Unsatisfactory

1

Poor

2

Fair

3

Above Average

4

Excellent

5

Score

Describe the responsibilities of Congress.

The student incorrectly identifies the responsibilities of Congress.

The student states that Congress is the legislative branch of government, but does not understand that legislating involves making laws.

The student understands that Congress is responsible for making laws.

The student understands that Congress is responsible for making laws and can identify at least one other responsibility of Congress such as: judging of the qualifications of its own members, ratifying all treaties, confirming important presidential appointments to office, initiating bills to fund federal programs, setting tariffs and taxes, investigating and overseeing the executive branch and its agencies, and shaping foreign policy.

The student understands that Congress is responsible for making laws and can identify two or more responsibilities of Congress such as: judging of the qualifications of its own members, ratifying all treaties, confirming important presidential appointments to office, initiating bills to fund federal programs, setting tariffs and taxes, investigating and overseeing the executive branch and its agencies, and shaping foreign policy.

Identify the requirements for being a U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative.

The student incorrectly identifies the requirements for being a U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative.

The student identifies the requirements for being a U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative but not both.

The student understands that Representatives must be at least 25 years old and Senators must be at least 30 years old.

The student understands that Representatives must be at least 25 years old and Senators must be at least 30 years old. The student can identify at least one of the following qualifications: Representatives must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, Senators must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and Representatives and Senators must be an inhabitant of the stat from which they were elected.

The student understands that Representatives must be at least 25 years old and Senators must be at least 30 years old. The student can identify all of the following qualifications: Representatives must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, Senators must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and Representatives and Senators must be an inhabitant of the stat from which they were elected.

Name at least five things a legislator does.

The student lists only one of the following jobs of a legislator: national legislator, local representative, committee member, investigator, civic educator, local dignitary, media voice, staff manager, campaigner, party leader and strategist, national dignitary, community helper, constituent helper, listener, civic promoter.

The student lists two to five of the following jobs of a legislator: national legislator, local representative, committee member, investigator, civic educator, local dignitary, media voice, staff manager, campaigner, party leader and strategist, national dignitary, community helper, constituent helper, listener, civic promoter.

The student lists at least five of the following jobs of a legislator: national legislator, local representative, committee member, investigator, civic educator, local dignitary, media voice, staff manager, campaigner, party leader and strategist, national dignitary, community helper, constituent helper, listener, civic promoter.

The student lists more than five of the following jobs of a legislator: national legislator, local representative, committee member, investigator, civic educator, local dignitary, media voice, staff manager, campaigner, party leader and strategist, national dignitary, community helper, constituent helper, listener, civic promoter.

The student lists and describes more than five of the following jobs of a legislator: national legislator, local representative, committee member, investigator, civic educator, local dignitary, media voice, staff manager, campaigner, party leader and strategist, national dignitary, community helper, constituent helper, listener, civic promoter.

Explain what a Member of Congress does during a typical day.

The student is unable to explain what a Member of Congress does during a typical day.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very hectic and unpredictable.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very hectic and unpredictable. The student describes at least one of the following activities that Members may do during a typical day: attend a caucus meeting, meet with staff, meet with constituents, attend a hearing, participate in committee markup, speak to civic groups, answer calls, meet with press, vote on legislation, or participate in floor debate.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very hectic and unpredictable. The student describes at least two of the following activities that Members may do during a typical day: attend a caucus meeting, meet with staff, meet with constituents, attend a hearing, participate in committee markup, speak to civic groups, answer calls, meet with press, vote on legislation, or participate in floor debate.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very demanding and hectic. The student describes at least three of the following activities that Members may do during a typical day: attend a caucus meeting, meet with staff, meet with constituents, attend a hearing, participate in committee markup, speak to civic groups, answer calls, meet with press, vote on legislation, or participate in floor debate.

Describe the workload of Congress.

The student incorrectly describes the workload of Congress.

The student understands that a Member of Congress is very busy.

The student understands that a Member of Congress is very busy during the day and describes some of the activities during a typical day.

The student understands that a Member of Congress is very busy during the day and describes some of the activities during a typical day. The student describes one of the following: number of bills introduced in each Congress, number of committee and subcommittee meetings the average Member attends, the average number of votes per Congress, the average number of new laws passed each session, the average number of visitors to the Capitol per year, and the average number of letters and e-mails a Member receives.

The student understands that a Member of Congress is very busy during the day and describes some of the activities during a typical day. The student describes two or more of the following: number of bills introduced in each Congress, number of committee and subcommittee meetings the average Member attends, the average number of votes per Congress, the average number of new laws passed each session, the average number of visitors to the Capitol per year, and the average number of letters and e-mails a Member receives.

Describe some of the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress

The student incorrectly describes the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress.

The student describes a benefit or a frustration of being a Member of Congress but not both.

The student describes at least one benefit and one frustration of being a Member of Congress.

The student describes at least two pros and two cons of being a Member of Congress.

