1. Paper Preparation solo
Congress in a FLASH
We are paper boxing.
Head the paper.
Title your paper.
Don’t draw in the lines this time.

2. Congress in a Flash (SS.7.C.3.8)
- by the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
explain the structure and powers of the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government
describe the legislative process in the U.S. Congress
identify the legislative branch’s role in the system of checks and balances/separation of powers
analyze a primary source

3. What is Congress?
The United States Congress is the legislative branch of our federal government. Congress meets in Washington, D.C. to make federal laws— laws that apply to the entire country.

4. What is Congress?
Congress is bicameral, which means it is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each chamber includes elected officials from all fifty states. Congress was created by the Constitution, and that document describes how this branch of government works.

5. Why Congress?
When the Constitution was written, the goal was to create a government that represented the people. Congress works toward this goal by creating laws that reflect the needs and wants of United States citizens.

6. Why Congress?
The work Congress does serves the nation as a whole. Senators help by representing the needs of their entire state, while members of the House (also called Representatives) work for the people in a specific section of their state.

7. How does it work?
All of the instructions for Congress can be found in the first section of the Constitution, Article I. It is the longest section of the Constitution, and it covers a lot of ground. How old do you have to be to serve in Congress? How long do you get to serve? How does Congress relate to the other branches? All of this and more can be found in a close read of Article I.

8. Box 1 – 2: The Senate
The Senate is the upper house of Congress. Here’s what Article I, Section 3 says: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each … shall have one Vote. 50 states x 2 senators = ___ senators state aaaaaa

9. Box 1 – 2: The Senate
Article I, Section 3: No Person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the Age of 30 Years [old], and been 9 Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

10. Box 1 – 2: The Senate
Article II, Section 2: [The President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent [approve] of the Senate, to make Treaties, … appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States.

11. Box 1 – 2: The Senate
It does this with a little over 4,500 words covering only four sheets of paper! Although the Constitution was written over 220 years ago, it still guides our officials in running our country today. It is also the oldest written constitution in the world that is still in use.

12. Box 3 – 4: The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress. Here’s what Article I, Section 2 says: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

13. Box 3 – 4: The House of Representatives
Article I, Section 2: No Person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the Age of 25 Years [old], and been seven Years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen….

14. Box 3 – 4: The House of Representatives
There are 435 members in the House of Representatives. Each state elects a number of representatives based on its population. California, Texas, New York, and Florida have the most representative because they have the highest population. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming only have one representative each.

15. Box 5 - 6: List of Powers of Congress
Article I, Section 8 has a list of enumerated powers. Enumerated is a fancy word for a list. Write down at least 2 from this list: Create rules on becoming a citizen Collect taxes, pay debts, and borrow money Regulate commerce (trade) between the states and with other countries

16. Box 5 - 6: List of Powers of Congress
Article I, Section 8: Write down at least 2 from this list: [Print] Coin money and punish counterfeiters Punish pirates Establish post offices

17. Box 5 - 6: List of Powers of Congress
Article I, Section 8: Write down at least 1 from this list: Protect patents and copyrights Create lower federal courts

18. Box 5 - 6: List of Powers of Congress
Article I, Section 8: Write down at least 1 from this list: Declare war Raise and support an Army and Navy Make any other laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers in this list

19. Box 5 - 6: List of Powers of Congress
Article I, Section 8: Write down this one: Make any other laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry our the powers in this list

20. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws 1
Congress makes a law by introducing an idea, discussing and changing it, voting on it, and sending it to the president for approval. The rough draft of a law is called a bill. Bills can start in either chamber of Congress. We will create a flow chart to show the process, but as always, you can put it onto your notes paper as you wish. 2 3 4 5 6 7

21. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws Step 1
The Proposal A representative in the House of Representatives or a senator in the Senate writes a bill and gets support from others. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

22. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws Step 2 1
The Introduction The bill is assigned a number and is read aloud to the others. Then it is sent to a committee for a close review. 2 3 4 5 6 7

23. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws Step 3 1
The Report If the committee likes it, it will be sent to the to the whole House for debate. 2 3 4 5 6 7

24. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws Step 4 1
The Floor Debate All of the representatives get a chance to read the bill and debate whether it should be supported or opposed. The bill is read again and changes are suggested. 2 3 4 5 6 7

25. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws Step 5 1
The Vote If changes are made, the bill is read again, and the whole House is called to vote on the bill. They can vote yes, no, or present (if they don’t want to vote on that particular bill). 2 3 4 5 6 7

26. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws Step 6 1
The Delivery The bill goes from the House of Representatives to the Senate (or in the other direction). Once it arrives, the bill goes through the same debate, changes are made, then another vote is held before it can move on. 2 3 4 5 6 7

27. Box 7 - 8: Making Laws Step 7 1 To The President
If both chambers of Congress approve, the bill lands on the president’s desk. If it is signed, it becomes a law. If it is vetoed, it doesn’t*.
*Congress can override a veto if there are enough votes (2/3 of Congress) to do so. 2 3 4 5 6 7

28. Today’s Video
To review the lawmaking process, we will watch this music video by Schoolhouse Rock.

29. Today’s Video
To review the lawmaking process, we will watch this music video by Schoolhouse Rock.