THE US LEGISLATURE Unit 2 – Branches of Government & Federal Power Lesson 1 GC.9, G.11, GC.20, & GC.24

ARTICLE 1 What do we remember from Unit 1 about Article 1 from the Constitution? The Legislative Branch Legislative power – the power to make laws Unicameral vs. Bicameral Ne-(freakin’)-braska Upper and Lower House Senate and the House of Representatives

SENATE & HOUSE Senate 100 members 2 per state 6 year terms Leadership = Vice President Joe BidenJoe Biden President Pro Tempore Patrick LeahyPatrick Leahy Confirms presidential appointments Impeachment = Jury House 435 members # per state based on population 2 year terms Leadership = Speaker of the House John Boehner “power of the purse” Impeachment = Police

SENATE & HOUSE IN TENNESSEE Senate X 2House X 9

SENATE & HOUSE ELECTIONS Senate At-large Requirements (Group work: Find 3 in Article 1) 30 years old 9 year citizen of the US Resident of the state Anything else? House Single-member Districts Requirements (Group work: Find 3 in Article 1) 25 years old 7 year citizen of the US Resident of the state Anything else?

LEGISLATIVE POWERS Do you remember the handout from Unit 1 that had the “enumerated powers” of Congress on it? How do these powers affect us everyday? As a group… 1.Discuss the powers that are listed in Article 1. (5 min) 2.For each power, cite a way in which our current congress fulfills the role. Be specific. (15 min) 3.Chart your group’s responses and place on the wall. (5 min) 4.It’s time for a ‘Gallery Walk’! (You know the drill.) (10 min)

HOMEWORK Schoolhouse Rock: ‘How a Bill Becomes a Law’ 1.Watch: 2.Write: List, in order, the steps that are laid out within the video. 3. Synthesize: Devise, in limited form, a new law that you believe should be passed by the US Congress.