Activity Overview
Once students understand how bills become law, it's helpful for them to dig deeper and analyze legislative bills. In this activity, students are required to research a bill and create a Frayer Model that visualizes a bill or resolution in either the U.S Senate or House of Representatives.
Students should answer the following questions in corresponding boxes of their storyboard.
- Title of your bill and number
- Problem Your Bill is Addressing
- Description of your bill
- Should it be passed? Why?
Directions For Students:
- Go to this web address: https://thomas.loc.gov/home/bills_res.html
- Click “Search Bill Text”
- Click on “Browse By Bill Number” and choose one of the House or Senate lists
- (Optional) Using the search bar to find a topic of interest
Additional Information: In order to successfully accomplish this activity, teachers should browse the website beforehand to comfortably navigate the bills and resolutions page. Teachers should reinforce that most bills are created to either solve a problem or facilitate a facet of society. As the website is constantly updated with new bills and resolutions, teachers should encourage students to avoid certain bills (giving permission for a champion sports team to see the President of the United States, for example) and encourage them to find a bill or resolution that is truly geared at improving society.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a frayer model analyzing a legislative bill that you chose from the website your teacher provided.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first cell, identify the title and bill number.
- In the second cell, summarize the problem your bill is addressing.
- In the third cell, describe the bill.
- In the fourth cell, identify if the bill should be passed and why.
- Create an illustration for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
Once students understand how bills become law, it's helpful for them to dig deeper and analyze legislative bills. In this activity, students are required to research a bill and create a Frayer Model that visualizes a bill or resolution in either the U.S Senate or House of Representatives.
Students should answer the following questions in corresponding boxes of their storyboard.
- Title of your bill and number
- Problem Your Bill is Addressing
- Description of your bill
- Should it be passed? Why?
Directions For Students:
- Go to this web address: https://thomas.loc.gov/home/bills_res.html
- Click “Search Bill Text”
- Click on “Browse By Bill Number” and choose one of the House or Senate lists
- (Optional) Using the search bar to find a topic of interest
Additional Information: In order to successfully accomplish this activity, teachers should browse the website beforehand to comfortably navigate the bills and resolutions page. Teachers should reinforce that most bills are created to either solve a problem or facilitate a facet of society. As the website is constantly updated with new bills and resolutions, teachers should encourage students to avoid certain bills (giving permission for a champion sports team to see the President of the United States, for example) and encourage them to find a bill or resolution that is truly geared at improving society.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a frayer model analyzing a legislative bill that you chose from the website your teacher provided.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the first cell, identify the title and bill number.
- In the second cell, summarize the problem your bill is addressing.
- In the third cell, describe the bill.
- In the fourth cell, identify if the bill should be passed and why.
- Create an illustration for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Analyzing a Legislative Bill Student Activity
How to Guide Students in Selecting Meaningful Legislative Bills
Help students choose impactful bills by guiding them to focus on legislation that addresses real-world societal issues rather than ceremonial or symbolic bills. This ensures their analysis is meaningful and relevant.
Model how to evaluate a bill’s societal impact
Show students how to assess whether a bill addresses a significant problem or improves lives. Encourage them to look for bills that affect education, health, safety, or the environment for deeper analysis and classroom discussion.
Prompt students to brainstorm selection criteria together
Facilitate a class discussion to generate criteria for choosing a bill, such as relevance, impact, and interest. This collaborative process empowers students to make informed and thoughtful selections.
Demonstrate using search tools for targeted results
Walk students through using the website’s search functions and filters to find bills on topics that matter to them. Visual demos and step-by-step instructions help students confidently navigate bill databases.
Encourage reflection on personal connections to bill topics
Invite students to reflect on issues they care about in their communities or personal lives. This makes the activity more engaging and ensures their legislative analysis is personally meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions about Analyzing a Legislative Bill Student Activity
How can I help students analyze a legislative bill in class?
To help students analyze a legislative bill, guide them to research a real bill using reputable sources like the U.S. Congress website. Have them break down the bill’s title and number, identify the problem addressed, summarize the bill, and decide if it should be passed, explaining their reasoning. Using a Frayer Model or similar graphic organizer makes analysis structured and engaging.
What is a Frayer Model and how is it used to analyze legislative bills?
A Frayer Model is a four-cell graphic organizer that helps students deeply analyze a concept. For legislative bills, each cell can cover: the bill’s title/number, the problem it addresses, a description of the bill, and an opinion on whether it should pass (with reasons). This structure encourages critical thinking and clear presentation.
Where can students find real legislative bills for classroom activities?
Students can find real legislative bills on the official U.S. Congress website at thomas.loc.gov. They can search by bill number, browse House or Senate lists, or use keywords to find bills on topics of interest for analysis.
What are some tips for teachers guiding students in legislative bill research?
Teachers should explore the bills website beforehand to assist students effectively, encourage selection of bills that address meaningful societal issues, and remind students to avoid purely ceremonial bills. Reinforce that bills are meant to solve real problems or improve society.
Why is analyzing legislative bills important for students?
Analyzing legislative bills helps students understand how laws are made, develop critical thinking and civic literacy, and see the real-world impact of government decisions. It empowers them to engage thoughtfully with current events and public policy.
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