The US Congress vs. the South Dakota Legislature
Prepared By:
JoAnne Bohl
West Central School District
West Central High School
Hartford, SD
Developed for
Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study (LEGIS)
Chiesman Center for Democracy, Inc.
1641 Deadwood Ave.
Rapid City, SD 57702
www.chiesman.org
2009
The contents of the K – 12 LEGIS LESSONS were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of
Education (Grant No. 84.304c – LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study). However,
the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should
not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (EDGAR: 34 CFR)
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
HS.A.12; HS.D.9
Lesson Title: U.S. Congress vs. the South Dakota State Legislature
Prepared By: Joanne Bohl
Grade Level: 9-12
Time Required: 1 Class
Lesson in Unit:
9-12 Lesson 12 of 14 in Unit: What Is Government?
Lesson 9 of 13 in Unit: Relationships with the Legislature
I.
Essential Question:
How is the legislative branch organized?
II.
South Dakota Grade Level Content Standards:
9-12.C.1.1. Students are able to explain the characteristics of various forms of
government.
9-12.C.1.3. Students are able to identify the principles of the American
Constitution.
9-12.C.1.5. Students are able to describe the state, local, and tribal governments
with emphasis on their structures, functions, and powers.
III.
Assessment Strategies:
Legislative Branch Comparison Chart – see Attachment #1
IV.
Learning Objectives:
Students will compare the purpose and organization of the United States
Congress to the South Dakota State Legislature.
V.
Necessary Materials/Technology:
1. Reference materials outlining the purpose and organization of the United
States Congress and the South Dakota State Legislature
2. Computer access
3. Legislative Branch Comparison Chart
VI.
Background Information:
This lesson would be most effective for students who have prior knowledge of the
purpose and organization of the U.S. Congress. If not, an overview of the U.S.
Congress would be helpful.
VII.
Detailed Lesson Description
1. Have students review the purpose and organization of the U.S. Congress.
2. Have students go to the South Dakota State Legislature website:
http://legis.state.sd.us/. Have students click on “Student Page” then “Student’s
Guide”. Students should read “The South Dakota Legislature: An Overview.
3. Based on this information, students will complete the Legislative Branch
Comparison Chart.
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
Page 1
VIII.
Enrichment
This lesson can also be done comparing the executive and judicial branches of
government at the national and state level. Students can compare the purpose
and organization of the South Dakota state legislature with other state legislature.
IX.
Bibliography/Resources
U.S. Legislative Branch:
http://www.senate.gov/
http://www.house.gov/
South Dakota State Legislature:
http://legis.state.sd.us/
U.S. Executive Branch:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
South Dakota Governor’s Office:
http://www.state.sd.us/governor/
U.S. Judicial Branch:
http://www.uscourts.gov/
South Dakota Judicial Branch:
http://www.state.sd.us/state/judicial/
Other State Legislatures:
http://www.ncsl.org/public/leglinks.cfm
The contents of the K – 12 LEGIS LESSONS were developed under a grant from the
U.S. Department of Education (Grant No. 84.304c – LEGIS: Legislative Education for
Greater Inquiry and Study). However, the contents do not necessarily represent the
policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement
by the Federal Government. (EDGAR: 34 CFR)
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
Page 2
Attachment #1
Characteristic
United States Congress
South Dakota
Legislature
Functions
Total number of members
Requirements for
membership
Number of years per term
Number of sessions per
term
Beginning date for a new
session
Length of session
Number of chambers
Names of chambers
Number of years per term
for each chamber
Number of members in
each chamber
Unique characteristics of
each chamber
Organization of leadership
Organization of floor
leadership
Overview of committee
structure
Vocabulary
Other
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
Page 3