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**Congratulations!** You have just been elected to Congress! The people shared the same concerns you have for many of America’s current social problems and believed you to be the best candidate for getting those problems fixed. Now that you have been elected, it is time to begin work of the people. That will begin with crafting a legislative bill on one of the social issues you campaigned upon and presenting that bill to the Congress for debate. Your ability to draft a bill that is Constitutional, able to adequately address the problem, and get passed into law will determine whether America becomes a better nation and you as a politician get re-elected.

**Objective - Write and present a legislative bill meant to solve an issue/problem in today’s society.** = = = Phase 1: Planning & Research =

**Step 1 - Identify the issue/problem.** What do you believe are the biggest social ills/problems in America that need to be addressed? Take a moment to think about what are some of the __major causes__ of those problems and how could a well written law keep those problems from occurring.


 * [[file:American Social Issues.pages]]

Brainstorm handout: Social Issues Resources:
 * [[file:List of New California Laws for 2012.docx]]
 * Project America
 * [|Social Issues] (Wikipedia)
 * [|Global Issues] (American focus, not a global focus)
 * [|UC Berkeley - Social, Political, & Economic Issues in America]

to help you identify and narrow down a topic, it might be helpful to search for recent articles that are related to you topic in major news journals: [|Good Politics] [|Politico] [|Huffington Post] [|Drudge Report] [|The Hill] [|Washington Times] [|New York Times] [|NPR] [|Time Magazine] [|Newsweek Magazine]

Here are some articles, just as examples, that might prompt you to think of specific legislation that could be created to solve the various problems presented in the article //(these are __**models only**__, please find your own news articles to use to help you come up with your own legislation, as demonstrated in class)//

[|First grader dies from allergic reaction at school]

[|Junk Food ads target teens]

[|Confronting San Francisco's Homelessness problem]

[|High sugar content in breakfast cereals exceeds many high sugar desserts]

Some additional helpful links: [|Crowdsource searching help]

[|... with an example of searching topic "childhood hunger in united states"]

**Step 2 - Research the issue while identifying the following:** ** (Graded) ** Gain an understanding of the problem and be able to describe it fully in detail. Use the bullet points below to help you focus your research. Download the Social Issues Graphic Organizer page to keep track of all of your research and your arguments for/against.
 * Statistics about prevalence of use.
 * Background to the issue.
 * Arguments used to support your side (Why should the issue be addressed?)
 * Arguments opposing your side (Why is your solution incorrect? Why is the issue not worth addressing?)
 * Rebuttals (challenges) to your position (How can you answer your critics?)

Resources:
 * Social Issues Graphic Organizer

How to make citations correctly: ==

Create your own blog (if you don't have one already):

http://dmwiki.reedschools.org

**Step 3 - Video Blog Reflection (Graded) ** Due date: Sunday, January ?? before 3:00 pm - //__**YOUR RESEARCH WILL ALSO BE our first day back at school**__//



A) Blog Entry - Demonstrate your critical thinking by addressing the following points on your blog in video reflection. (2 min. max)

** Blog Title - SIP Reflection I ** ** Tags - byrnehistory8, effective communicator, sip **
 * 1) What issue or problem are you considering for your project?
 * 2) What prompted you to select this issue/problem?
 * 3) __** What have you learned from your research so far? **__
 * 4) What do you need to do next?

= Phase 2: Writing the Bill =

Hundreds of thousands of new laws go into effect each year at both the state and federal level as a result of the same process you are currently going through in the construction of your own legislative bill. Click on the link below to view examples of new state laws going into effect for the year 2012. As you look through these laws, ask yourself, "What problem does this law try to fix?" and "How does the law fit/not fit your vision of America and idea of government?"
 * [|10 Notable New California Laws for 2012]
 * [|New Illinois Laws for 2012]

**Step 1 - State & Federal Bill Search** Are you writing an __original bill__? Use the links below to do a search of existing federal or California state legislative bills. Look up possible examples by doing a search of the key words associated with your social issue (i.e. "child abuse" "gun" "immigration").

Resources
 * ** California State Legislature Bill Search ** (State)
 * [|Library of Congress THOMAS Bill Search] (Federal)
 * Social Issues Graphic Organizer

**Step 2 - Begin to draft your legislative bill using your** Social Issues Graphic Organizer **to organize your work. Use the questions below to help guide your thinking with regards to the specific details of your bill.**
 * What are you going to name your bill?
 * What are the circumstances/statistics in American society that demonstrate the need for your bill?
 * What are the specific directions/commands/instructions/context the bill needs to include so that it can be properly executed and carried out?
 * Who is responsible for enforcing your bill (law enforcement, business owners, states, judges, corporations, banks, etc.)?
 * What's the penalty, fine, or punishment for not following the directions or commands within the bill?

