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

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

3. 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?

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

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

6. 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

7. 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:

8. 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:

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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. FACTOR #2 What is my personal opinion?

14. 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!

15. 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

16. 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?

17. 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.

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

19. 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.

20. 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

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

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