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How a Member Decides to Vote
General Overview
In this module students will learn about the various influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill. View the "how to" document.
Lessons and Assessments
The lessons listed below are self-contained. You may complete them in any order you wish.
Personal Opinions (Grades 5 – 8)
In this lesson students examine some of the things that influence an individual's personal opinion about political events. Students will compare these influences with the influences of a local representative.
Special Interest Groups (Grades 5 – 8)
This lesson briefly explains what a special interest group is and describes the impact of interest groups on the political process.
Role of Special Interest Groups in the Legislative Process (Grades 9 – 12)
In this lesson students will examine the role of special interest groups, think tanks, and public opinion on the development of public policy and the political process.
The Role of the Media (Grades 9 – 12)
In this lesson students will examine media coverage of events and public policy situations and determine how the news media have influenced the political process.
The Role of Political Parties in the Legislative Process (Grades 9 – 12)
During this lesson students will investigate the role of political parties, explore the key positions taken by four major political parties, and learn how party politics impacts public policy decisions.
How Did Your Representative Vote? (Grades 9 – 12)
This lesson examines some of the things that influence legislators to vote for or against bills. Students will research how their representative voted on a specific issue and discuss what might have influenced their representative's decisions.
Rubric: This section contains performance assessment rubrics for students who have completed all of the lessons in the Civic Participation Module. These rubrics may be saved and used "as-is," or you can modify the rubrics in any way that is appropriate for your students.
Worksheets
Other Resources
Glossary: The glossary provides the definition for key terms students should know in order to complete this module.
Web sites: This section includes Web sites that will further develop students' understanding of the various influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill.
Print Materials: This section lists resources for both teachers and students about various influences that affect how a Member of Congress decides to vote on a bill. It includes print materials mentioned in the module as well as other helpful materials.