My Own Bill

Scenario:

You are a newly elected Member of Congress. It is up to you as to whether you are a Senator or a Representative from your State.  You made several important promises during your campaign and now that you have taken your seat, you need to show the constituents you represent that you are going to fulfill at least one of these promises with a bill you write and introduce into your chamber.

Directions:

1. Choose a topic for your bill:
   1. Envision the constituents that elected you
   2. Imagine that you have interacted with your constituents
   3. What’s making news?
   4. Look to other states
   5. Look to your own experience
   6. Look at current logs and regulations
   7. Use the internet
2. Research your bill topic:
   1. Look at existing law
   2. Explore various solutions to the issue
   3. Support your position with facts and figures
   4. Determine your support and opposition
3. When writing your bill:
   1. Ensure clarity, organization and accuracy
   2. Ensure you are creating law
   3. Anticipate questions and concerns
   4. Proofread and check grammar
4. Bill structure
5. Bill writing checklist

Some links that may help you understand how to write a bill:

• Congressional Bills Web site http://www.gpo.gov
• USA.gov is the front door to every government website.  http://www.usa.gov.
• Congressional Bills Search Tips Web Site  http://www.gpo.gov/help/index.html#simple_search.htm
• Thomas (Library of Congress) http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html

Review the Bill Writing Checklist. Using the Bill Structure document fill in all sections to write your bill.

To complete this assignment, you must submit the completed Bill Structure Document that clearly illustrates all components of a professionally written bill and address all required elements of the assignment listed in the grading criteria below.

The assignment must be submitted as a Word document. Include APA formatted title and reference page. Be sure to cite any references used in APA format..

Assignment 1 Grading Criteria Maximum Points Bill Topic: Provide a clear discussion and evaluation of the topic of the bill and include relevance and constituency affected.40 Bill Topic Research: Examine existing law; Explore various solutions to the issue; Support your position with facts and figures; Evaluate support and opposition to the bill.40Bill Content: Ensure clarity, organization and accuracy; Verify that law is being created; Anticipate questions and concerns.52Bill Structure
Each Bill must include the following:

• Title
• Name of sponsor
• Purpose
• Section on short title
• Section on definitions
• Section on how your bill will work
• Section on function
• Section on regulations
• Section on penalties
• Section on effective date

52 Bill Writing (see attached)
Review the Bill Writing Checklist to ensure that you have included everything in your bill.

• Clarity
  • Bill’s purpose
  • Definitions
  • Clear identification of terms
  • Appropriate terminology
• Conditions placed on bill
• Purpose section is clear and consistent throughout the bill
• What the bill is to do comes at the beginning
• Enactment clause
• Sections are consistent with no contradiction
  • Actions are clearly stated Research/Preparation
  • Solution proposed is appropriate to the problem
  • Solution is thorough and clear
  • Definitions are clear

50Written Components:
Organization (16 points)
Usage and mechanics (16 points)
Style (14 points)
APA elements (20 points) 66

Total:300