POLS101

Directions

:

The purpose of this exercise is to become familiar with the workings of Congress.  It is an Article I (of 

the U.S. Constitution) study tool.  Please follow these instructions carefully.

1.

Visit either of the congressional websites:  

www.senate.gov

or 

www.house.gov

.

2.

Select a 

CURRENT

Senator or Member of Congress from the website that is of interest to you.  It may be 

a Senator from your home state or perhaps 

some one that you have seen on the news and would like to 

know more about.

3.

Research the life and legislative record of that Senator or Member of Congress.

4.

Prepare a research paper that addresses the following issues:

a.

A brief (two paragraph) biography 

of the subject.

b.

What led this person to run for public office?

c.

On what committees and subcommittees does the subject serve?

d.

List  three  significant  pieces  of  legislation  that  the  subject  has  sponsored  and  describe  the 

importance  of  the  legislation;  as  we

ll  as  what  groups  or  factions  supported  and  opposed  the 

legislation.

e.

Would you describe the subject as an effective legislator and why?

Address these issues in a paper of 

AT LEAST

five (5) pages in length.  The paper should be typed, double

-

spaced, 

1” ma

rgins,  with  a  font  size  no  larger  than  12  point,  nor  smaller  the  10  point.   

Undertake  as  much  outside 

research  as  necessary  to  adequately  answer  the  questions  a