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:

* GRANTS: CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH AWARDS *

1. People Who Served in Congress
2. Congress Defined
3. *New* Lesson Plan: The Saga of the Money Trail: Developing the Federal Budget
4. *New* Editorial Cartoons
5. *New* Project: Library of Congress: Architecture and Symbolism
6. *New* Resource: Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching
7. *New* The Civil Rights Movement – Fighting Segregation
8. *New* Interactive: Inauguration Day Quiz & Trivia
9. Postscript Information

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

Aaron Schock took the oath of office for the 111th Congress on January 6, 2009, becoming the youngest member of the House. He was elected in November to replace Ray LaHood, who retired from the House and is the Secretary-designate of Transportation in the Obama administration. Here is the information posted on Schock’s Illinois General Assembly site:  Real estate management; born May 28, 1981; B.S. in finance from Bradley University; President, Peoria Board of Education, 2004 - Present, member since 2001; Big Brother, Heart of Illinois Big Brothers and Big Sisters, 200 - 2003; Board of Directors, Youth for a Cause; Youth Education and Learning Committee, Peoria Mayor's Vision 2020; Education Task Force, Peoria Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, Heart of Illinois Kids Count; St. Jude Telethon V.I.P.; Volunteer on medical mission to poorest areas of Mexico and Jamaica.

Sources:

http://schock.house.gov/index.html

http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=1302

African-Americans in Congress:  Jefferson Franklin Long (1836-1901).  The second African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Jefferson Long served less than three months—the shortest term of any African-American Member—but nevertheless became the first black Member to speak on the House Floor. Speaking against the Amnesty Bill, which restored political rights to most former Confederates, Long pleaded with his colleagues to acknowledge the atrocities being committed by white supremacists in Georgia. “Do we, then, really propose here to-day … when loyal men dare not carry the ‘stars and stripes’ through our streets … to relieve from political disability the very men who have committed these Kuklux [sic] outrages?” he declared on the House Floor. “I think that I am doing my duty to my constituents and my duty to my country when I vote against such a proposition.”

Sources: 

Black Americans in Congress at http://baic.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=7

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress:  http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000419

Women in Congress:  Rebecca Latimer Felton (1835-1930).  Rebecca Felton's brief and essentially symbolic service in the Senate stood in contrast to her decades of participation in Georgia politics and civic affairs. Outspoken, determined, and irascible, Felton was involved in public life from the 1870s through the 1920s. She first entered politics during her husband's successful campaign for the House of Representatives and went on to work as a lecturer and newspaper writer, before becoming the first woman to serve in the United States Senate. Felton said, “the biggest part of this appointment lies in the recognition of women in the government of our country. It means, as far as I can see, there are now no limitations upon the ambitions of women. They can be elected or appointed to any office in the land. The word ‘sex' has been obliterated entirely from the Constitution.”

Sources: 

Women in Congress at http://womenincongress.house.gov/

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress:  http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000069

2. CONGRESS DEFINED
   Words and phrases that describe congressional processes

The House Calendar.  A list of bills available for consideration in the House. Bills are referred to the House Calendar if they do not deal with money, directly or indirectly.

Source:

http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/alphalist.htm

3. * NEW LESSON PLAN * THE SAGA OF THE MONEY TRAIL: DEVELOPING THE FEDERAL BUDGET

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 2005 participant, Lori Dumerer, R.L. Turner High School, Carrollton, TX, presented a lesson entitled, The Saga of the Money Trail: Developing the Federal Budget.

In this lesson, students will trace the steps in the federal budget-making process.  They will recognize the complexity involved in the budget process, including the competing demands for funds.  Students will all analyze how compromise leads to the final budget.

Find The Saga of the Money Trail: Developing the Federal Budget at: http://www.congresslink.org/print_lp_federalbudget.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 five new cartoons:

1. Caption: The Filibuster http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron31-40.htm #39
   
   
2. Caption: Open Housing Bill http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron41-50.htm #42
   
   
3. Caption: Dirksen on Vietnam http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron41-50.htm #45
    
4. Caption: Dirksen the Recording Star http://congresslink.org/cartoons/chron41-50.htm #47
   
   
5. Caption: Dirksen’s Death http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/chron51-60.htm #54

We now have a total of 59 cartoons posted!

5.   * NEW PROJECT *  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: ARCHITECTURE AND SYMBOLISM

This online book authored by John F. Gilligan, Ph.D., President Emeritus, Fayette Companies, and Ray LaHood, Member of Congress, 18th District, Illinois, demonstrates how the American identity is embodied in the Library's architecture, sculptures, paintings, and mosaics. By focusing on the symbols, allegories, and decorations that first dazzle the eye upon visiting the Library, a deeper understanding of who we are or ought to be as Americans emerges. This special edition on the art and architecture of the Library of Congress highlights the building's magnificence.

NOTE: [Double-click each page for zooming or click the magnifying glass located in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen]

Find Library of Congress: Architecture and Symbolism at: http://www.dirksencenterprojects.org/#library

6. * NEW RESOURCE *  PUTTING THE MOVEMENT BACK INTO CIVIL RIGHTS TEACHING

Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching, published by Teaching for Change and PRRAC, provides lessons and articles for pre-K-12 educators on how to go beyond a heroes approach to the Civil Rights Movement.

Link to Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching from The Center’s Civil Rights Documentation Project (purple bar, left side) at: http://www.congresslink.org/civilrights/aboutproject.htm

7. * NEW *  THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT – FIGHTING SEGREGATION

If you are a teacher looking for a free educational PowerPoint presentation about the civil rights movement and fighting segregation, Congress for Kids has something for you.

Find The Civil Rights Movement – Fighting Segregation at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/Judicial_segregation/2_jud_segregation.htm

8. * NEW *  INTERACTIVE: INAUGURATION DAY QUIZ & TRIVIA

January 20, 2009 was Inauguration Day!  See how much your students know about past inaugurations.  Quiz their noodles!

Find Inauguration Trivia at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/elections_inauguration/2_inauguration.htm  

Trivia: Which prominent US politician did not attend Martin Luther King, Jr.’s funeral?

1. Robert Kennedy
2. Richard Nixon
3. Hubert Humphrey
4. Lyndon Johnson

*Find the answer in next month's issue.

Answer to December 2008's Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans1208.htm

9. POSTSCRIPT INFORMATION

NOTICE REGARDING E-MAIL ADDRESSES:  Communicator's mailing list has over 30,000 names and is still growing. Please follow the instructions below to help us with list editing:

SUBSCRIBE: To join the Communicator mailing list, please visit the Web site -- http://www.webcommunicator.org -- and enter your e- mail address in the text box provided located on the bottom left of your screen. You can also send an e- mail to Cindy Koeppel with the phrase - Subscribe Communicator -- in the body of the message.

UNSUBSCRIBE: To be removed from the Communicator mailing list, send an e- mail to Cindy Koeppel with the phrase - Remove Communicator -- in the body of the message.

UPDATE PROFILE OR E-MAIL ADDRESS: To change your e-mail address, send an e- mail to Cindy Koeppel with the phrase - E–mail Change -- in the body of the message.

FORWARD E-MAIL: We encourage you to forward The Dirksen Congressional Center's Communicator to a friend!

If you experience any problems, send an e-mail to Cindy Koeppel