How are laws made in the state of Washington?

Role play information for students

Start with a discussion:

• What do you already know about the state of Washington?
• What do you know about the rules or laws in the state of Washington?
• How do we get our laws?

You are all elected officials in the State of Washington. Some of you are State Senators, some are State Representatives, and one of you is our Governor.

Take a look at a map of the legislative districts in Washington.

Today a bill is being presented to your house in the Washington State Legislature.

Bill for the House
Elementary school libraries need improvement. They need to hold more computers for students to use, a bigger collection of books, and more tables and chairs for students to do research. In order to fund this bill, students will be charged $1.00 for each day that a book is overdue. We will also cut funding for music and PE teachers so that more money can be put into libraries. Students will only have music and PE once a week.

Bill for the Senate
We need to improve the health of children in the state of Washington. Stores will not be allowed to sell candy or soft drinks to children except on weekends. Schools will not be allowed to serve any desserts or chocolate milk to students at lunch time. There will be a 20 percent tax on all candy sales to raise additional money, and this money will be used to improve the gyms and playgrounds of all elementary schools so that they include high-tech jungle gyms and all of the necessary supplies for playing basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, and soccer.

Follow these steps to decide whether this bill should become a law:

• First Reading – read the bill. President, appoint three people to be on a committee to work on the bill further.
• Committee Action – Committee, talk about the bill. Hold a public hearing – visit a classroom to ask them what they think about the bill. Do you have any changes to make to the bill? If so, add them in writing.
• Second Reading – Committee members, read the bill to your house. Give them a chance to talk about the bill. Changes can be made here as well.
• Third Reading – House president, read the final bill to your house. Take a roll call vote.
• Repeat the process in the other house.
• Enroll the bill – give it the stamp of approval if it passes both the house and the senate.
• Governor’s actions – Governor, read the bill. Will you sign it into law? Will you veto the whole thing? Will you veto parts of it?

Governor's task
While the houses of the legislature are working on their bills, the Governor’s job is to read about his/her job and write a letter to the legislators, calling a special session to make an amendment to the budget. Focus on the priorities of our current governor (read the first paragraph of each area listed on the left side of the screen). What is your #1 priority? What do you want to change the budget to add? (be specific, and be creative!)