How a Bill Becomes a Law

3rd Grade Social StudiesBranches of Government4 pages

About this worksheet

A 4-page 3rd grade sheet on how a bill becomes a law. Students sort 14 word cards, such as starts a petition, holds a committee hearing and sends a veto message, into Everyday Citizens, Congress and The President. Two short questions follow the sort. Then they number seven mixed-up step cards, from an idea for a law to a two-thirds override, and copy the letters into a top-to-bottom flowchart. The answer key gives the full sort, the step order and notes on the trickiest cards. It ties to C3 D2.Civ.1.3-5 and D2.Civ.3.3-5.

Page 1 of 4

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Curriculum objectives covered

D2.Civ.1.3-5

โ€œDistinguish the responsibilities and powers of government officials at various levels and branches of government and in different times and places.โ€

The sort separates what citizens, Congress and the President each do with a bill.

D2.Civ.3.3-5

โ€œExamine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.โ€

The flowchart follows a bill through committee and both houses to the President, with the two-thirds override as the last step.

What's inside this worksheet

Word bank

Fourteen cards, from signs the bill to writes a letter to Congress, under a picture of the Capitol.

Sort and reflect

A three-column table to sort into, then two questions: the hardest card to place, and one new action for each group.

Put the Steps in Order

Seven step cards to number from 1 to 7 and write into a flowchart. The last arrow is marked if vetoed.

Answers

The completed sort, sample answers for both questions, and the step order with each card's number.

How teachers use it

Cut and sort

Copy page 1 onto card and cut out the 14 cards. Groups sort them on their desks before anyone writes in the table.

Walk the bill

Tape the seven step cards around the room in order. Students carry a paper bill from the idea to the President's desk.

The tricky cards

Writes the bill and sends bill to White House cause most mix-ups. Read the teacher notes in the answer key aloud when you go over the sort.

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