VOTING IN CONGRESS: It’s More Than Just “Yea” or “Nay”

M EMBERS OF C ONGRESS THINK ABOUT FOUR FACTORS when deciding whether to vote for a law.

FACTOR #1 FACTOR #2 What is my personal opinion? FACTOR #3 What are the views of my political party? FACTOR #4 What do my voters think? Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law?

FACTOR #1 Does the Constitution give Congress the power to pass the law?

FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Congress is limited by what the Constitution says. The Constitution only gives Congress certain powers. Like What?

Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do: Collect taxes to raise money to pay debts, to defend the country, and to provide for the general welfare of the United States. FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS

Control commerce (business) that happens across state lines, with foreign countries, and with Indian tribes. FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:

Make laws about immigration. Make laws about bankruptcy. Establish post offices. FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:

Declare war. Raise and support armies. FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:

Oh, and here’s one more: Make all laws that are “necessary and proper” for executing any of these powers. Hold on! What does that mean? FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS

That means Congress can sometimes do things that are not on the list if it relates to something that is on the list! FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS

MINI-QUIZ! Test Your Knowledge About Factor #1 K AHOOT K AHOOT !

FACTOR #2 What is my personal opinion?

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… No way! Love it!

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. FACTOR #3 POLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

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?

Environment: The environment is important and it should be protected and kept clean. Health Care: The government should help make health care available to people who can’t afford it. Energy: The U.S. should focus on renewable energy sources to achieve independence. Education: The government should support teachers and public school funds to make existing public schools better. Economy: During hard times, the government should help create jobs.DemocratsRepublicans Defense: Keep peace by having a strong military. Health Care: The government should not pay for peoples’ health care. Energy: The U.S. should rely on oil as well as renewable sources to be independent. Education: Schools must have high standards, and students should be able to use public education funds to attend private schools if those schools are better than public schools. Economy: Businesses will create jobs and opportunities for people to prosper.

Usually members of Congress agree with their political party about bills. But sometimes they don’t. FACTOR #3 POLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

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.

People in Congress are responsible for representing the voters back home. So they’d better think about those voters, because… FACTOR #4 WHAT THE VOTERS THINK

Voters send people to Congress and voters can kick people out! FACTOR #4 WHAT THE VOTERS THINK

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