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US3889955A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Legislative board game apparatus

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-07-05
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-07-05
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Abstract

Abstract A game adapted to simulate the procedural steps in enacting public laws. The procedural steps include legislative consideration, executive action of legislative bills passed by the legislature and action taken by the legislature to override any executive veto. The game apparatus includes a playing board having spaces marked thereon. A plurality of distinctive playing pieces carry indicia to designate a legislative bill being sponsored by each player. The determination of the path and extent of movement of each playing piece for each player is determined by chance in accordance with prescribed rules of play.

Inventors

  • 👤 Verlon Welch
  • 👤 Dreama B Hinton

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 09:02
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00138; A63F3/00006

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A game adapted to increase appreciation and knowledge of procedural steps for enacting a public law, said game comprising in combination: a. a game board having spaces located thereon, b. a first plurality of said spaces defining alternative legislative playing paths including a common starting space, c. a space representing executive review, d. a second plurality of said spaces extending from the executive review space and defining a veto overriding route terminating in a space designated ''''Public Law,'''' e. several of said first plurality of spaces having legends thereon representing sequential procedural steps and others of said first plurality of spaces being interspersed among said legended spaces and bearing indicia representing certain alternative parliamentary rulings, f. a plurality of playing pieces adapted to indicate specific bills corresponding to each of the several players, and g. means for determining by chance the path and extent of movement of each playing piece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
A game adapted to increase appreciation and knowledge of procedural steps for enacting a public law, said game comprising in combination: a. a game board having spaces located thereon, b. a first plurality of said spaces defining alternative legislative playing paths including a common starting space, c. a space representing executive review, d. a second plurality of said spaces extending from the executive review space and defining a veto overriding route terminating in a space designated ''''Public Law,'''' e. several of said first plurality of spaces having legends thereon representing sequential procedural steps and others of said first plurality of spaces being interspersed among said legended spaces and bearing indicia representing certain alternative parliamentary rulings, f. a plurality of playing pieces adapted to indicate specific bills corresponding to each of the several players, and g. means for determining by chance the path and extent of movement of each playing piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said alternative legislative paths include a first path representing legislative action on bills introduced in a House of Representatives and a second path representing legislative action on bills introduced in a Senate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said playing pieces includes means disposed thereon for designating a House or Senate bill being processed by a specific player.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said playing pieces includes a finished surface thereon adapted to receive indicia designating a House or Senate bill being processed by a specific player.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said playing pieces includes a transparent window thereon adapted to slidably receive an indicia bearing member to designate a House or Senate bill being procEssed by a specific player.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 167 words
A game adapted to increase appreciation and knowledge of procedural steps for enacting a public law, said game comprising in combination: a. a game board having spaces disposed thereon, b. a first plurality of said spaces defining alternative legislative playing paths including a common starting space, c. a preselected number of said first plurality of spaces having legends thereon representing sequential legislative steps and the remaining spaces being interspersed among said legended spaces and including indicia representing certain alternative parliamentary rulings, d. a second plurality of said spaces defining alternative conference paths leading from said alternative legislative paths to an executive review space designated ''''White House,'''' e. a third plurality of said spaces extending from said executive review space and defining alternative veto overriding paths terminating in a space designated ''''Public Law,'''' f. a plurality of playing pieces adapted to indicate specific bills corresponding to each of the several players, and g. means for determining by chance the path and extent of movement of each playing piece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 167 words
A game adapted to increase appreciation and knowledge of procedural steps for enacting a public law, said game comprising in combination: a. a game board having spaces disposed thereon, b. a first plurality of said spaces defining alternative legislative playing paths including a common starting space, c. a preselected number of said first plurality of spaces having legends thereon representing sequential legislative steps and the remaining spaces being interspersed among said legended spaces and including indicia representing certain alternative parliamentary rulings, d. a second plurality of said spaces defining alternative conference paths leading from said alternative legislative paths to an executive review space designated ''''White House,'''' e. a third plurality of said spaces extending from said executive review space and defining alternative veto overriding paths terminating in a space designated ''''Public Law,'''' f. a plurality of playing pieces adapted to indicate specific bills corresponding to each of the several players, and g. means for determining by chance the path and extent of movement of each playing piece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
A game as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said playing pieces includes means disposed thereon for designating a House or Senate bill being processed by a specific player.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
A game as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said playing pieces includes a finished surface thereon adapted to receive indicia designating a House or Senate bill being processed by a specific player.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
A game as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said playing pieces includes a transparent window thereon adapted to slidably receive an indicia bearing member to designate a House or Senate bill being processed by a specific player.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 217 words
A game adapted to increase appreciation and knowledge of the procedural steps involved in the enactment of a public law, said game comprising in combination: a. a game board having a first plurality of spaces disposed along its peripheral portions, b. said spaces constituting two alternative legislative playing paths including a common starting space and a common finishing space, c. certain of said spaces including first indicia representing sequential legislative steps and others of said spaces being interspersed among said certain indicia bearing spaces, d. said other spaces including second indicia representing several alternative parliamentary procedural rulings, e. said game board having a second plurality of spaces defining alternative conference paths leading to spaces separately entitled ''''Bill Enrolled,'''' ''''Send to White House'''' and ''''White House,'''' f. said game board having spaces separately designated ''''Public Law Signed'''' and ''''Veto Route'''' and a third plurality of spaces extending from said ''''Veto Route'''' space, g. said third plurality of spaces defining alternative veto overriding paths terminating in a space designated ''''Public Law - Without Signature,'''' h. a plurality of playing pieces including means adapted to indicate specific bills and corresponding to each of the several players, and i. means for determining by chance the path and extent of movement of each playing piece along the spaces on the game board.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 217 words
A game adapted to increase appreciation and knowledge of the procedural steps involved in the enactment of a public law, said game comprising in combination: a. a game board having a first plurality of spaces disposed along its peripheral portions, b. said spaces constituting two alternative legislative playing paths including a common starting space and a common finishing space, c. certain of said spaces including first indicia representing sequential legislative steps and others of said spaces being interspersed among said certain indicia bearing spaces, d. said other spaces including second indicia representing several alternative parliamentary procedural rulings, e. said game board having a second plurality of spaces defining alternative conference paths leading to spaces separately entitled ''''Bill Enrolled,'''' ''''Send to White House'''' and ''''White House,'''' f. said game board having spaces separately designated ''''Public Law Signed'''' and ''''Veto Route'''' and a third plurality of spaces extending from said ''''Veto Route'''' space, g. said third plurality of spaces defining alternative veto overriding paths terminating in a space designated ''''Public Law - Without Signature,'''' h. a plurality of playing pieces including means adapted to indicate specific bills and corresponding to each of the several players, and i. means for determining by chance the path and extent of movement of each playing piece along the spaces on the game board.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US398233A Cited
US2209117A Cited
US2693961A Cited
US3473809A Cited
US3545762A Cited
US3643958A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-06-16 1978-12-16 1979-06-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-06-16 1982-12-16 1983-06-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-06-16 1986-12-16 1987-06-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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