Overview: What is the job of Lobbyists in the Washington State Legislature and how are they regulated? Explore the role lobbyists play in Washington State’s legislative process. This video explains who lobbyists represent, how they register with the Public Disclosure Commission, and the different ways they influence legislation—from drafting bills and amendments to organizing testimony and building coalitions. Learn about the qualities effective lobbyists need, including credibility, relationship-building, and bipartisanship, and discover why lobbyists remain an important part of how laws are shaped and debated in Washington State.
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Overview: What is the function of committees in the Washington State Legislature? Discover the powerful role legislative committees play in the Washington State lawmaking process. This video explains how committees are organized, the difference between policy and fiscal committees, and how work sessions, public hearings, and executive sessions shape legislation. Learn why committee chairs and the Rules Committee hold significant influence over whether a bill advances to the chamber floor or dies in committee, and why understanding committees is essential to understanding how laws are made in Washington State.
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Overview: How does a bill become a law in Washington? And how does it differ from the U.S. Congress? In this video WA Legislative Branch series, students and viewers will learn about how Washington State’s legislative branch is designed to ensure a citizen legislature and allow for public engagement in the legislative process.. This episode focuses on how a bill becomes a law in Washington State and some key differences in the legislative process on the state and federal levels.
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Overview: Learn about Washington State’s legislative branch and how it functions, and some key differences between the Washington State Legislature and the U.S. Congress. In this video of the Legacy Video Series: Washington Legislative Branch, students and viewers will learn about how Washington State’s legislative branch is designed to ensure a citizen legislature and allow for public engagement in the legislative process. This episode focuses on how Washington state’s Legislature differs from Congress and how it is structured to ensure access to representation and check and balances in the policy making process..
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Overview: What are the roles and responsibilities of Washington’s State Auditor? Learn about this statewide elected office with former WA Auditor Brian Sonntag. This video examines the role of the State Auditor, a position established to hold the state agencies accountable to the citizens of Washington state. By focusing on the responsibilities of the Auditor, viewers see how budget audits provide oversight and a check on state government. Essential Questions: Objectives:
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Overview: It’s not about foreign relations or trade, but rather, elections are perhaps the most important job of Washington’s Secretary of State. What are the roles and responsibilities of Washington’s Secretary of State? Learn about this statewide elected office with former WA Secretary of State Sam Reed.By focusing on the responsibilities that the Secretary of State has in Washington State, viewers will understand what part the Secretary of State plays among the other elected officials and with matters of the government. Essential Questions Objectives:
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Overview: What are the roles and responsibilities of Washington’s Attorney General? Learn about this statewide elected office with former WA Attorney General Bob McKenna. By focusing on the responsibilities that the Attorney General has in Washington State, viewers will understand what part the Attorney General plays among the other elected officials and with matters of the Essential Questions: Objectives:
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Overview: What are the roles and responsibilities of Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction? Learn about this statewide elected office with former WA State Superintendent Randy Dorn. By focusing on how the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) works with the state’s public school districts and 6 state-tribal education compact schools, students will understand how the office funds the public school system for the betterment of all Washingtonians. Essential Questions: Objectives:
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Overview: Contrary to what you might think, in Washington State, the Lieutenant Governor and the Governor don’t run as a team but rather, run independently of each other. What are the roles and responsibilities of Washington’s Lieutenant Governor? Learn about this statewide elected office with former WA Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen. By focusing on the responsibilities that the Lieutenant Governor has in Washington State, viewers will understand what part the Lieutenant Governor plays among the other elected officials and with matters of the government. Essential Questions: Objectives:
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Volunteer lobbyist Joel Anderson explains to Open Window School students the function of the Rules Committee in the legislative process. March 4th 2025.
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