Assignment:
You are a newly elected Member of Congress. It is up to you as to whether you are a Senator or a Representative from your State. You made several important promises during your campaign and now that you have taken your seat, you need to show the constituents you represent that you are going to fulfill at least one of these promises with a bill you write and introduce into your chamber.
Directions:
Choose a topic for your bill:
Envision the constituents that elected you
Imagine that you have interacted with your constituents
What's making news?
Look to other states
Look to your own experience
Look at current logs and regulations
Use the internet
Research your bill topic:
Look at existing law
Explore various solutions to the issue
Support your position with facts and figures
Determine your support and opposition
When writing your bill:
Ensure clarity, organization and accuracy
Ensure you are creating law
Anticipate questions and concerns
Proofread and check grammar
Complete the BILL WRITING CHECKLIST
Clarity of Bill's Purpose
The title of the bill is broad and does not editorialize or mislead.
Any definitions are clear and are in section 1.
The section needs to:
1) identifies the term to be defined
2) identifies the class to which the term belongs
3) identifies the difference between this term and all other in the class. For example: A computer catalog (term to be identified) is an index
(class to which the term belongs) of all the books in a given library (difference between a computer catalog and all other indexes)
4) uses terminology suitable for the audience.
Any conditions placed on the application of the bill are clear (exceptions, limitations); use "if" at the start of the sentence.
Purpose section and the body of the bill are consistent in their purposes
Early sections contain the major part of what you want the bill to do
The last section contains the enactment clause
The purpose of the bill is clear - i.e.; what will happen if it is enacted
Sections are consistent (no contradictions within the bill)
Actions are clearly stated
Research/Preparation
Solution proposed in the legislation is appropriate to the problem
Solution is thorough and clear
Definitions are clear
Complete the below structure of bill
(SENATE OR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2011 Session
Introduced by:
Primary Sponsor: Rep. or Sen. _____________________
Secondary Sponsor: Rep. or Sen. _____________________
AN ACT
(NOTE: Every line must be numbered)
1. PURPOSE: (Briefly state what will be achieved by this bill.) The purpose of this bill is to . . .
2.
3. The (Senate or House of Representatives) of the United States of America hereby enacts as follows:
4.
5. SECTION 1: Short Title
6. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "YOUR TITLE HERE" Act
7.
8. SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS
9. Suggestion: address the definitions section AFTER writing the rest of the bill. Read through the bill and pull out unfamiliar terms or terms that
10. should be defined in order to strengthen the bill.
11.
12. SECTION 3: (SECTION TITLE)
13. Use as many sections as necessary to describe your proposed course of action. Each new idea should begin a new section. This is the
HOW of
14. your proposal and not the WHY. Save your arguments for debate.
15.
16. SECTION __: Funding
17. What are the cost implications of your proposal. Will the government incur costs due to this bill? Does your bill authorize funding (i.e. a new tax or
18. fee to pay for the proposal)? What department or or agency would be responsible for funding
19.
20. SECTION __: Regulations
21. Which department or agency would be responsible for implementing the bill (regulations and enforcement responsibilities)?
22.
23. SECTION __: Penalties (for example: misdemeanor/felony; fines for disobedience)
24.
25. SECTION __: Effective Date
26. This bill shall take effect . . . (how long after passage before the law is implemented)