List a few bill ideas or topics that
might interest your community
based on the data.

Mini-Quiz

Test Your Knowledge

Multiple Choice

Members of the House of Representatives

represent...

• A. entire states

• B. a region with a number of states.

• C. a district within a state

Multiple Choice

2) Members of the Senate represent

• A. entire states

• B. the whole country

• C. a district within a state

Multiple Choice

In order to become a law, a bill must pass:

• A. Only the House

• B. Only the Senate

• C. Both the House and Senate

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

Members of the Congress represent the

voters back home. These voters are called:

• A. employees

• B. constituents

• C. supporters

Multiple Choice

An area established by the government for

representation and official government business

is called a ______________ .

• A. demographic

• B. representative

• C. district

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

What is the lowest percent of support a bill

can receive and still pass the House or Senate?

• A. 33%

• B. 51%

• C. 67%

Multiple Choice

If the House and Senate version of a bill don’t

agree, it goes to the Supreme Court to decide.

• A. True

• B. False

Multiple Choice

The President of the United States has the

final say on whether a bill becomes a law.

• A. True

• B. False