Writing Assistance Congressional Legislation— Introduction

Using the Spartan Writing Protocol (SWP)

Step 1: Read the task/question carefully.

Step 2: Circle key words and underline key concepts.

Throughout United States history, Congress has passed legislation to address important political, social, or economic issues. These laws have often had a significant impact on American society. Theme: Government (Congressional Legislation)

Select two laws passed by the United States Congress and for each Discuss the historical circumstances that led to the passage of the law Discuss the historical circumstances that led to the passage of the law Discuss the impacts of the law on American society Discuss the impacts of the law on American societyTask:

Discuss means “examine and talk about all sides of a subject or issue in a carefully organized manner.”

Step 3: Read the passage carefully

Step 4: Take notes that respond to the task/question

HOW FEDERAL LAWS GET MADE A bill has to be proposed in the House of Representatives A bill has to be proposed in the House of Representatives So many bills get proposed, that the House uses committees to decide which bills will get considered by the whole House So many bills get proposed, that the House uses committees to decide which bills will get considered by the whole House To move forward, it must be passed by a majority vote (+51%) To move forward, it must be passed by a majority vote (+51%) The proposed bill then has to go to the other house of Congress, called the Senate The proposed bill then has to go to the other house of Congress, called the Senate The Senate also uses committees to decide which bill get debated and voted on The Senate also uses committees to decide which bill get debated and voted on To move forward, it must pass there by a majority vote To move forward, it must pass there by a majority vote

HOW FEDERAL LAWS GET MADE The proposed bill then goes to the President of the United States, who can The proposed bill then goes to the President of the United States, who can Sign it and it becomes a law, or Sign it and it becomes a law, or Veto it and send it back to Congress Veto it and send it back to Congress Congress can override the President’s veto if they can pass it again with a 2/3 super majority vote Congress can override the President’s veto if they can pass it again with a 2/3 super majority vote Or the bill dies and never becomes a law Or the bill dies and never becomes a law

Step 5: Complete the Evidence and Analysis boxes on your Spartan Writing Template (SWT)

Step 6: Write your general lead.

General Lead According to the Constitution, only Congress has the power to make federal laws.

Step 7: Determine the relevancy of your evidence in supporting your claim.

Step 8: Complete a concluding sentence box (claim) on your Spartan Writing Template (SWT). Two important pieces of legislation passed by Congress were...

Step 9: Write your response (using the Spartan Writing Template [SWT])

Step 10: Self-Assess your paragraph using the Spartan Writing Rubric