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CIV.IQ
Elementary (K-5)Legislative Process45-50 minutes

How Laws Start

Essential Question

How does an idea become a law?

Overview

Students learn the basic steps of how an idea becomes a law, from introduction in Congress to the President's signature.

C3 Standards Alignment

D2.Civ.6.3-5D2.Civ.12.3-5

Learning Objectives

  • Define "bill" and explain where bills come from(D2.Civ.6.3-5)
  • Navigate to a representative's sponsored bills on CIV.IQ
  • Identify the current status of a bill(D2.Civ.12.3-5)
  • Describe the basic steps a bill takes to become law

Materials

  • --Computer/tablet access
  • --Projector
  • --Worksheet E4: A Bill's Journey
  • --"How a Bill Becomes a Law" simple flowchart

Vocabulary

BillLawCongressVoteCommitteeVetoPassPresident

Procedure

1Introduction

10 minutes
  1. Ask: "What rule would YOU create if you could?"
  2. Record 3-4 student ideas
  3. Explain: "In government, a new rule idea is called a BILL"
  4. "Bills are written by representatives, and they have to go through many steps before becoming a LAW"
  5. Show simplified flowchart: Idea → Written as Bill → Committee Review → Vote → Other Chamber → President → Law

2Exploration

15 minutes
  1. Navigate to your representative's profile → Legislation tab
  2. Look at "Sponsored Bills" — these are ideas YOUR representative had
  3. Select one bill together
  4. Read the title: "What do you think this bill would do?"
  5. Check the status: Where is it in the process?
  6. Discuss: Most bills do NOT become laws — why might that be?

Activities

Find Real Bills

exploration15 minutes

Use CIV.IQ to look at your representative's sponsored bills. Find one bill and identify: Who introduced it? What is it about? What is its status?

Open on CIV.IQ: Representative Bills →

Sequence the Journey

worksheet15 minutes

Put cards showing the steps of how a bill becomes a law in the correct order.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think it takes so many steps for a bill to become a law?

  2. If you could make one new law, what would it be? Who would you talk to about it?

  3. What happens if the President doesn't like a bill?

Assessment

Students can describe at least 4 steps in the process of how a bill becomes a law.

Common Questions

Why do you think it takes so many steps for a bill to become a law?
This discussion question is explored in the How Laws Start lesson plan.
If you could make one new law, what would it be? Who would you talk to about it?
This discussion question is explored in the How Laws Start lesson plan.
What happens if the President doesn't like a bill?
This discussion question is explored in the How Laws Start lesson plan.