Instructional Resources

LegSim is a virtual legislature simulation designed for university, community college, and high school AP/Government courses. This page links to recommended resources and sample assignments for instructors of courses at these levels. If you have questions or comments, contact us at support(dot)legsim(dot)org.

Index of Resource Topics
Government Organizations

House of Representatives

Senate

White House

USA.gov
A public clearinghouse for information about government agencies and programs, ordered by topic. Excellent resource for finding government statistics.

Foundations and Procedure

Legislative Procedure begins with the U.S. Constitution. Each chamber is also governed by formal rules as well as precedents that have developed over centuries.

U.S. Constitution
Excellent web resource from the National Archives.

An Overview of the Legislative Process

House of Representatives Parliamentary Procedures

Senate Parliamentary Procedure and Enactment of a Law

Additional House Procedure Resources
Additional procedural resources are located at the bottom of this page

House Committee Jurisdictions
Which committee has jurisdiction over a bill? See Rule X of the House Rules (begins on page 8 for the 110th).

Senate Committees and their Jurisdictions

Members, their Districts, their States

Biographical Directory of Members of Congress
Type in a name or state to find out more about individual members since 1789.

House and Senate Member websites
Member websites typically include a constituency description, in addition to information about priorities and activities

Almanac of American Politics Michael Barone and Richard Cohen [JK1012.A44]. Concise descriptions of the demographic, and political characteristics of states and districts. NationalJournal.com also offers it on-line for subscribers.

Politics in America Jackie Koszczuk and Amy H. Stern [JK1012.C63]. Similar to the Almanac. CQ.com also offers it on-line for subscribers.

Census Factfinder
Summarizes demographics by Congressional District and State.

The Districting Game
An on-line interactive game illustrating redistricting strategy.

Legislative and Member Activity

Resume of Congressional Activity
Summarizes the lawmaking activities of each Congress going back to 1947. Illustrates the range of activities Congress is responsible for, and changing activity patterns across time.

Bill and amendment sponsorship and cosponsorship activity organized by legislator
Which members are most active any why? Drill down to learn more about the content of bills sponsored and cosponsored.

Library of Congress THOMAS Website
THOMAS allows students to research bills and their histories back to 1973. A wealth of information but it is worth scheduling a lab session to teach students how to navigate the site.

Open Congress
A new public access website that tracks and reports on congressional activity. Can easily search recent legislation by subject, sponsor etc.

Congressional Bills Project
A database of all congressional bills introduced since 1947. The 'Trends' page offers graphs on bill sponsorship and success patterns over time.

Making sense of the Federal Budget

National Budget Simulation
Breaks the federal budget down into major and minor categories. We have designed several Budgeting Exercises around this resource.

Federal Budget of the United States
THE source for the details about federal government revenues and expenditures.

Policy Agendas Project
Information about long term national policy trends, including spending by policy area over the past 50 years, at your fingertips.

How Bills are drafted in Congress

Where do lawmakers come up with their legislative ideas? Who helps them convert ideas into sensible legislation?

Bill Writing Overview for Students
Provided by Professor Jeff Peake

Committee Report Overview for Students
Provided by Professor Jeff Peake

Introducing a Bill or Resolution
Congressional Research Primer for Members of Congress contains useful tips for students as well.

How our Laws Are Made: A Ghost Writer's View
Insiders perspective on the role of professional staff in the bill drafting process.

Naming Post Offices through Legislation
This report describes the history of one common credit claiming activity - naming post offices! [For more information about the substance of bills, visit www.congressionalbills.org.]

Researching Legislative Issues

Congressional Quarterly Almanac [JK1.C66]
The Almanac summarizes a year's important legislative actions and can be searched by subject. It is respected for its objectivity.

The Green Book
Publication of the House Ways and Means Committee that helps members get up to speed on some of the most important social programs. Searchable by topic.

