HN Government Class Wraps Up Unit on Legislative Branch

Mr. Foster’s Government class wrapped up their unit on The Legislative Branch with activities surrounding ‘How a Bill Becomes a law”.

After revisiting the classic Schoolhouse Rock video, the class visited with Mindi Brookhart, press secretary for U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), via Zoom. Ms. Brookhart fielded questions about adjusting to life in Washington, DC, versus rural Ohio. Students learned about how intense work life can be on Capitol Hill and how her high school experience in activities like the History Brigade and FFA helped prepare her for college and future position on Congressional staff.

Throughout the unit students picked individual representatives to research and then “play” during simulation. Each student was asked to write two bills their representative would support. They were given two class periods to work in committee to get their bills passed and compete to secure the most funding for their constituents.

In an upset, the minority party Republicans outmaneuvered their counterparts and secured almost two-thirds of the national budget. Kylee Clem, acting as Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), was the overall winner with the most funding secured for her district.