Mr. Hogan
American Government
Paper Outline SAMPLE
I. Introduction
- give brief insight into Legislative Branch
- talk about how a Bill becomes a Law
- Briefly discuss what I chose as my Law
II. Congress
- Bicameral Set up
i. House
ii. Senate
- Three reasons for Bicameral Set-Up
i. Historical
ii. Practical
iii. Theoretical
- Congressional Terms last two years
- Sessions last two per term (one per year)
- Fact
- Fact
III. House
- Younger branch
- Based on population of states
- Representative of fairness
- Larger states have more reps, smaller states have less
- Member size is 435 reps.
- Reps serve for 2 years
- Fact
- Fact
IV. Senate
- Each state gets two Senators
- Known as the senior branch
- 100 members in Senate
- Members serve for 6 years
V. Bill -> Law
- Problem in society
- Need for change
- Congressman writes up plan
- Researched by committee and sub-committee
- Voted on the floor
- 2/3 vote passes law
- Sent to president for approval or veto
- Fact
VI. My Law
- What was the problem
- Where was it started
- Who was the representative who drew it up
- What year was it passed or vetoed first
- When did it go into effect
- What are the results
- How does it affect people
VII. Opinion
- Did the law work
- Should it be changed
- What should be done different/kept the same
- How has it helped/hurt people
VIII. Conclusion
- Restate key facts on congress
- Restate key facts on bills becoming law
- Restate key facts on your law
Main Points to Cover:
1. Congress
2. How a Bill Becomes a Law
3. Whichever Law YOU have chosen to research