Civics Resources

02:45

Meeting leg.wa.gov

Take a tour of leg.wa.gov and learn how to find bills, calendars, and ways to engage with Washington State’s legislature.
Unit

Civil Rights & Judiciary

Explore civil rights policy debates in Washington State during the 2025 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

Unit

Housing (Senate 2025)

Explore housing policy debates in Washington State during the 2025 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

Unit

Housing

Explore housing policy debates in Washington State during the 2026 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

4:57

Attorney General

Learn the role of Washington State’s Attorney General and how the office represents and protects the public.

Lesson Plan

03:39

The Final Step – Tech For Teens

Learn the final step in Washington State lawmaking as bills reach the governor’s desk for approval, veto, or enactment.

Discussion Questions

04:50

Future & Safety of Nuclear (2025)

Explore nuclear energy’s future in Washington State, including safety concerns, waste, and clean energy needs.

Discussion Questions

4:09

State Auditor

Explore the role of Washington’s State Auditor and learn how audits provide oversight and accountability in state government.

Lesson Plan

02:55

Sustainable Transit Systems (2026)

Explore sustainable transit systems in Washington State and how lawmakers address emissions and infrastructure.

Discussion Questions

11:01

The Budgetary Process

Learn how Washington State creates its budget and how lawmakers and the governor work together to fund public services.

Discussion Questions

02:09

10. Public Comment

Learn how public input influences legislation in Washington State through testimony, letters, and civic engagement.

Discussion Questions

02:19

14. The Floor: What is Caucus?

Learn what a caucus is and how lawmakers negotiate and prepare bills behind the scenes in Washington State.

Discussion Questions

2:56

Lieutenant Governor

Learn the role of Washington State’s Lieutenant Governor and how this office fits within the executive branch.

Lesson Plan

Unit

K12 Education (2025)

Explore K-12 education policy debates in Washington State during the 2025 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

04:50

Student & Parental Rights (2025)

Explore student and parental rights in Washington State schools and how lawmakers balance policy and funding.

Discussion Questions

05:33

17. Concurrence & Dispute

Learn how concurrence and dispute resolve bill differences between chambers in Washington State.

Discussion Questions

05:11

The Second Half

Learn how bills move through the second chamber in Washington State and why amendments and timing shape their chances of passing.

Discussion Questions

Unit

Legislative Committees

Understand the role of legislative committees, how they are structured, and how power and perspective can shape policy.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

Unit

Environment & Energy

Explore environment and energy policy debates in Washington State during the 2026 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

4:05

Addressing Partisanship (2025)

Explore partisanship in Washington State elections and hear bipartisan perspectives on improving government and public trust.

Discussion Questions

SERIES

Executive Branch Explained

Learn how WA’s elected officials manage education, finances, land, insurance, and oversight—shaping daily life and public accountability.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

4:40

Recycling Energy Costs (2025)

House Page, Theron Clements, asks House Environment & Energy Committee leadership how recycling policy can address the high cost of recyc...

Discussion Questions

04:50

CCA & Affordable Transit (2025)

Explore how the Climate Commitment Act supports affordable transit and equitable transportation in Washington State.

Discussion Questions

02:10

Federal Recognition (2025)

Explore federal recognition of tribes and how Washington State works with federally and non-federally recognized tribes.

Discussion Questions

01:55

3. What is the Legislature?

Learn what the Washington State Legislature is, how it works, and how sessions and bienniums are structured.

Discussion Questions

4:37

How a Bill Becomes a Law

This Legacy Video explains: How does a bill become a law in Washington? And how does it differ from the U.S. Congress?

Discussion Questions

05:20

Insurance Age Gap (2025)

Explore healthcare funding in Washington State and how federal and state roles impact coverage and affordability.

Discussion Questions

Unit

State Government & Tribal Relations

Explore tribal relations and state government policy debates in Washington State during the 2025 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

03:07

8. Fiscal Committees

Learn how fiscal committees review costs, funding, and budgets for bills in Washington State’s legislative process.

Discussion Questions

03:33

7. Policy Committees

Learn how policy committees work in Washington State and how bills move through hearings and executive sessions.

Discussion Questions

SERIES

Legacy Videos

Some legacy educational modules explaining the different aspects of the Legislative Branch and Washington State Government.

Multiple Videos

4:50

Green Energy Incentives (2025)

Ella Garcelon asks House Environment & Energy Committee leadership about the impacts of Green Energy Incentives.

Discussion Questions

Unit

The Rule of Law and State Courts

This 4 day lesson plan examines the role of state courts in preserving democracy and what types of cases each court level hears.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

02:55

Dual Credit Programs (2025)

Explore dual credit programs in Washington State and how lawmakers address equitable access for students.

