Legislative Committees

What is the function of committees in the Washington State Legislature? 📣 Get easy to use WA State Election Lesson Plans: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/ Organizing Concepts: Legislative branch, exploration of social issues and perspectives, transparency, accountability Discussion Questions: ❓What is a legislative committee? ❓When and where do legislative committees in WA usually meet? ❓Why is it important which committee a bill is assigned to? ❓What is the difference between a policy committee and a fiscal committee? What is a committee chair and how are they chosen? Do they have an impact on the legislative agenda? Why or why not? ❓Why is it difficult to pass legislation in Washington state? What are some of the ways in which a bill can “die” in the process? ❓What are the three types of committee meetings? ❓What are the four types of action a committee may take during executive session? ❓What is the Rules Committee and what role does it play in the legislative process? ❓What are some ways a bill can “die” in committee? 🔎Washington State Legislative Committees: : http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/committeelisting.aspx# 🔎Overview of the Legislative Process: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx 🎬Legislative video at TVW archives: http://www.tvw.org/archives 🎬 Watch This Next: https://youtu.be/1RuJdppny-s?feature=shared 🎬 Check Out the WA Civics Modules: The Legislative Branch Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared ================= Other Resources: ================= 📚Check out our other CIVICS CURRICULA for WA middle and high school teachers: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/ 🔎The Washington State Legislature’s homepage: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx 🔎Legislative video at TVW archives: http://www.tvw.org/archives ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Videos ======================================= 🎬 Civics 101 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDcy6Oz3plxQCqpfNUb2HGf&feature=shared 🎬 Legislative Navigator https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SD-p5BHx443GTtGBp_DKQVT&feature=shared 🎬 Learning Modules - The Branches of WA State Government: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SBe_62ViakFyBCw4qah7eR7&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCYOl5u2wu52tt3G7sEmNTG&feature=shared ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Programs ======================================= 🙋Capitol Classroom - Bring the Legislative process into your classroom: https://teachwithtvw.org/civic-participation-in-the-classroom/ 🙋On The Issues - Youth bring the questions to WA state leadership: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared 🙋TVW CONNECTS - WA students engage in live Q&As with political leaders and experts: https://teachwithtvw.org/tvw-connects-civic-engagement/ =========================== Subscribe and Follow Teach With TVW =========================== ➡YT: @teachwithtvw360 ➡Web: https://www.teachwithtvw.org ➡FB: https://www.facebook.com/TeachwithTVW/ ➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/teachwithtvw/ ➡X: @https://twitter.com/TeachWithTVW ➡LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teach-with-tvw/ QUESTION - Have a question about our lesson plans or online videos? Drop it in the comments! ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ What this video is about: 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. Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. #TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #Civics101 #LegislativeNavigator #OnTheIssues #ElectionsExplained #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate #CivicsLessonPlans

What is the function of committees in the Washington State Legislature?

📣 Get easy to use WA State Election Lesson Plans: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/

Organizing Concepts:
Legislative branch, exploration of social issues and perspectives, transparency, accountability

Discussion Questions:
❓What is a legislative committee?
❓When and where do legislative committees in WA usually meet?
❓Why is it important which committee a bill is assigned to?
❓What is the difference between a policy committee and a fiscal committee?
What is a committee chair and how are they chosen? Do they have an impact on the legislative agenda? Why or why not?
❓Why is it difficult to pass legislation in Washington state? What are some of the ways in which a bill can “die” in the process?
❓What are the three types of committee meetings?
❓What are the four types of action a committee may take during executive session?
❓What is the Rules Committee and what role does it play in the legislative process?
❓What are some ways a bill can “die” in committee?

🔎Washington State Legislative Committees: : http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/committeelisting.aspx#

🔎Overview of the Legislative Process: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx

🎬Legislative video at TVW archives: http://www.tvw.org/archives

🎬 Watch This Next:
https://youtu.be/1RuJdppny-s?feature=shared

🎬 Check Out the WA Civics Modules: The Legislative Branch Playlist
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared

=================
Other Resources:
=================

📚Check out our other CIVICS CURRICULA for WA middle and high school teachers: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/

🔎The Washington State Legislature’s homepage: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx

🔎Legislative video at TVW archives: http://www.tvw.org/archives

=======================================
Other Teach With TVW Civics Videos
=======================================

🎬 Civics 101 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDcy6Oz3plxQCqpfNUb2HGf&feature=shared

🎬 Legislative Navigator https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SD-p5BHx443GTtGBp_DKQVT&feature=shared

🎬 Learning Modules - The Branches of WA State Government:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SBe_62ViakFyBCw4qah7eR7&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCYOl5u2wu52tt3G7sEmNTG&feature=shared

=======================================
Other Teach With TVW Civics Programs
=======================================

🙋Capitol Classroom - Bring the Legislative process into your classroom: https://teachwithtvw.org/civic-participation-in-the-classroom/

🙋On The Issues - Youth bring the questions to WA state leadership: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared

🙋TVW CONNECTS - WA students engage in live Q&As with political leaders and experts:
https://teachwithtvw.org/tvw-connects-civic-engagement/

===========================
Subscribe and Follow Teach With TVW
===========================
➡YT: @teachwithtvw360
➡Web: https://www.teachwithtvw.org
➡FB: https://www.facebook.com/TeachwithTVW/
➡IG: https://www.instagram.com/teachwithtvw/
➡X: @https://twitter.com/TeachWithTVW
➡LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teach-with-tvw/

QUESTION - Have a question about our lesson plans or online videos? Drop it in the comments!

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

What this video is about:
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.

Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens.

#TEACHwithTVW, #CapitolClassroom, #CONNECTS #Civics101 #LegislativeNavigator #OnTheIssues #ElectionsExplained #nextgenerationleaders #civilengagement #civicengagement #legislativeprocess #socialstudies #APGov #debate #CivicsLessonPlans

YouTube Video 5uVUhB7Oq_U
4:37

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.

Essential Questions:

  • What role do Legislative Committees play in the Legislative process?
  • Why is it important to understand who wields the power in policy committees?
  • How do the beliefs of those in the majority party differ from those in the minority party?
  • To what extent is there bipartisanship in the Washington State Legislature?

Objectives:

  1. Understand the committee structure of the Washington State Legislature
  2. Understand the different perspectives of legislators in the 2026 Legislative Session
  3. Identify follow up questions and research opportunities to determine their own opinions

Teacher Resources

Series