It’s More Than Just “Yea” or “Nay” VOTING IN CONGRESS: It’s More Than Just “Yea” or “Nay” To hear special effects, make sure your sound is up.

Members of Congress think about FOUR FACTORS when deciding whether to vote for a law. What are your predictions?

FACTOR #1 Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law? REVIEW: What are some things Congress can do in the Constitution?

FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Congress is limited by what the Constitution says. Expressed Powers/Enumerated powers/delegated: Powers found directly in the Constitution. Like What?

FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do: Collect taxes defend the country; raise an army. Declare War provide for the “general welfare” of the U.S. Control business (regulate trade) across state lines and with foreign countries.

FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do: 6. Make laws about immigration. 7. Establish post offices. 8. Coin money. 9. Impeach government officials.

FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Congress can Make all laws that are “necessary and proper” for executing any of these powers. Necessary and proper clause/Elastic Clause/implied powers: Congress can sometimes do things that are not on the list . . . . . . if it relates to something that is on the list!

Which “expressed power” gives Congress this “implied” power? $7.25 What implied power is this? (necessary with the advent of new technology)

Which expressed power matches up with being able to stop a monopoly? What are some problems that can occur with a Monopoly?

Regulate interstate trade Which expressed power could allow Congress to end this? Regulate interstate trade 1964 Civil Rights Act: Ends segregation by businesses.

MINI-QUIZ! Test Your Knowledge About Factor #1 Kahoot!

FACTOR #2 PERSONAL OPINION Members of Congress are human beings, just like you! Sometimes they agree with a bill… …and sometimes they are totally against a bill. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR PARTY OR VOTERS THINK…

1964 Civil Rights Act (end segregation in private businesses) Predict: How do you think Congress members in southern states would vote on this act?

90% of lawmakers from states that were in the Union during the Civil War supported the bill compared with less than 10% of lawmakers from states that were in the Confederacy.

“My conscience demanded I support the bill.” “We in the South face some difficult decisions. We can offer resistance and defiance, with their harvest of strife and tumult. We can suffer continued demonstrations, with their wake of violence and disorder. Or we can acknowledge this measure as the law of the land." Mr. Weltner was one of only seven Southerners in the House to vote for the bill.

Should personal opinion ever outweigh the wants of the voters?

FACTOR #3 POLITICAL PARTY VIEWS For a member of Congress, being in a political party is like being on a team. Members of the team support each other and try to create bills that reflect their values.

Why might Congress mostly vote with their party?

FACTOR #3: POLITICAL PARTY VIEWS People in a political party share similar values. They work for laws that reflect those values. What values could be represented in these images?

Why might Congressional members vote AGAINST their party?

FACTOR #4 WHAT THE VOTERS THINK There would be too many people in Congress if everyone went . . . So voters choose a few people to represent them. Review: What type of government do we have in America?

FACTOR #4 WHAT THE VOTERS THINK What can voters do if their representatives don’t listen to what they want?

How do democrats usually vote on gun control? Why might these democrats be split on gun control?

Senator Bernie Sanders (I) Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (I) (ran for president as a Democrat) “Vermont prides itself on a deep hunting and gun culture and has traditionally, fiercely defended its relaxed guns laws.” Predict: How does Sanders vote when it comes to gun control? (for or against control?) He voted against the Brady Bill (background checks-5 day waiting period on purchases), voted for an assault weapons ban, voted to allow firearms on Amtrak, and voted for universal background checks — upsetting gun-control and gun-rights advocates alike. What did Bernie Sanders probably consider when voting?

MINI-QUIZ! Test Your Knowledge About Factors 2, 3, and 4! Kahoot!