Congressional+Committees+Assignment


 * Congressional Committees Assignment **** Name: ____________________________________ **
 * __ Assignment Overview __** : Your main goal in this assignment is to discover how committees influence the lawmaking process. Additionally, you will research the roles of the more powerful Congressional Committees.

1. Using this[| link], summarize why it is important for Americans to know about the workings of Congressional committees.
 * __ I. Role & Importance of Congressional Committees: __**

2. Watch this [|video]. Describe what the legislative process would be like if there were no Congressional committees.

[|3.] Why would a bank be more likely to donate campaign contributions to a congressional representative on the banking committee?


 * __ II. Learning about the Powerful Congressional Committees: __**
 * Name of Committee  ||  ** Succinctly ** Describe the Committee’s Jurisdiction   ||   List the current Chairperson & Ranking Member from the Minority Party   ||   How many Subcommittees are currently in the committee?   ||   Evaluate why this committee is considered a ‘powerful’ committee   ||
 * 3. **House** [|Ways & Means] ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 4. **House** [|Rules] ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Name of Committee  ||  ** Succinctly ** Describe the Committee’s Jurisdiction   ||   List the current Chairperson & Ranking Member from the Minority Party   ||   How many Subcommittees are currently in the committee?   ||   Evaluate why this committee is considered a ‘powerful’ committee   ||
 * 5. **House** [|Appropriations] ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 6. **Senate** [|Judiciary] ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 7. **Senate** [|Foreign Relations] ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * 8. **Senate** [|Appropriations] ||  ||   ||   ||   ||

**__III. Learning about ‘Earmarks’:__** 9. Describe the meaning of an **“earmark”**’ in fewer than __15 words__. Use this [|resource] and any other resources to help you.

10. List the [|pros & cons] of members of Congress utilizing ‘earmarks’.
 * ** Pros of Earmarks ** ||  ** Cons of Earmarks **  ||

11. Why do the [|House Appropriations Committee] & the [|Senate Appropriations Committee], respectively, utilize ‘earmarks’ more than other committees.

12. View the ‘[|earmarks]’ sponsored/co-sponsored by Rep. Donna Edwards. 12a. Based on your analysis of the data, do you feel Edwards has helped allocate funding for any illicit/controversial items? Explain.

12b. List the ‘earmarks’ Edwards has helped allocate for the Hyattsville/College Park/Beltsville area.

12c. What is your view on ‘earmarks’? Should they be banned, allowed, regulated differently? Explain.