The student describes at least two pros and two cons of being a Member of Congress. The student describes some of the frustrations John Adams felt when he was in Congress and discuss whether Members of Congress today experience some of the same frustrations that John Adams did.

Identify your current representatives in the legislative branch of the national government.

The student incorrectly names his or her representatives in Congress.

The student names only some of his or her representatives in Congress.

The student names all of his or her representatives in Congress.

The student names all of his or her representatives in Congress and knows each Member's party affiliation.

The student names all of his or her representatives in Congress knows each Member's party affiliation, describes each Member's current role of in Congress (committee work, subcommittee work, or bills he or she has introduced)

Describe the activities of a legislator visiting his or her district.

The student is unable to explain what a Member of Congress does during a typical day.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very hectic and unpredictable.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very hectic and unpredictable. The student describes at least one of the following activities that Members may do during a typical day: attend a caucus meeting, meet with staff, meet with constituents, attend a hearing, participate in committee markup, speak to civic groups, answer calls, meet with press, vote on legislation, or participate in floor debate.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very hectic and unpredictable. The student describes at least two of the following activities that Members may do during a typical day: attend a caucus meeting, meet with staff, meet with constituents, attend a hearing, participate in committee markup, speak to civic groups, answer calls, meet with press, vote on legislation, or participate in floor debate.

The student understands that a Member's typical day is very demanding and hectic. The student describes at least three of the following activities that Members may do during a typical day: attend a caucus meeting, meet with staff, meet with constituents, attend a hearing, participate in committee markup, speak to civic groups, answer calls, meet with press, vote on legislation, or participate in floor debate.

Explain why it is important for representatives to stay in touch with their constituents.

The student incorrectly describes the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress.

The student describes one way representatives stay in touch with their constituents.

The student explains why it is important for representatives to stay in touch with their constituents.

The student explains why it is important for representatives to stay in touch with their constituents and explains how they keep in touch with them.

The student explains why it is important for representatives to stay in touch with their constituents and explains how they keep in touch with them. The student explains what would happen to our representative democracy if legislators and constituents stopped communicating.

Unsatisfactory

1

Poor

2

Fair

3

Above Average

4

Excellent

5

Score

Explain what a Member of Congress does.

The student is unable to explain what a legislator does.

The student understands that legislators create laws but he or she is unable to describe some of the many other responsibilities that legislators have.

The student explains that Members of Congress make laws and describes one other responsibility of a Member of Congress such as: communicating with constituents, serving on committees, debating on the floor, being a role model for other citizens, educating others, and managing an office.

The student explains that Members of Congress make laws and describes two other responsibilities of a Member of Congress such as: communicating with constituents, serving on committees, debating on the floor, being a role model for other citizens, educating others, and managing an office.

The student explains that Members of Congress make laws and describes at least three other responsibilities of a Member of Congress such as: communicating with constituents, serving on committees, debating on the floor, being a role model for other citizens, educating others, and managing an office.

Describe the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress.

The student incorrectly describes the benefits and frustrations of being a Member of Congress.

The student describes a benefit or a frustration of being a Member of Congress but not both.

The student describes at least one benefit and one frustration of being a Member of Congress.

The student describes at least two pros and two cons of being a Member of Congress.

The student describes at least two pros and two cons of being a Member of Congress. The student describes some of the frustrations a current Member of Congress may experience.

List some qualities they think a Member of Congress should have.

The student is unable to list some qualities they think a Member of Congress should have.

The student lists one quality they think a Member of Congress should have.

The student lists two qualities they think a Member of Congress should have.

The student lists three qualities they think a Member of Congress should have.

The student lists at least three qualities they think a Member of Congress should have and explains why those qualities are important.

Explain what a freshman Member of Congress can do to have a successful first term.

The student is unable to explain what a freshman Member of Congress can do to have a successful first term.

The student describes one thing a freshman Member of Congress does.

The student describes some basic questions that new Members of Congress must sort through as they set up their office and decide on their priorities. The student explains how a Member's decisions can affect their success as a representative.

The student describes some basic questions that new Members of Congress must sort through as they set up their office and decide on their priorities. The student explains how a Member's decisions can affect their success as a representative. The student describes how one of the following can affect a Member's success: staff expertise, committee assignments, location of family, approach to legislative process, or voting process.

The student describes some basic questions that new Members of Congress must sort through as they set up their office and decide on their priorities. The student explains how a Member's decisions can affect their success as a representative. The student describes how two or more of the following can affect a Member's success: staff expertise, committee assignments, location of family, approach to legislative process, or voting process.

Define the following terms: Legislative Insider, Party Insider, Ombudsman, Statesman, and Outsider.

The student defines two of the four terms.

The student defines three of the four terms.

The student defines all four terms.

The student defines the terms legislative insider, party insider, ombudsman, statesman, and outsider; and explains which role their representatives primarily focus on.

The student defines the terms legislative insider, party insider, ombudsman, statesman, and outsider; explains which role their representatives primarily focus on; and describes at least one Senator or Representative who focused on each role.