Discussion Questions

Unit

Health Care

Explore healthcare policy debates in Washington State during the 2026 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

5:30

Insurance Commissioner

Learn the role of Washington State’s Insurance Commissioner and how the office protects consumers.

Lesson Plan

SERIES

Legislative Branch Explained

Explore how laws are made in Washington State—from bill introduction to final vote—while learning how citizens can engage.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

05:00

Policy Cutoff

Learn how policy cutoff deadlines shape which bills move forward in Washington State’s legislative process.

Discussion Questions

02:17

6. What is a Lobbyist?

Learn what a lobbyist is and how they influence the legislative process in Washington State.

Discussion Questions

6:15

Using the Bill Info Page

Learn how to use the Washington State bill info page to track sponsors, votes, amendments, and key legislative details.
4:29

Secretary of State

Learn the role of Washington State’s Secretary of State and how the office oversees elections and public records.

Lesson Plan

SERIES

Judicial Branch Explained

Explore Washington State’s courts, from trial courts to the Supreme Court, and learn how judges, juries, and justice work together.

Multiple Videos

04:10

Anatomy of a Committee

Learn how legislative committees work in Washington State and why they are key to researching, debating, and shaping laws.

Lesson Plan

Discussion Questions

05:50

Affordability & Quality (2025)

Explore healthcare affordability and quality in Washington State and hear perspectives on improving access and care.

Discussion Questions

04:56

Five O’Clock Bill

Learn what a “5 o’clock bill” is and how deadlines, debate, and strategy shape Washington State’s legislative process.

Discussion Questions

SERIES

Elections Explained

Learn how elections work in Washington State - Each video can stand alone, and is accompanied with a lesson plan, or view as a series.

Multiple Videos

7:40

WA Democratic State Convention

See how the Washington State Democratic Party convention gathers its base to caucus, collaborate and adopt the parties platform.

Lesson Plan

04:30

Kratom Regulation (2026)

Explore kratom regulation in Washington State and how lawmakers address emerging substances and consumer safety.

Discussion Questions

SERIES

On The Issues – Q&A

Legislative Pages research current issues legislative committees are working on and bring those questions to committee leadership.

Multiple Videos

Unit

Early Learning & Human Services

Explore human services policy debates in Washington State during the 2026 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

03:27

Short Session Look Ahead

Get ready for Washington State’s 2026 short session and learn how the biennium shapes legislative priorities and timelines.

Lesson Plan

03:04

9. Rules Committee

Learn how the Rules Committee controls which bills reach the floor in Washington State’s legislative process.

Discussion Questions

13:25

WA Top Two Primary

Learn how Washington State's Top Two Primary works, the different scenarios that can play out, and how political parties strategize to win.

Lesson Plan

Discussion Questions

Unit

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Explore agriculture and natural resource policy debates in Washington State during the 2025 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

Unit

Pre-Legislative Session Class Primer

Prepare your students to follow and engage in the legislative process with this two day pre-legislative session primer.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

07:06

The Rules Committee

Learn how the Rules Committee decides which bills reach the floor in Washington State’s legislative process.

Discussion Questions

4:00

Redistricting in Washington State

Examine legislative redistricting in Washington State and how the bipartisan redistricting committee works and the power of court challege.

Lesson Plan

Discussion Questions

6:55

The Role of the Whip

What does a legislative whip do? Learn how caucus whips count votes, manage members, and guide bills in Olympia.

Discussion Questions

07:30

Court of Appeals – WA Courts

Learn how the Washington State Court of Appeals works and its role in reviewing trial court decisions.

Discussion Questions

Unit

Transportation (2025)

Explore transportation policy debates in Washington State during the 2025 legislative session.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

04:15

Floor Debate – Tech For Teens

See how tech bills for teens fared in Washington State floor debates and why some passed while others failed.

Lesson Plan

Discussion Questions

04:45

Early Learning Access (2025)

Explore special education funding in Washington State and hear different perspectives on equitable resource allocation.

Discussion Questions

6:35

Importance of Debates

Learn about State debates, their purpose, what the electorate can learn from a debate, and how the media prepares to moderate a debate.

Lesson Plan

Discussion Questions

9:06

The Washington State Constitution

Learn how Washington’s Constitution shapes state government and what makes it unique among U.S. state constitutions.

Discussion Questions

01:35

11. What is an Amendment?

Learn what amendments are and how changes like strikers and substitutes shape bills in Washington State.

Discussion Questions

13:00

Washington Capitol Press Corps

Discover how Washington’s Capital Press Corps informs the public, covers state government, and strengthens democracy.

Discussion Questions

Unit

Education

This 20 min lesson explores where the Majority and Minority Parties stand on two policies regarding Early Learning and K12 Education.

Lesson Plan

Multiple Videos

04:00

The Committee Chair

Learn how committee chairs in Washington State decide which bills move forward and shape the legislative process.

Lesson Plan

Discussion Questions

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