Objective: Explain how Congress conducts oversight of the bureaucracy.
Starter: What has happened to the number of deaths per 100 million vehicle miles driven in the US over the past 70 years?
1.How accurate was your prediction?
2.What is the biggest surprise in this data?
3.What is the big story this chart tells?
4.Why do you think the death rate has been reduced so significantly over the past 70 years?
5.Do you think we have regulated car safety enough or do you think we should continue to improve safety measures?
6.What impact did the introduction of the seat belt have on car safety?
7.Based on this data, What would you say to someone who says that regulations don't work?
8.What are some things other than cars that the federal government regulates?
9.Some people say that gun regulations don't work. Does this information make you feel like the U.S. should do more to regulate guns in America?
10.The Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Do you read the Second Amendment to outlaw regulations on guns?
11.Of course, what you think about the Second Amendment doesn't have the effect of law. What group's opinion on the Second Amendment would have the effect of law? And what part of government would carry out any rulings, laws, or executive orders regarding guns?
12.Let's say you wanted the Congress to make a law regulating guns the way we regulate cars. What are the most effective steps you could take to try to influence Congress?
Don't Cut My Department
- Each agency will present in the order from lowest to highest current budget.
- The combined budget of all 10 agencies is $182.4 billion. Our task is to reduce that down to $140 billion by cutting or reorganizing departments based on their merits.
- As each agency presents, take notes on the best reasons to increase, maintain, or decrease funding. Be prepared to ask and answer questions as each agency presents.
Closer: Explain how the Congress ensures that executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities.
- Make a claim here!
- Support your claim with TWO pieces of accurate and relevant information.
- Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim.
- Respond to an opposing or alternative perspective.