A lesson, one period, grade 7 and up
Reading a roll call
Most laws pass with no name-by-name vote at all. How to read the page when there is one, three real votes to compare, and how to find your own legislator on it.
- Grades
- 7 and up
- Time
- About 45 minutes
Standards
D2.Civ.5 C3 Framework
- Grades 6-8
- Explain the origins, functions, and structure of government with reference to the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions, and selected other systems of government.
- Grades 9-12
- Evaluate citizens' and institutions' effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national, and/or international level.
D2.Civ.12 C3 Framework
- Grades 6-8
- Assess specific rules and laws (both actual and proposed) as means of addressing public problems.
- Grades 9-12
- Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international laws to address a variety of public issues.
D3.1 C3 Framework
- Grades 6-8
- Gather relevant information from multiple sources while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value of the sources to guide the selection.
- Grades 9-12
- Gather relevant information from multiple sources representing a wide range of views while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value of the sources to guide the selection.
The C3 Framework and Common Core publish these by grade band, so each is shown at every band it has. Neither framework goes above grade 12.
Objectives
- Tell a recorded vote from a voice vote and unanimous consent, and say which one leaves a record of each legislator.
- Read an official roll call page: the question, the type of vote, the total needed, the count, the party columns and "not voting".
- Compare a lopsided roll call and a close one, and explain why a recorded vote does not mean a divided chamber.
- Find how their own Representative or Senators voted on a roll call, and describe it accurately without judging it.
Words this lesson uses
Yea and nay · Present · Not voting · Two-thirds vote · Suspension of the rules · Chamber
Defined on the student handout.
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