1. 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.

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

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

4. 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?

5. FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS
Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:
Collect taxes
defend the country
provide for the “general welfare” of the U.S.
Control business across state lines and with foreign countries.

6. FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESS
Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:
5. Make laws about immigration.
6. Establish post offices.
7. Raise and support armies.
8. Declare war.

7. 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!

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

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

10. Which expressed power matches up?
1964 Civil Rights Act: Ends segregation by businesses.

11. High School Graduation Rates Demographics
What could be an impact of long term segregation in schools?

12. Should businesses be able to deny services to gay consumers?

13. The Curse of Ham is a misnomer for the curse upon Canaan that was imposed by the biblical patriarch Noah. The curse occurs in the Book of Genesis and concerns Noah's drunkenness and the accompanying shameful act perpetrated by his son Ham, the father of Canaan (Gen. 9:20–27). Ham’s descendants were in modern day Africa and Asia.
Some individuals used to use a religious freedom argument to defend racist views…what is your opinion on this?
Should protecting religious freedom be okay if it imposes on others freedoms?

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

15. FACTOR #2 PERSONAL OPINION
Members of Congress are human beings, just like you!
Love it!
Sometimes they agree with a bill…
…and sometimes they are totally against a bill.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR PARTY OR VOTERS THINK…
No way!

16. 1964 Civil Rights Act (end segregation in private businesses)
Predict: How do you think Congress members in southern states would vote on this act?

18. 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.

19. “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.

20. Should personal opinion ever outweigh the wants of the voters?

21. 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.

22. Why might Congress mostly vote with their party?

23. 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?

24. Democrats Republicans
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.
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.

25. Why might Congressional members vote AGAINST their party?

26. 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?

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

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

29. Senator Bernie Sanders (I)
Vermont
Senator Bernie Sanders (I)
“Vermont prides itself on a deep hunting and gun culture and has traditionally, fiercely defended its lax 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?

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