Mock Congress Begins!!!

Finally, it's time to start Mock Congress!  In order to begin your work as a member of Congress, you'll need the documents below.  If you can't open the documents on your browser, you can view the documents by cling here.

Completing your Wikispaces Profile

Elaine K.'s wikispaces profile is really well done.  You can check out her profile here.

APGov - Mock Congress on Tuesday

A few notes for Mock Congress on Tuesday:

1.  Committees, make sure that you are adequately marking up your bills.  The point of mark-up is to improve the bill's chances of passing in the whole Congress.

2.  Ms. Beer will be tracking participation in the Congress today and participation will count double!  Make sure to state your name before speaking in the Congress.

3.  I had difficulty finding a few bills on GoogleDocs.  The following authors should double check that their bill is shared on GoogleDocs with myself and the clerk as editors (you can use the iMacs to correct this in class):

• Esther U.
• Monika H.
• Danielle H.
• Kyle C.

I'll be back in school tomorrow,

Mr. McCarthy

APGov: How to edit your wikispaces profile

More Mock Congress Info!

Periods 3, 5, and 6

1.  If you did not send me an email in the fall, please send an email to me at my gmail address: mccarthyroom3011@gmail.com.  Make sure that the email is sent from the email address that you use for GoogleDocs.  I'll be using your email for two purposes: to assemble a contact list for Mock Congress, and to invite you to the Mock Congress wiki.

2.  If you'd like to check out the beginnings of the class wiki, here are the links for periods 5 and 7:

• Period 3 Mock Congress wiki
• Period 5 Mock Congress wiki
• Period 6 Mock Congress wiki

3.  Republicans and Democrats will need to select their leaders.  You will be representing the same party as the Member of Congress from the 3rd quarter project.  Start thinking about who you'd like to lead your party.  I'll also be looking for a volunteer to be the Clerk of the Congress.  This volunteer must be a Republican.

4.  We'll be having a class briefing about Mock Congress during our next class.  This year we will be using GoogleDocs to track legislation, mark-up, and the Bill Log.  We're going to use wikispaces.com to track the actual participation and the nature of participation of all the members of the Congress (this will be self-reported and make up the majority of your project grade).  I'm also wondering whether we should use twitter during class itself to record communication.  What are your ideas about what to include?  If we use twitter, what should our hashtags be?  What questions do you have right now about the project that I should address on Friday?

See you next class!

Mock Congress Begins!!!

The folder below contains relevant documents for the Mock Congress.  Each class will be selecting its leadership positions soon!

Mock Congress Begins!!!

Finally, what you've been waiting for all year: Mock Congress!!

• All relevant documents are posted on my Box.net account.
• Your ID badge should have your name and state clearly indicated (you'll only get one ID badge, so keep it somewhere safe).
  
• Your bills must be posted on GoogleDocs. You must also share your GoogleDoc with me (mccarthyroom3011@gmail.com) and the Clerk of the Congress.  This will enable the clerk and committee chairs to mark up your bill.
• Your first bill is due in the hopper on Wednesday, May 12th
• Bills submitted earlier will probably reach the House floor before bills submitted on the 12th.
• Information about your particular Congress can be found on wikispaces.
• If you'd like to see a bill log from last year's Mock Congress click this link.

I'll be on the road this weekend with little access to email, but you can tweet me with questions!

APGov: Wednesday's Assignment

Periods 5 & 7

1.  Please send an email to me at my gmail address: mccarthyroom3011@gmail.com.  Make sure that the email is sent from the email address that you use for GoogleDocs.  I'll be using your email for two purposes: to assemble a contact list for Mock Congress, and to invite you to the Mock Congress wiki.

2.  Today you must watch at least the first 65 minutes of "Advise and Consent" and complete the accompanying worksheet.  Turn in the worksheet to the substitute teacher before the end of the period.  Make sure you allow enough time to place your iPod and headphones away properly - you won't be dismissed until everything is properly put away.

3.  If you'd like to check out the beginnings of the class wiki, here are the links for periods 5 and 7:

• Period 5 Mock Congress wiki
• Period 7 Mock Congress wiki

4.  Republicans and Democrats will need to select their leaders.  You will be representing the same party as the Member of Congress from the 3rd quarter project.  Start thinking about who you'd like to lead your party.  I'll also be looking for a volunteer to be the Clerk of the Congress.  This volunteer must be a Democrat.

5.  We'll be having a class briefing about Mock Congress on Friday.  This year we will be using GoogleDocs to track legislation, mark-up, and the Bill Log.  We're going to use wikispaces.com to track the actual participation and the nature of participation of all the members of the Congress (this will be self-reported and make up the majority of your project grade).  I'm also wondering whether we should use twitter during class itself to record communication.  What are your ideas about what to include?  If we use twitter, what should our hashtags be?  What questions do you have right now about the project that I should address on Friday?

See you Friday!

Mock Congress - Day 5

Another great day of legislative action! Bill Logs can be found in posts below, so I'm not going to re-post them here. A reminder to committees to be thorough in your mark-up; this is how you avoid 30 minute floor debates on bills.

Mock Congress - Day 4

Period 4

• Congrats to Beth for getting her bill (H. 4) passed!
• Period 4 Bill Log is available for review.
• A word of advice to committees: take time on mark-up. Only send quality bills to the whole House.
  

Mock Congress - Day 3

Period 3

• If you submit a new bill, remember to share your bill with the clerk and to publish your bill.
• Congressman Sam's bill has been postponed until the next class.

Period 5

• Parita did a super job as clerk!
• The Period 5 Bill Log is now available for all Members of Congress to examine.

Period 7

• Many thanks to Christine for quickly entering the bills and getting the committees moving quickly!
• The Period 7 Bill Log is now available for all Members of Congress to examine.
  

Mock Congress - Day 2

Period 3

• Congratulations on your first day in committees. The Rules Committee did a good job of distributing the bills to all committees.
• There have been many interesting bills, however I find this bill to be particularly disturbing.
• It's the Speaker's decision whether any bills that have made it through committee will be debated tomorrow in the whole house. The Period 3 Bill Log is available for viewing.
• Christy did a great job as clerk!

Period 4

• Committee work was very productive today!
• Once you have turned in one bill that you have written yourself, you are free to submit a bill that has been co-authored.
  
• The Speaker will determine the agenda for Wednesday. Your bill may be on the agenda - you can check if it's passed committee by examining the Period 4 Bill Log.
• Kelsey did a great job of tackling more than 20 bills and entering amendments made in committee mark-up!
  

Mock Congress - Day 1

Congratulations to the period 3 Republicans - you drive a hard bargain!

I'm disappointed in the lack of compassion for pandas exhibited by several of the Mock Congresses :(

Remember that your first bill is due next class! You'll need to turn in your bill and cover sheet to the hopper. You'll also need to submit your bill to GoogleDocs. When you submit the bill to GoogleDocs, make sure that you share it with me (mccarthyroom3011[at]gmail[dot]com and with the clerk of your Congress.

If you haven't done so already...

...fill out this form. Many students completed this form in the 3rd quarter.