How a Member Decides to Vote

 

Overview

 

In this module students will learn about the various influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill. In this simulation, each student will become a Member of Congress and will be asked to vote on a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration.

 

It should take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete the module, if students attend all of their meetings, answer all the phone calls, check their e-mail and letters, think about what they have heard and read, and then respond to each according to their beliefs.

 

Prerequisites

Prior to beginning this E-learning module, students should:

• know how the U.S. Constitution can be amended.
• know and understand the terms bill, district, constituent, and special interest.

Navigating the E-Learning Module

Navigating this e-learning module is fairly intuitive. If needed, you may refer to the step-by-step instructions below.

1. The introduction will automatically play. At the end of the introduction click Click here to begin the simulation. If you wish, you may skip the introduction by clicking Click here to skip the introduction.
2. Read the instructions carefully. Make sure you click the down arrow on the right side of the frame to scroll down. Click OK once you have read the instructions.
3. Listen to Lee Hamilton explain what to expect during the simulation. Then click OK.
4. Sign in and answer the four questions. Then click CONTINUE.
5. Select your district. If you don’t know which district to choose, click on the question mark next to each response. Then move the slider and answer the three questions. Once again, you can click on the question marks if you are unsure how to answer the question. Click CONTINUE when you have answered all the questions.
6. View the Bill Status. Then click on the tabs to learn more about the bill. Make sure you click the down arrow and scroll when necessary. Click CONTINUE when you are done.
7. Read the description of the meetings. Then click CONTINUE.
8. Look at the calendar and start attending your meetings. Click on a person’s photo to hear his or her point of view. Remember: You must click on your meetings in the order that they appear. If you skip a meeting, you cannot go back to it! You may view the summaries of meetings you have attended by clicking on the Revisit Meetings button at the bottom of the screen. At the end of each meeting, you must decide whether the arguments sway you toward voting for or against the proposed amendment, or if you are undecided. Move the slider to indicate your decision. Make sure you click the forward arrow at the bottom of the screen and attend all of the meetings.
9. Throughout the simulation, you may receive a “phone call” or a “news flash.” At the end of each phone call or news flash, you must decide whether those arguments sway you toward voting for or against the amendment, or if you are still undecided. Move the slider to indicate your decision.
10. You will also want to check your e-mail during the simulation. To do so, click Check e-mail at the bottom of the screen. After reading the e-mail message, you must decide if and how it sways your vote on the bill. Move the slider to indicate your response.
11. After you have attended all of your meetings, vote YEA or NAY. Then click CONTINUE.
12. At this point, you can listen to former Members discuss their actual votes on the bill.
13. Read the summary of your opinions and decisions and the description of the actual vote in the House of Representatives. Then click CONTINUE.
14. Read the summary screens. Click CONTINUE to proceed to the end of the module.

Helpful Hints

• Encourage your students to play the role of a Member of Congress representing your district while completing the simulation. Before the simulation, you may want to discuss how residents of the community may feel about the proposed bill. Ask students to think about how their parents, family, friends, or neighbors would react to the proposed bill — and how they might expect their representatives to vote on it.
• It is helpful if students read background information about the proposed flag burning amendment prior to beginning the simulation. Background information is available by clicking on the ADDITIONAL RESEARCH button on the bottom menu bar.