Education Technology


NCSS: Assessing the Legislation Process

Activity Overview

Students must demonstrate that they understand the legislation process and decide how they could improve it. Students, acting as informed citizens, write a letter to their local congressmen about a smoking ban in public restaurants.

Before the Activity

See the attached Activity PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity.

Print the appropriate pages from the Activity for your class.

Install the LearningCheck(tm) App on the students' graphing calculators following the attached instructions.

Make sure each student has a TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus graphing calculator loaded with the LearningCheck(tm) application. Transmit the LearningCheck(tm) file, Order.edc, to each student using either the TI-Navigator classroom network or the TI Connectivity Cables and TI Connect(tm) software. Use the instructions from Activity 1 to do this.

During the Activity

  • Distribute the appropriate pages from the Activity to your class
  • Distribute the LearningCheck(tm) file(s) to your class using TI Connect(tm) and the appropriate TI Connectivity cable
  • Follow the procedures outlined in the Activity


  • Students will:
  • Examine persistent issues involving the rights, roles, and status of the individual in relation to the general welfare.
  • Locate, access, analyze, interpret, and evaluate sources and examples of citizens' rights and responsibilities.
  • Practice forms of civic discussion and participation consistent with the ideals of citizens in a democratic republic.
  • Students will act in a virtuous and ethically responsible way as members of society.
  • Participate in activities to strengthen the "common good," based upon careful evaluation of possible options for all citizens.
  • After the Activity

    At the end of the period, review the process of legislation with the students. Remind the students of the requirements for the second portion of the assessment, and repeat the due date for the essay and the letter.