Application
Supporting and Opposing a Bill
Congress considers legislation that has an impact across an extraordinary range of American life. U.S. citizens have the opportunity to exercise influence over what Congress does and how it might impact the lives of people and communities.
Citizens often participate in American democracy by letting their representatives know what they think of legislation that Congress is considering.
In fact, modern communication techniques have enabled more and more citizens to participate in this way.
In this Application, you will select an issue or bill that is now being considered by Congress, and you will compose a letter to a member of the House or the Senate that explains why you support or oppose this piece of legislation.
Questions about this assignment? Post them in the Contact the Instructor area. That way, everyone in the class will see, and benefit from, the Instructor's response.
To prepare for this Application:
Review the assigned chapters and articles in the course readings.
Consider how a bill becomes a law.
Review the assigned websites in the resources.
Review issues and bills currently being argued in the Senate and the House.
Choose an issue or bill that is of interest to you, and review the information.
Review an article you have chosen from the Walden Library that discusses the issue or bill.
Who was responsible for presenting the issue or bill to the Senate or the House?
Review the website "Congressional Directory."
Find the Congressional representatives involved in presenting the issue or bill.
Search by the Congressional representative's state or name.
What is the position of the Congressional representatives involved with the issue or bill?
Do you agree or disagree with their position?
Choose a supporting or opposing position to the issue or bill.
Do you support or oppose this bill? Why or why not?
The assignment:
Write a 1- to 2-page letter to a Congressional representative stating your support or opposition to an issue or bill currently being addressed by Congress. Be sure to include the following:
Briefly describe the issue or bill being addressed by Congress.
Explain why you support or oppose the issue or bill.
Include at least one reference and citation from the course readings and one reference and citation from an article found in the Walden Library to support your rationale.