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:

1. People Who Served in Congress
2. Congress Defined
3. *New* Senate Re-enactment
4. *New* Editorial Cartoons
5. *New* Robert H. Michel Collection: Press Series, 1965-94
6. Congress in the Classroom® 2008 A Success!
7. *New* President Forever 2008 + Primaries & Trivia
8. Postscript Information

1. PEOPLE WHO SERVED IN CONGRESS
   Sketches of famous and not-so-famous Senators and Representatives 

Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). 

Ted Stevens’ career in public service spans more than six decades.  During World War II, he joined the Army Air Corps and flew support missions for the Flying Tigers of the 14th Air Force.  Stevens was awarded numerous medals for his service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

After returning home from the war, Stevens completed degrees at UCLA and Harvard Law School.  In the early 1950s, he practiced law in Alaska before moving to Washington, DC to work in President Eisenhower’s administration. 

Stevens subsequently returned to Alaska and was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1964.  In his second term, Stevens became the House Majority Leader. 

Stevens was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1968.  Two years later, Alaskans chose Senator Stevens to finish his term in a special election mandated by state law.  He has since been re-elected six times.

Today, Senator Stevens is the senior member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, the senior Republican in the U.S. Senate, and the longest-serving Senator in the history of the Republican Party.  He serves as the Senate’s President Pro Tempore Emeritus; Vice Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Co-Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee; and Ranking Member of the Disaster Recovery Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee.

Sources:

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress:  http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000888   

Senator Stevens’ official Website:  http://stevens.senate.gov/public/

2. CONGRESS DEFINED
   Words and phrases that describe congressional processes

Seniority System.  A collection of long-standing customary practices under which members with longer continuous service than their colleagues in their chamber or on their committee receive various kinds of preferential treatment.  Usually, for example, the majority party member with the greatest seniority on a committee serves as its chairman, though that is not a hard and fast rule.  Another example:  Larger and more conveniently located offices are assigned according to members’ seniority in their houses.

Source:

Congressional Quarterly, American Congressional Dictionary, 3rd ed. (Washington DC;  CQ Press, 2001):  232-33.

3. * NEW LESSON PLAN * SENATE RE-ENACTMENT 

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 2008 participant, Jessica Hunsberger, Englewood Christian Academy, Independence, MO, presented a lesson entitled, Senate Re-enactment.

This is a very useful lesson plan when discussing the process of creating laws.  It is also a way to help make students aware of current situations in American government.  While it does not cover all aspects of creating laws, it is a great way for students to develop a definite opinion about a current political issue, which helps in discussing policy stances of presidential candidates.

Find Senate Re-enactment at: http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_senatereenactment.htm

4. * 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 three new cartoons:

Caption: 1964 Presidential Campaign http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron11-20.htm #17

Caption: 1964 Presidential Campaign http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron11-20.htm #18

Caption: 1964 Presidential Campaign http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron11-20.htm #19

5. * NEW * ROBERT H. MICHEL COLLECTION: PRESS SERIES, 1965-94

The Press Series of the Robert H. Michel Papers consists largely of documents which contain legislative issue information given by Michel's office to the public or other congressional offices. 30 linear feet accumulates clippings, memoranda, newsletters, constituent questionnaires, remarks and releases, files of the Republican Press Secretary, and an extensive subject file. The bulk of the materials date from 1965 to 1994.

We cropped these documents to allow search capabilities for each individual box number.  This will allow users to go directly to the correct box number using their search query rather than scrolling through the entire 71 pages.  All you have to do is enter a keyword in the search box found at http://www.dirksencenter.org/findingaids/index.htm.  For example, entering “organization” in the search box will pull up a list of documents in the Robert H. Michel Collection that include this word.  To find this word in the Press Series collection, the search results would appear like this: Robert H. Michel Collection: Press Series, 1965-94: Box 12

Find the complete index page for the Robert H. Michel Collection: Press Series, 1965-94, including all box numbers and a brief listing of the contents for each at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/findingaids/rhm_pressseries.htm

6. CONGRESS IN THE CLASSROOM® 2008 A SUCCESS!

The key element to The Dirksen Center's national, award-winning education program, Congress in the Classroom®, is the participation and collaboration among the teachers who attend the program.

Congress in the Classroom® is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress. In addition to sessions dealing with Congress, the 2008 program paid special attention to the upcoming congressional and presidential elections.

Read what our 2008 participants had to say about the workshop: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_programs_CongressClassroom.htm#say.

7. * NEW * PRESIDENT FOREVER 2008 + PRIMARIES & TRIVIA

Are you ready to become the most powerful political leader in the world? Prove it in this definitive political election game.  You will succeed by writing speeches, running ads (including attack ads), and having a rally. You can play against others or against the computer for the 2008 election or past elections. There is a demo and a paid version that can be bought online.

Find President Forever 2008 + Primaries at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/Elections_campaign/2_campaign.htm

Trivia: Shortly before he died in late 2006, former President Gerald Ford offered comments on the upcoming 2008 presidential race. Which two candidates did he anticipate would make for a particularly "great [general election] contest"?

1. McCain-Edwards
2. McCain-Clinton
3. Giuliani-Clinton
4. Giuliani-Obama

*Find the answer in next month's issue.

Answer to June 2008’s Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans0608.htm

8. POSTSCRIPT INFORMATION

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