Creator: Center for American Politics and Public Policy | visit site
Grade Range: 8 - 11
With so much data out there, how are we, as citizens, to manage this information to make good choices? The University of Washington’s Center for American Politics and Public Policy takes the massive amount of information about US legislative activity from 1973 to the present and helps us visualize the progress of bills through the legislative branch. Color-coded "particles" represent each bill on an interactive field for each two-year legislative session. Set the field in motion and watch bills move through committees and onto the floor of the House or the Senate. Notice how many "particles" (each representing a bill) remain clustered in committees throughout the legislative session and how many actually make it to the President’s desk and become law. The animation is much more powerful (and informative) when you select an issue, a state, a legislator, a committee, or a party from the drop down menus, but the "big picture" visuals are also informative.
In the Classroom
Despite being fairly wonky (political geeks will LOVE this site!), Legislative Explorer will also help civics and government teachers present the overall picture of how a bill makes its way (or doesn’t) through the legislative branch. On an interactive whiteboard (or projector), the visual impact of how many bills are proposed in a session is stunning. Once past that, however, students can research the activities of their local legislators, by name or by state. What issues matter enough to them to result in bill sponsorship? Alternatively, divide students into groups and have each group research a specific committee. What bills come to that committee? How successful is that committee in moving bills to the President’s desk? How does the activity in the most recent Congress compare to that from 40 years ago? Have the issues changed?
At Home
Discuss politics much in your home? Use this excellent visualization to discuss what is hot and what is not. Share how laws are created. Discuss how bills become a law, how many bills make it to the President’s desk, and more. Does anything surprise your son or daughter about this process or this site?
Tags
branches of government, congress, advanced placement,
Subjects
American History, Current Events, Government/Civics: U.S, Social Studies, Social Studies,