Capitol Classroom Highlights

Explore this series for insightful answers to questions about Washington state’s legislative process.

This collection of video excerpts are pulled directly from our Capitol Classroom program.

Each year, Teach With TVW’s Capitol Classroom program pairs middle and high school social studies classes with a volunteer lobbyist to guide them through the legislative process, educating and empowering students to become active and engaged citizens.

Why so many formalities and procedures?

Learn why formalities and procedures help preserve civility and decorum in the legislative process.

Why Kill a Bill?

Learn why the legislative process is designed to kill bills and how lawmakers decide which ideas move forward.

Who actually writes the bills?

Learn who writes bills in Washington State and the role legislative staff play in drafting laws and amendments.

What’s in my letter to the Committee?

Learn from an expert lobbyist what should be in your letter to a legislative committee advocating your position on a bill.

The power of amendments.

Learn how lawmakers use amendments strategically to shape, change, or influence legislation.

The Goal vs The Means…

Learn how lawmakers distinguish between a bill’s goals and the methods used to achieve them.

A brief overview of the committee process.

Learn how the committee process works and how bills move through the Washington State Legislature.

The 5 o’clock Bill.

Learn the strategy behind the “5 o’clock bill” and how lawmakers prioritize legislation on the Floor.

Jurisdiction, mandates, politics and policy.

Explore the tension between politics and policy in the legislative process and how mandates shape decision-making.

The pursuit of perfection can kill legislation.

Learn why compromise is essential in the legislative process and how perfection can stop bills from passing.

Null & Void Clause…

Learn how a “Null & Void” clause can affect a bill during the legislative process in Washington State.

My bill is sponsored, now what?

Learn what happens after a bill is sponsored and how to work with lawmakers during the legislative process.

How do I get a bill sponsored?

Learn how to get a bill sponsored and work with lawmakers in the Washington State legislative process.

How does a group email the whole committee?

Learn how groups can effectively email legislative committees during the Washington State lawmaking process.

SB/HB/SSB/2SSB/2SHB/E2SSB/E2SHB Explained.

Learn what bill labels like SB, HB, SSB, and E2SHB mean in the Washington State legislative process.

What about bill definitions?

Learn why bill definitions matter and how wording shapes laws in the legislative process.

To Concur or Not Concur?

Learn what concurrence means and how lawmakers resolve bill differences in the legislative process.

What is a Companion Bill?

Learn what companion bills are and how they move through the Washington State legislative process.

Caucus & Leadership.

Learn how caucuses and leadership are organized in the Washington State Legislature.

Policymaking – The Art of 3-Dimensional Chess.

Explore how policymaking works through strategy, procedure, and relationships in the legislative process.

The 3 Budgets explained.

Learn how Washington State’s three budgets are negotiated and combined into a final biennial budget.

What is a lobbyist?

Learn what lobbyists do and how they work with lawmakers during the legislative process.

What is the Rules Committee?

Learn how the Rules Committee controls which bills advance in the Washington State legislative process.