Mock House of Representatives

Step by Step Procedures

Day 1:
1. Poll class to determine which party will have a majority.
2. Pass out Congressional role cards (determine how many members per committee
and simply remove the appropriate number of committee positions from the stack
–there are 6 dems and 6 repubs)
3. Allow students to trade cards.
4. Make name tags. Party and state should be taken from their role cards (allow them
to make their own names, e.g. Conner Servative, Ellie Phant, Dawn Keys, Ann
Arkey, Sasha List…)
5. Divide students into party caucus
6. Elect party leaders
7. Call up majority / minority leaders and whips. Give them “party caucus notes.”
Have them read script and pass out bills (whip can pass out bills).
8. Identify Dean of the House for Oath of Office
9. Swearing in ceremony (make sure they tell class what is happening, right hand in
the air, left hand on copy of Sabato text)
10. Pass out rules for parliamentary procedure.
11. Divide class into committees
12. Allow majority party leaders to pick chairmen positions and hand out “working in
committee” guidelines. Party leaders should not be chairmen (they will need to
circulate memos and encourage party discipline on day two).
13. Call up Chairmen and debrief them on their roles.
14. Pass around signup sheet. Party leaders will sign twice under leadership positions
and committee positions. Circle names of committee chairmen.
15. Assign homework:
a. Know your role card profile
b. Know your chairmanship duties
c. Know parliamentary procedure and conduct
d. Read the bill and the expert testimony
e. Rough draft proposals for amendments (must be consistent with your party
and constituency)
i. Must emphasize this. Have students turn in their amendment
proposals. Proposals must be thorough and include funding sources
and specific enforcement mechanisms. Students can completely
change the objective of the bill (e.g. from min wage increase to
minimum wage decrease.)
Explain how it will be graded.
Day 1 Homework:
1. Rewrite bill on separate paper. Changes or additions should be highlighted. Bill
proposals must be thorough and include funding sources and specific enforcement
mechanisms. You can completely change the objective of the bill (e.g. from min
wage increase to minimum wage decrease). Proposals must be consistent with
your party and constituency.
2. You must draft at least 1 “pet project” or pork barrel project for your state (must
be germane).
3. Create a “T-Chart” to outline the pro / cons arguments that are included in the
expert testimony

Day 2:
1. If any students were absent on Day 1 give them their assignment; have them sit
outside to create name tag and draft bill amendments or counter proposals; tell the
committee that their flight was delayed.
2. Committees will assemble and proceed to “mark up” the bill (It may be beneficial
for committee members to caucus before the committee convenes).
3. It is recommended that they caucus in order to compare amendments and organize
a strategy.
4. Motion to consult CRS (i.e. look something up on a cell phone)
5. Committee Chairmen will have the master copy of the bill.
6. Any changes or amendments will be included on / or attached to the master copy.
7. You must include the sponsors name next to each amendment or alteration.
8. Party leaders may circulate memos to members.
9. If a bill appears to be pigeonholed students may contact their party whip to start a
discharge petition (simple majority).
10. Committee Chair must select a committee member to read and introduce a bill on
the floor for debate.
11. Committee members are expected to be the primary voices for or against their
bills on the floor.
12. Points will be awarded for logrolling, pork, earmarks, riders, demonstrating
parliamentary procedure, etc.
13. Half way through committee process... motion to caucus
14. Bills that are reported out of committee will be placed on the podium.
15. The rules committee (i.e. Wiggs) will schedule them for debate and assign any
special rules.
16. Class will be reassembled for floor debate.
17. Speaker of the House will call on a member from the committee to present the bill
on the floor.
18. The committee member(s) presenting the bill will read the bill and then explain
why it should be passed.
19. Speaker will preside over debate.
20. Representatives can simply stand at their desks when speaking.
21. Speaker can use discretion to determine when debate has ended, thus calling for a
vote.
22. Passed bills will be sent to the President (i.e. Wiggs) for approval.
23. Collect handouts