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2. FEDERALISM SEPARATION OF POWERS LIMITED GOVERNMENT

3. Page 39 Lesson 15 The Legislative Branch

4. House wingSenate wing U.S. Capitol Building West Side View

5. U.S. Capitol Building

6. House wingSenate wing U.S. Capitol Building West Side View Who is this?

7. House wingSenate wing U.S. Capitol Building Statue of Freedom The bronze Statue of Freedom by Thomas Crawford is the crowning feature of the Dome of the United States Capitol. The bronze statue stands 19 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 15,000 pounds.United States Capitol

8. W ARM- U P What I KNOW about the Legislative Branch QUESTIONS I Have about the Legislative Branch Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch L 38

9. L EARNING T ARGETS:  I can describe the legislative branch of the U.S. government.  separation of powers  bicameral VOCAB Key Vocabulary to add to Flashcard List (29-30) Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch R 39  I can explain its role in the “separation of powers.” SEPARATION OF POWERS the division of basic government roles into branches

10. Attach the Graphic Organizer. The Legislative Branch Step 1 – Reading Read Section 9.3 (167-168) and answer the questions below. 1. What is the main job performed by the legislative branch? 2. What does “bicameral” mean? 3. What are proposals for new laws called? Answer Article/Section 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Step 2 – Constitutional Question Cards Get a set of the Legislative Branch cards. To answer each question, refer to either Section 9.3 or the Constitution, which starts on page 596. Record the answers below in complete sentences. CONSTITUTION CHALLENGE: Record the article and section where the answer can be found. The Constitution starts on page 596. Record your answers with complete sentences. Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch R 39

11. 1. What is the main job performed by the legislative branch? 2. What does “bicameral” mean? 3. What are proposals for new laws called? Review the Graphic Organizer The Legislative Branch The legislative branch makes laws. Bicameral means “having two lawmaking parts”. Congress is divided into two bodies or houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Proposals for new laws are called bills. Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch R 39 BICAMERAL having two lawmaking parts (comes from Latin words meaning “two rooms”)

12. Review the Graphic Organizer The Legislative Branch 1. What is the length of term of office for members of the U.S. House of Representatives? Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms. A person must be 25 years old to be elected to the House and 30 years old to be elected to the Senate. Article I, Section 2 Article I, Section 2 and 3 2. How old must a person be to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives? To the Senate? Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch R 39

13. Review the Graphic Organizer The Legislative Branch 3. Who has the power to propose a law to raise revenue (a tax law)? All bills raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives. Article I, Section 7 4. What is the length of term of office for members of the United States Senate? Senators serve six-year terms. Article I, Section 3 Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch R 39

14. Review the Graphic Organizer The Legislative Branch 5. Who has the power to declare war? Congress has the power to declare war. 6. How many members of the U.S. Senate are there? The U.S. House of Representatives? Congress? Article I, Section 8 The Senate has 100 members and the House has 435, so Congress has 535 members. Article I, Section 2, 3, and margin note Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch In 1789, with only 26 senators and 65 representatives, the first Congress met in Federal Hall in New York City. R 39 The Reapportionment Act of 1929 set the permanent size of the House of Representatives at 435.

15. Y OU D ECIDE ! Term Limits Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch Senator Robert Byrd, West Virginia, served in Congress for 57 years and 176 days. A member of Congress is not limited in the number of times he or she can run for re-election. Several examples… Rep. John David Dingell Jr., Michigan, the longest-serving member of Congress in history, served over 59 years and 21 days. L 38

16. Y OU D ECIDE ! Term Limits Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch In the 1980s and 1990s, many people began to call for a law that would set term limits, or prevent office-holders from serving more than a certain number of terms in a row. What do you think? Should senators and representatives have term limits just like the president? L 38

17. Y OU D ECIDE Term Limits Lesson 15: The Legislative Branch PRO With term limits, Congresspersons wouldn’t have to continue to seek money for re-election from special interest groups. Challengers may be discouraged from running against someone already holding an office. Politicians who serve too long in Washington lose touch with the people they represent. CON Politicians who can’t run for office again have less interest in serving the needs and wants of the people they represent. Politicians who have served in office have experience and can get more done in Congress. Term limits violate the constitutional right of people to express themselves by voting for whomever they want. L 38