Welcome to The Dirksen Congressional Center's Communicator–a web-based e-newsletter providing educators with news and ideas to improve the understanding of Congress: http://www.webcommunicator.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- People Who Served in Congress
- Congress Defined
- *New* Congressional Committee Simulation: Raising the Minimum Wage
- *New* Editorial Cartoons
- *New* Congressman Ray LaHood on YouTube!
- *New* Quick Donation
- *New* Facebook
- *New* Select a Candidate 2008 & Trivia
- Postscript Information
- PEOPLE WHO SERVED IN CONGRESS
Sketches of famous and not-so-famous Senators and Representatives
Mae Ella Nolan (R-CA). Congresswoman Nolan holds two “firsts” in Congress. Not only was she the first woman to succeed her husband (who died shortly after his election to a sixth term) in Congress, she also was the first woman to chair a committee—the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office. She won a full term in her own right in 1922. As the only woman in the 68th Congress, Nolan minimized gender differences. “A capable woman is a better representative than an incapable man, and vice versa,” she said. Nolan did not stand for reelection in 1924.
Sources:
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000125
“Mae Ella Hunt Nolan” in Women in Congress, 1917-2006. Prepared under the direction of the Committee on House Administration by the Office of History & Preservation, U. S. House of Representatives. Washington: Government Printing Office, 2006: 56-59.
- CONGRESS DEFINED
Words and phrases that describe congressional processes
Markup. A meeting or series of meetings by a committee or subcommittee during which members “mark up” a measure by offering, debating, and voting on amendments to it. A single bill may be marked up more than once. When a committee has agreed to extensive revisions, it often reports the measure with a single amendment in the nature of a substitute or reports a clean bill.
Source:
Congressional Quarterly, American Congressional Dictionary, 3rd ed. (Washington DC; CQ Press, 2001): 146.
- CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE SIMULATION: RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE
* NEW LESSON PLAN *
During our annual Congress in the Classroom® workshop –– http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm –– participants are asked to introduce the lesson plans, resources, and techniques that have proven successful in teaching about Congress in their classrooms. A past participant, James Jurgens, St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati, Ohio, presented a lesson entitled, Congressional Committee Simulation: Raising the Minimum Wage.
This classroom simulation of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce allows students to understand the procedures and political process of committee action on a bill. Students play the roles of Republican and Democratic committee members with four different views on raising the minimum wage. After hearing arguments of opposing interest groups in a committee hearing, committee members attempt to forge a bipartisan majority through political bargaining and compromise on a bill to increase the minimum wage.
NOTE: This lesson was modified from the original in April 2008 when the minimum wage was $5.85 and set to increase to $6.55 on July 24. Congress has already passed legislation that will increase the minimum wage further on July 24, 2009, to $7.25. Teachers may want to introduce this lesson by saying that Congress often begins to deal with legislative issues well in advance—in other words, committees could begin taking testimony now on what the wage should be after 2009.
Find Congressional Committee Simulation: Raising the Minimum Wage at: http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_congcommsim_miniwage.htm
- * NEW * EDITORIAL CARTOONS
The Dirksen Congressional Center recently announced the completion of the Editorial Cartoon Collection project: http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/index.htm.
The editorial cartoons and related lesson plans from The Dirksen Center will teach students to identify issues, analyze symbols, acknowledge the need for background knowledge, recognize stereotypes and caricatures, think critically, and appreciate the role of irony and humor.
This month we have posted four new cartoons:
Caption: Federal Budget 1963 –– http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron11-20.htm #12
Caption: Civil Rights and the 1964 Presidential Campaign –– http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron11-20.htm #14
Caption: Congress and the Judiciary –– http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron11-20.htm #15
Caption: The Battle Over 14b -- http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron11-20.htm #17
- * NEW * CONGRESSMAN RAY LAHOOD ON YOUTUBE
I am sure at some time everyone has heard the new buzzword – YouTube – a video sharing Website where users can upload, view, and share video clips.
Political candidates for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election have been using YouTube as an outlet for advertising their candidacies. CNN even aired a debate in which candidates fielded questions selected from a pool submitted by users of YouTube.
The Dirksen Center site now boasts a new feature using YouTube videos.
You can watch Congressman Ray LaHood’s appearance at Illinois’s Republican Day at the state fair. This video includes interviews with State Party Chairman Andy McKenna, Congressman LaHood, and Minority Leader Tom Cross.
From the State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, you can watch the congressman announce his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of his current term. Congressman LaHood was first elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 which led to the Republicans taking control of the House for the first time in 40 years.
You can also watch him endorse Senator John McCain for President at Republican Day. Find Congressman Ray LaHood on YouTube at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_lahood_youtube.htm
Congressman LaHood represents the 18th congressional district in Illinois, home to The Dirksen Congressional Center. The Center is the repository for the congressman’s papers.
- * NEW * QUICK DONATION
The Dirksen Center introduces a new, simple way to make a tax-deductible online donation to help support The Center’s programs or operations.
We invite you to consider participating in our simple five-step QUICK DONATION opportunity. Visit The Dirksen Center home page at: http://www.dirksencenter.org. Click the QUICK DONATION image located in the middle at the bottom of the page.
As always, we appreciate your support!
- * NEW * FACEBOOK
The Dirksen Center has Facebook!
Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study, and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends and family, share photos and videos, and reconnect with old classmates, plus much more.
If you don’t already have a Facebook account, sign up -- http://www.facebook.com/ -- and search for us by entering Dirksen Congressional Center.
We would enjoy having you as a friend!
- * NEW * SELECT A CANDIDATE 2008 & TRIVIA
Answer the 14 questions to find out which candidates are most aligned with your views and opinions. You may skip questions if you do not want them factored into the results.
This quiz is not meant to pick your candidate for you. It is designed to inform the public of the various stances candidates make. Results are not scientific.
Find Select a Candidate 2008 at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/Elections_candidates/2_candidates.htm
Trivia: Starting in 1896, when the nomination of William Jennings Bryan as the Democratic candidate began the ideological evolution of the two major parties into their present-day makeup, and continuing through the 2000 election, which states have voted Republican the most times?
- Indiana and Vermont
- Nebraska and South Dakota
- Utah and Kansas
- North Dakota and Wyoming
*Find the answer in next month's issue.
Answer to March 2008’s Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans0308.htm
- POSTSCRIPT INFORMATION
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