**Step 3 -Bill Writing** ** (Graded) **

Use your research from Phase 1 and and **Step One** and **Step Two** of **Phase 2** to complete the bill writing template located below.

Key Reminders:
 * //Will your bill be filed as a state or federal bill? Be able to explain the rationale behind this decision.//
 * //The bill should contain only one central idea. Avoid putting two ideas into one topic.//
 * //The bill must be debatable.//
 * //The bill must call for a change in current policy or practice.//

Resources: 

**Step 4 - Blog Reflection (Graded) ** Due date: January ?? by THE BEGINNING OF CLASS TIME TUESDAY!!



A) Blog Entry - Demonstrate your critical thinking by addressing the following points on your blog in video reflection (2 min. max) ** Blog Title - SIP Reflection II **  ** Tags - byrnehistory8, effective communicator, sip **
 * 1) Introduce the issue/problem.
 * 2) Describe the details of your bill and how it will work.
 * 3) What details within the bill might others oppose?
 * 4) Explain why your solution is the best answer to the problem

= Phase 3: Political Parties & Compromise =

**Step 1 - Modern Day Political Parties**

A) Which way do you lean politically? Click on the link below and answer the questions in the survey to the best of your ability. Political Philosophy Survey

B) Examine the political parties of today and become familiar with the philosophy of each and the stance they take on various issues. Be prepared to answer the following questions in your research graphic organizer ( Social Issues Graphic Organizer ) and to discuss more fully in your final class presentation:
 * Which political party would most favor supporting your legislative bill? Why?
 * Which political party would be most opposed? Why?
 * What compromises might you have to make to your bill in order to satisfy their interests?

Resources:
 * Republican National Committee
 * [|Democratic National Committee]
 * Tea Party.org
 * [|Green Party.org]
 * [|Libertarian Party.org]
 * On The Issues - Where political leaders stand on various issues

C) Floor Debate: Prepare for your :90 second legislative rebuttal using the template below.

**Step 2 - Blog Reflection** ** (Graded) ** Due date: January ?? by 3:00 pm



A) Blog Entry - Demonstrate your critical thinking by addressing the following points on your blog in video reflection . (2 min. max) ** Blog Title - SIP Reflection III **  ** Tags - byrnehistory8, effective communicator, sip **
 * 1) Which political party of today would support your bill? Which political party of today would oppose your bill. Explain why.
 * 2) Based on the political philosophies and ideas of today’s political parties, identify the changes/compromise you would have to make to your original bill in order for it to gain approval from Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party members.

= Phase 4: Presentation - due 2/??/13! =

**Step 1 - Become familiar with the IGNITE presentation format.** See resources listed at the bottom of the page.
 * 12 slides auto-advancing every 20 seconds
 * 4 minutes total

**Step 2 - Tell the __story__ of your legislative bill.** ** (Graded) **


 * [|IGNITE Project Rubric]
 * [[file:Rubric_Notes11_12.docx]]

media type="custom" key="12432918"

Prepare to address the following topics in your IGNITE presentation. a. What have you learned about trying to fix the problems on our society through our government system? b. Did the structure of the US government help or hinder you in your attempt o address an issue / problem in today's society? Explain.
 * 1) Describe the issue/problem in society.
 * 2) Explain your solution to the problem (legislative bill) and why you believe it is the best solution.
 * 3) Discuss the changes or compromises that would have to be made to the bill in order to get your bill passed by both House and Senate?
 * 4) Describe how the popular political parties of today would either support or oppose your bill and why.
 * 5) What you have learned about the legislative law-making process in our government(how a bill becomes a law)

=IGNITE Presentation Resources=

Photo Image Search Engines
 * [|Flickr Creative Commons]
 * [|Wylio Commons]
 * [|CompFight Image Search]

Ignite Tips media type="custom" key="8311200"
 * ** [|Ignite Presentation Tips] ** View more [|webinars] from [|Ignite Phoenix].
 * IGNITE MODELS:**

IGNITE Presentation examples


 * IGNITE Seattle - How to buy a new car

Search for additional IGNITE presentations: http://igniteshow.com/



//PREVIOUS YEARS...//** CURRENT SOCIAL ISSUES PROJECT 09-10