How a Bill Becomes a State Law - Tracing a Real Currently-Active Bill

Land acknowledgment + Sovereignty Promise recite + brief civic orientation: review yesterday's three branches.

• Lead orientation
• Affirm: 'A bill becomes a law through a specific 6-step process - we trace it today'
• Reference iCivics 'How a Bill Becomes a Law' state-level adaptation

Display MG-12 Bill-to-Law 6-step diagram. Walk through each step: (1) IDEA - a citizen, advocacy organization, or legislator proposes; (2) BILL DRAFTED AND INTRODUCED in chamber of origin (state senate or state assembly/house); (3) COMMITTEE HEARING - public comment by citizens INCLUDING children (this is where a 9-year-old can participate); (4) FLOOR VOTE in chamber of origin; (5) SENT TO SECOND CHAMBER - repeat steps 3-4; (6) GOVERNOR SIGNS OR VETOES - and the legislature can override a veto. Identify ONE real currently-active state bill (LOCALIZE per state legislature website). Trace its current step on the 6-step poster.

• Real bills are at real steps - we can know where one is right now.

  model Bill [#] - [topic] - currently in step [3] - committee hearing. The committee will hear public comment on [date]. A 9-year-old can submit written public comment.

  prompt Apply the 6 steps to a real currently-active state bill.

• Name the 6 steps of the state bill-to-law process.
• At which step can a 9-year-old participate?

Children examine MG-12 diagram and a real currently-active state-bill summary. Brief State Archive Card application: the state legislature's website is the state's open archive of currently-active bills - sourcing it as a primary government source.

M-4-F-CIV-14-A Diagram

MG-12 24x18 flowchart with 6 numbered steps and arrows. Sidebar: 'A 9-year-old citizen CAN write a letter to a state legislator, give public comment at a hearing, or speak at a town hall.' Child silhouettes at the committee hearing and public comment step. Style: iCivics-clean flowchart. LOCALIZE.

MG-12 Diagram

Bill-to-Law State-Level Process Diagram - 24x18 inches. Six steps: (1) Idea (a citizen, advocacy organization, or legislator proposes); (2) Bill drafted and introduced in State Senate or State Assembly/House; (3) Committee hearing - public comment by citizens including children; (4) Floor vote in chamber of origin; (5) Sent to second chamber, repeat 3-4; (6) Governor signs or vetoes (or allows to become law without signature). Sidebar: 'A 9-year-old citizen CAN write a letter to a state legislator, give public comment at a hearing, or speak at a town hall.' Style: iCivics-clean flowchart with arrows; child silhouettes at the committee hearing step and the public comment step.

• In pairs, complete the 6-step poster for one chosen real currently-active bill

  scaffold Teacher pre-fills step 1; pairs do steps 2-6
• Conduct 6-step role-play - children physically move from station-chair to station-chair as the bill progresses

  scaffold Teacher facilitates with running commentary

• Name the 6 steps of the state bill-to-law process.
• Identify the step at which a 9-year-old can participate.
• Identify the step at which a bill becomes a statute.

• Restate the 6-step process
• Preview lesson 15 - state supreme court at G4-light

• Show the 6-step poster to a caregiver. Ask: 'Have you ever submitted public comment on a state bill?' Discuss.