USA.gov
A public clearinghouse for information about government agencies and contemporary programs, ordered by topic.

Issue Primers

We have been building issue primers for use in classes and simulation where students are asked to research issues and possibly draft legislation. More to come!

Immigration Primer

Human Rights Primer

Campaign Finance Primer

Stem Cell Research Primer

Climate Change Primer

Advocacy and Public Policymaking Project
Detailed case histories of a randomly selected set of public policy issues (e.g. the estate tax). Background summaries and links to extensive documentation (e.g. congressional hearings, new stories, statements by associations etc).

Facts on File (Issues and Controversies)
Facts on File is a subscription service, but if your school has it, the Issues and Controversies section is an outstanding source for background information on most public policy issues.

Other Web-based Resources

A number of non-profit organizations have excellent k-12 teaching resources.

The Dirksen Congressional Center

Center on Congress

Youth Leadership Foundation

Errata

Virtual Washington D.C.
A graphical representation of Washington D.C. where clicking on a building takes you to the website for that department, legislature, museum etc.

IDEAlog
Students answer 20 questions and find out where they are in a 2x2 tabe of ideological types. They can then compare their positions to other students in the class or the general public.

Fantasy Congress
On-line game where students consider indicators of legislative effectiveness, and compete to construct the most effective team of real world legislators. Good stuff!

A 44" x 33" Wall Map of the 109th Congressional Districts
Order from GPO for $9.00 plus shipping (product 003-024-09059-7) Download a PDF version from US Census. The Census also provides demographic information at the state or congressional district level

Gavel for the Speaker
Wooden mallets can be found at hardware stores for about $10.

Suggestions? Please contact us at support@legsim.org.
LegSim Tutorials and Syllabi

The LegSim Manual
**Recommended.** This 100 page document includes many of the guides and teaching resources listed below.

LegSim Instructor Guide
Introduction to how LegSim works.

Congress Quick Guide
Suggestions for integrating LegSim into a US Politics course.

Congress Tool tips
User Assistance Reference.

Editable Congress Member Tutorial
Instructors may wish to distribute and review in class.

Editable Congress Leader Tutorial
Instructors may wish to distribute and review in class.

Sample College Syllabus
Just one example of how to pace a LegSim simulation in a 10 week (quarter long) class. Other sample syllabi available on request (support@legsim.org).

Another Sample College Syllabus
Provided by Professor Jeff Peake

High School/Advanced Placement Govt I
Describes how LegSim is used as part of a year long AP Government course

High School/Advanced Placement Govt II
Describes how LegSim is used during the 5 week interval after students have completed the AP exam and the end of the school year.

European Parliament Tutorials and Syllabi

The European Parliament version of LegSim was developed with the assistance of Kyle Galler (Secretariat of the European Council). Professor John Keeler was instrumental in getting the project off the ground.

European Union Quick Guide
Suggestions for integrating LegSim into a European Politics course.

European Union Tool tips
User Assistance Reference.

Example of European Union Course Syllabus
Provided by Professor Eric Hines, University of Montana.

State Legislature Tutorials and Syllabi

Professor Ronald C. Hedlund (Northeastern University), who has been using LegSim in a State and Local Government course for several years, is generously sharing the materials he has developed.

LegSim Rules of Procedure for State and Local Government course

LegSim overview for State and Local Government course

Syllabus for State and Local Government course

Student Assignments for State and Local Government course

LegSim Assignment Resources

Please review the Teacher's Quick Guide for more information about these assignment suggestions.

Editable Rubric for on-line assignments
Rubrics can be helpful for setting expectations regarding assignments. This seems especially important in non-conventional learning environments such as simulations.

Sample essay questions
Using on-line assignment tools to encourage students to make connections between course subjects and their simulation experiences.

Representing a District
Suggestions for activities related to constructing member profiles, posing journal questions, and illustrating concepts of representation.

Appreciating the Rules
On-line procedural quizzes. Referenced in the Teacher's Quick Guide.

