Print and bring 3 Party Platforms - due 9/24

Look up these Party Platforms - choose 3 to print out and bring to class tomorrow.

Constitution Party
http://www.utah-constitution-party.org/utahplatform.html

Democratic Party
http://www.utahdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2010-Platform-Values-for-Freedom-and-the-Common-Good.pdf

Green Party
http://greenpartyutah.org/platform/

Independent American Party
http://www.independentamericanparty.org/about-the-iap/platform/

Libertarian Party
http://www.lputah.org/platform/

Republican Party
http://www.utgop.org/pdf/Utah%20Republican%20Party%20Platform%202009.pdf

Bill Research

Look at the following websites to find information:  

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/all

http://votesmart.org/

(Type in the Senator or Representative's name and then click on "Vote" to see their voting record)

Name:________________________________         Period:______        Score:________

Legislative Branch – Bill Research

Due Tuesday, September 23

1.     How did the bill originate? Was it written by a member of congress, the President, lobbyists, etc. 

1.     What is the problem they are trying to solve?

2.     Was the bill considered in committee? If so, describe the process briefly.

3.     Trace the history of the bill. Was the bill introduced in previous congresses? If so, what was different this time?

4.     What arguments did supporters and opponents make?

5.     Did opponents try to modify the bill by amending it? What was the purpose of these amendments?

6.     How many voted for the bill and who voted against it? Was it a party line vote?

7.     Did Utah’s Senators and Representatives vote for it or against it?  What reasons did they give for their decision?

a.      Senator

b.     Senator

c.      Representative

d.     Representative

e.      Representative

f.       Representative

8.     Would you vote for the bill?  Why or why not?

9.     What changes would you make to the bill?