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What is the role of the Internet in our legislative process?

The House of Representatives is a diverse body of individuals. There have been a few "celebrity" Members of the House throughout the course of its history. Can you cite a few examples and some brief background on them?

How and when did the House cap it’s membership to 435 and has there ever been an instance when the House had more than 435 Members and why? 

Does the Speaker of the House need to be a Member of the House? If not, has there ever been a Speaker who was not a Representative?

Kids in the House

Gather a group of friends or classmates. Choose one friend or classmate to be the President and separate him or her from the group of your friends or classmates. Give that friend or classmate the sign that says "President." Choose another friend or classmate to be the bill and stick a post-it note that says "bill" on him or her. Divide the remainder of your friends or classmates into two groups, one larger group (give that group the "House" sign) and a proportionately smaller group (give that group the "Senate" sign). You will also be creating subgroups for the committees, either up front or after the bill is introduced.

Walk (literally make "the bill" friend or classmate walk) through the process of becoming a law. It may be helpful to use a current real-life example. Demonstrate the process of the bill being introduced, going through a committee, passing one House, going to the next House, committee, and then to the President. Explain the actions the President can take.

Redo the process, but this time change the bill in the first House (i.e. take off a shoe or something) and explain how a joint committee works. In this scenario, have your friends or classmates from both the House and the Senate gather for a few moments to emphasize the joint committee.

Copyright 2008