Bill Drafting
Suggestions for teaching students about bill substance and strategy.

Coalition Building and Deliberation
Introducing students to legislative strategy and preparing them for floor debate.

Budgeting Exercises
Activities that inform students about the national budget and government spending priorities.

Final Report on Legislative Accomplishments
A final essay assignment that encourages students to consider the political consequences of their legislative actions.

Creating Campaign Posters using Powerpoint
This link provides a basic guide to creating campaign posters using PowerPoint. The posters can be part of the final report assignment referenced above.

Textbook suggestions

If you don't have a preference for a Congress text, here are some good ones.

Congress: Games and Strategy Stephen Franzitch [JK1041.F68]. An accessible text that fits with students' strategic orientations during a simulation. Available electronically and as a text with supplemental on-line activities (334 pages)

Congress and Its Members Roger Davidson and Walter Oleszek [JK1061.D29]. The best selling Congress textbook in its umpteenth edition. Comprehensive (544 pages).

Congress Reconsidered Lawrence Dodd and Bruce Oppenheimer [JK1061.C57]. Another leading textbook (452 pages).

The Contemporary Congress Burton Loomis and Wendy Schiller [JK1021.L66]. A newer, shorter, very readable textbook by two respected scholars (224 pages).

The American Congress Steve Smith, Jason Roberts and Ryan Vander Weilen [JK1041.S65]. Another first class text (458 pages).

Analyzing Congress Charles Stewart [JK1021.S74]. Dated but unique for its rational choice perspective (published in 2000).

Insider Perspectives suggestions

Students appreciate reading about the legislative process from an insider's perspective.

Dance of Legislation Eric Redman [KF4980.R4]. Terrific tale of legislating written from an undergraduate's perspective. Although it was written in the 1960's, students in college and high school love this book.

Inside the Statehouse Ralph G. Wright [F55.22.W75]. Wonderful political autobiography of the Speaker of the Vermont Statehouse during the 1980s and 1990s. As with Redman, full of practical insights that students won't find in a textbook.

The Challenge of Legislation John Hilley [jk1021.h52]. Behind the scenes account of the budget negotation process in 1997 by President Clinton's chief legislative lobbyist. This is the book if you want to know how it happened, but it may be too detailed for some courses.

How Congress Works and Why You Should Care Lee Hamilton [JK1021.H36]. Easy to read primer that begins from the (undoubtedly correct) perspective that the public doesn't really appreciate what members of Congress do and how they do it. Hamilton offers a longstanding member's perspective.

From Inspiration to Legislation Amy Black [KF4945.B53]. A recent, well written academic book about how the 2001 Safe Havens bill became law. A good choice for an AP or college level AG course where only one (short) book on legislative process can be assigned (126 pages).

Multimedia suggestions

House and Senate Chamber Tours (C-Span Video)
C-Span also has introductions to the two chambers that students can watch on the web. Great history and commentary by members and staff (about 18 minutes).

We are aware of only one documentary film tracing legislative idea from a bill to a law. Do you know of any others?

H.R. 6161: An Act of Congress
An informative film about the legislative process from the 1970s. Covers House consideration of the Clean air Act Amendments of 1977. Dated but good (young Al Gore etc). Available on Video for about $20.

Campaign films

Taking on the Kennedys
U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy's first campaign for the U.S. House. Entertaining and useful for illustrating advantages of name recognition, early money and what it takes to attract media and public attention in House campaigns. Students can watch and discuss the Campaign Ads. [May be available in video stores.]

Street Fight
An excellent recent film about a Mayoral race in New Jersey between a seasoned machine politician and an ambitious challenger. The Lesson Plan is helpful for framing class discussions. [May be available in video stores.]

Legislative Branch Topics (C-Span Video)
C-Span has a long and frequently updated list of web-based videos on current issues. These can be great for illustrating different aspects of the legislative process.