CongressDays.5

Congress Day 5 - Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Today we started the process of **each person drafting his/her own bill**. You'll be taking up some issue of current or recent policy - anything since 1980. It does not have to be in your committee's area of expertise! You can sponsor a bill about anything. You can also co-sponsor a bill with someone else (no more than two people on a bill, please).

**For our next Congress Day (4/14), finish your legislation and get it to me or put it in the "hopper" in class.**
I need it by Monday 4/11 at midnight so I can "publish" them to the Congress before Congress Day 6.

[|Here's a short overview/explanation of how a bill becomes a law]

[|And here's a more in-depth explanation in case you want more]

See also: [|Building a Bill in Congress for Dummies]

In committees, brief each other/brainstorm on issues and pieces of legislation your committee has dealt with since 1980. Learn about/ discuss any bills that your Committee has held hearings on, or is in markup, or have reported this year. You can find that out from your committee's page (remember some committees are in both House and Senate) or from [|OpenCongress.org] Plan, discuss and agree on at least one issue that you'd like to propose as a new law (more than one is okay too). Begin drafting your bill or joint resolution. You can work in groups or committees if you choose, but everyone should draft his/her own bill or joint resolution.
 * Today's tasks:**

A **Bill** outlines specific policy actions to take. A **Resolution** offers an official position on an issue, often used for matters outside the direct control of the Congress.

[|Here's advice on writing a bill from Princeton Model Congress] along with 2 sample bills you can use as models Use this bill template for your legislation: [|(Word Doc download here)]

Preamble - this tells how things are now, and begins with "Whereas..." Body - with sections (for each new idea) and subsections. Some bills also have a "definitions" section for key terms used in the bill Enactment Clause - this tells when it will take effect
 * All bills have three parts:**


 * How to start:**

For the establishment, etc. [as the title may be]. //Be it enacted by the House of Congress of the United States of America in Congress assembled//, That, etc.
 * A BILL**

The form of a House joint resolution is as follows:

Authorizing, etc. [as the title may be]. //Resolved by the House of Congress of the United States of America in Congress assembled,// That, etc.
 * JOINT RESOLUTION**