Legislative Branch Web Quest

Legislative Branch Web Quest

Go to this website and then scroll down and click on the appropriate icon to start the activity.

http://centeroncongress.org/e-learning-module-the-importance-civic-participation

The Importance of Civic Participation

• Click the graphic

• Click on Avenues of Participation, and then click Begin.

• Drag the sliders on the screen to estimate what percentage of Americans do each of the things listed. When you are done with your estimates, the screen will automatically show you in red the actual numbers.

1. Which avenue did you estimate the most accurately? ______

2. Which avenue did you underestimate the most? ______

3. Which avenue did you overestimate the most? ______

• Click Continue.

4. Which avenues of participation did you say you might personally be interested in doing?

• Click on the Main Menu button at the top and select Where to Go with a Problem. Click

Begin.

• To complete this task, drag the image in the black box to the box at the bottom you think would take care of that problem. If you are correct, the game will move on to the next problem; if you are incorrect, the game will highlight the right answer in yellow.

5. For each of the following issues, tell me whether it would be dealt with at the federal,

state, or local level.

a. missing social security check

b. busy road and traffic light

c. environmental cleanup

d. housing

e. vocational training

f. voter registration

g. volunteer opportunities

How a Member Decides to Vote

http://centeroncongress.org/e-learning-module-how-member-decides-vote

• Click the graphic

• In this task you will pretend to be a member of Congress considering a bill. Click to skip the introduction, and then click OK twice.

• Select your gender, type in your last name, and then click Continue.

• Select a district, and then drag the orange sliders to match your beliefs and values. Click Continue.

• At the top of the screen, click on the grey tab labeled Bill Background.

6. What is the Flag Desecration Amendment trying to achieve? (You can summarize.)

• At the top of the screen, click on the grey tab labeled Arguments.

7. What kind of points are supporters of the bill making?

8. What kind of points are opponents of the bill making?

• Click Continue until you get to the screen with a green calendar that looks like the icon at the start of this section.

9. Pick 5 people that you would like to hear from. (Select “yes” to phone calls, if you have headphones.) What are their names? What were their positions?

10. Which of the 5 people were most influential on your decision? Why?

• Scroll to the right of the calendar and click on Vote. Click Continue. You should now see a screen with the results of the actual vote in Congress.

11. What percentage of Congress has to approve an Amendment for it to be added to the U.S. Constitution?

Impact of Congress

http://centeroncongress.org/e-learning-module-the-impact-congress

• Click the graphic

• In this task you will see how Congress can have a big influence over our everyday lives. Start by clicking on the house that’s glowing yellow – Your Home.

12. Describe at least ten ways that the powers of Congress have been used to influence you or protect the common good.