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

Dear Colleague Letters: Congressional Research Service Primer
Dear Colleague Letters: Example

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.

Sample College Syllabus
Another Sample College Syllabus
High School/Advanced Placement Govt I
High School/Advanced Placement Govt II

European Parliament Tutorials and Syllabi

The European Parliament version of LegSim was developed with the assistance of Kyle Galler (Secretariat of the European Council) and Professor John Keeler.

European Union Quick Guide
Suggestions for integrating LegSim into a European Politics course.
European Union Tool tips
European Union Course Syllabus

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

A NOTE ON ASSIGNMENTS

We view assignments as accomplishing two objectives. The first is to prepare students for what is to come. Although students will ultimately take responsibility for making the legislature work, they need to be encouraged to think like legislators, they need baseline knowledge about the process, and they need to have material to work with.

The second goal of the assignments is to encourage students to make connections between their experiences and academic research. Many students will not automatically make these connections, even if the assignment asks them to do so. For this reason, we encourage instructors to discuss the assignments in advance, including possibly pointing students to the readings or lectures that are most relevant.

The LegSim manual (above) discusses the placement of these assignments in a 10 week course that focuses heavily on the simulation. These assignment are presented as suggestions that have worked well for us. Individual instructors will want to select from them or customize them depending on the goals of the course and time available.

Part 1: GETTING STARTED

Final Report on Legislative Accomplishments
The final report is the culminating event of the simulation. This assignment should be distributed and discussed at the START of the simulation, so that students appreciate where things are heading. Be sure to emphasize that a good final report demonstrates that a student has successfully applied what she has studied during the course.

Here are two good examples of student responses to the final report:
Final Report Response 1
Final Report Response 2

Ideology Quest
This assignment asks students to think about the concept of ideology and their own ideological placement. It is not an essential assignment.

Example of student response:
Ideology Example 1

District Analysis
More districting options
The first LegSim related task is to select a legislative district or state to represent during the simulation. These assignments asks students to study the politics of their district, and encourages them to begin thinking about the concept of representation.

Examples of student responses (one good, one not):
District Example 1
District Example 2

My Legislative Agenda
After selecting and analyzing their districts with an eye toward reelection, students next need to think about what they will try to accomplish as lawmakers and representatives. This is an important step because they will soon be asked to make committee requests. In our experience, the first cut at an agenda is rough - they've never been legislators before - so it might be worth giving students a followup opportunity to revise their agenda statements.

Examples of student responses:
Agenda Example 1
Agenda Example 2

Campaign Propoganda (Dem)
Campaign Propoganda (GOP)
LegSim requires students to work as teams. This assignment is designed to illustrate that teamwork can be fun. Groups of students must develop a piece of campaign propoganda for a candidate. The final report asks individual students to do something similar so this assignment is also a dry run for that. Showing what students have produced (posters, brochures, radio ads, videos) is fun, and the quality is often very good.

Part 2: ORGANIZING THE LEGISLATURE

Talking Points

Committee Requests
If you are leaving it up to students to organize the legislature, consider asking them to explain why they are requesting particular committees. As always, use this assignment as an opportunity to get students to think about why legislatures have committees and the incentives members have to make different committee requests.

Examples of student response:
Committee Request Example 1
Committee Request Example 2

Committee Research
A central reason for committees is to enable the legislature to make better decisions. This assignment asks committee members to develop some expertise in the subject areas of their committee's jurisdiction. The committee chair can then edit the committee's description on LegSim to share this information with other students.

Example of student group response:
Committee Research Report Example

Part 3: LEGISLATING

Major Bill Assignment
Additional Bill drafting activities
Committees need legislation to consider. This assignment ensures that every student drafts a substantial piece of legislation by a date certain. A sample bill is posted on the LegSim website under 'instruction.'

Examples of student responses:
Major Legislation Example 1
Major Legislation Example 2

Committee Report Assignment
This assignment prepares students to write committee reports on legislation. It can be assigned as a warm-up group assignment, or individual students can be required to prepare and submit one committee report as a graded assignment. A sample committee report is posted on the LegSim website under 'instruction.'

Debate Prep Assignment
Students have also never debated a bill before. This assignment encourages every student to prepare for a legislative debate. Although only a small number of students may end up speaking in class, every student will have thought about the issues.

Examples of student responses:
Debate Prep Example 1
Debate Prep Example 2

Part 4: WRAP UP

Final Report on Legislative Accomplishments
The final report is the culminating event of the simulation, as discussed above.

Creating Campaign Posters using Powerpoint
A guide to creating campaign posters using PowerPoint. Most students have little difficulty creating posters. With a little encouragement, some will do videos or radio spots and post them on youtube.

OTHER ASSIGNMENT MATERIALS

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.

Small group exercise
This is a fun little exercise designed to illustrate that working in groups can be more productive than working alone. Create groups of 3 students and give them 3 copies of the handout. 1) Have one student (chosen by the droup) circle numbers according to some sort of order (1,2,3) as rapidly as possible for 30 seconds). Stop and ask the class how many groups were able to circle 5 numbers, ten numbers etc (record results on the board). 2) Do it again for a different ordering - e.g. 2,4,6 - but this time one other group member can help. Record results on the board again. 3) This time, let the students decide how they want to do it (only one pencil though!). There should be improvement at each iteration. Ask students about their strategies. The bottom line should be that group projects are about more than just dividing up a task!

House Procedures Quiz - General
Score at least 70 Percent and print the evidence including ID number. The password is Hastert. This quiz begins with "Who has ultimate control..."

House Procedures Quiz - Floor
Score at least 70 Percent and print the evidence including ID number. The password is Hastert. This quiz begins with "Which is the correct way..."

Senate Procedures Quiz
Score at least 70 Percent and print the evidence including ID number. The password is Reid.

Coalition Building and Deliberation
Exercises designed to introduce students to legislative strategy and better prepare them for floor debate.

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

Sample essay questions
These are some older assignments that ask students to make connections between course subjects and their simulation experiences.

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.]

Can Mr. Smith Go to Washington Anymore?
A similar story to TOTK. A political scientist and his enthusiastic supporters take on a political dynasty during an open seat House election. You know the outcome!

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.