Committees and Public Participation Lesson Plan

Audience: Civics and Citizenship Grade 10
Length of Time: Approximately 60 minutes

Overview:
An introduction of the role and functions of legislative committees, where students will understand the importance of civic engagement, the relevance of the committee's work and how it contributes to the legislative process by creating their own committee. 

Objective:
Students will develop an undertsanding of the committee process, identify how a committee works and learn how the public can participate in the legislative process. Students will learn about provincial issues, identify areas of interest or concern as they work through the committee stage of a provincial issue and become more engaged in the process.

Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
• Gain knowledge of the political spectrum and identify Ontario’s dominant political parties
• Research an issue relevant to youth, form and express opinions and develop critical thinking skills
• Gain understanding into how a committee is conducted
• Have knowledge of public participation in the legislative process
• Gain public speaking and communication skills

Curriculum Links: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ACTION

Political Inquiry and Skill Development

• Formulate different types of questions to guide investigations into issues, events and/or developments of civic importance (A1.1)
• Select and organize relevant evidence, data, and information on issues, events and/or developments of civic importance from a variety of primary and secondary sources (A1.2)
• Communicate their ideas, arguments and conclusions using various formats and styles (A1.7)
• Use appropriate terminology when communicating the results of their investigations (A1.9)

Civic Awareness

• Explain why it is important for people to engage in civic action (B1.3)
• Identify the political parties in Canada and their position on the political spectrum (B2.1)

Civic Contributions: Focus on Political Significance, Stability and Change

• Describe a variety of ways in which they could make a civic contribution (C1.2) 
• Explain how various actions can contribute to the common good (C1.3)
• Describe various ways in which people can access information about civic matters (C2.3)

Committees
Committee meeting diagram (below)
How do Bills Become Law
Current Bills
 

Introductory Discussion (10-15 minutes)
How do bills become law in Ontario?
What is a committee – what is the difference between standing and select committees?
Who sits on a committee - are they all government members?
What are some of the roles required to form a committee? (MPPs, a chair, a Clerk, witnesses, interpreters, etc.)
What are some of the current political issues that are affecting Ontarians?

In preparation for the committee hearing, discuss and debate the pros and cons of a proposed bill currently in the Legislature.

Hold a Committee Hearing (45-60 minutes)

Part 1 - Committee Hearing Preparation (15-20 minutes)
As a class, pick one political issue to discuss in your committee (for example, no texting or talking on the phone while driving) and discuss reasons for and against the bill being proposed. Consider the views of each political party on this issue.
Assign students roles for the committee - 9 MPPs representing each political party (including a Committee Chair), a Clerk (the teacher) and witnesses (everyone else).  Some witnesses should have opposing viewpoints.

In groups, students who are the MPPs must discuss the following (10 minutes):

• What is the issue at hand
• Consider the positive and negative impacts of the bill 
• What questions do they have for the witnesses

• What is their stance - do they support or oppose the bill?
• What do they want to tell the committee - do they want to suggest changes to the bill or are they completely opposed to it?
• Each witness must prepare a statement supporting their view to present to the committee

While students are discussing their talking points, arrange the classroom to match the set-up diagram below.

Part 2 - Holding the Committee (20-30 minutes)
The Chair of the committee will announce why the committee is meeting and what will be discussed. The Chair will then invite the first witness forward to address the committee.
Witnesses will give their statement, stating their opinion and how the decision will affect them or others.
The committee members (MPPs) will then ask questions that will assist them in preparing their report.
Continue through the witnesses until everyone has had a chance to speak.
The MPPs will then discuss their recommendation to the House (teacher) and on how to proceed with the issue.
The House (teacher) will take the committee’s recommendations into consideration and make a decision.

Group discussion (10-15 minutes)
Divide students into groups of 3-4 to discuss the following questions:

1. How do you feel about public participation in the committee process?
2. Do members of the public get enough say in what happens in government in Ontario?
3. Is it fair that the public is not allowed to participate in debates that take place in the Legislative Chamber?  Do you agree with this?