Name _____________________________________________
Block _____________ Teacher _________________________
Legis= Latin root for “law”
Legislation= laws that are
made
Legislative= to make laws
Legislature= government
body that makes laws
Legislator= people who make
the laws
Unit Objectives
 Describe the structure of Congress
 Identify the roles and powers of Congress
 Explain the lawmaking process at the national level
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Legislative Branch Vocabulary
□Interest Group
□Bill
□Debate
□Constituent
□Majority Party
□Levy (ies)
□Legislature
□Impeach
□Implied powers
□Law
□Budget
□Revenue
□Lobbyist
□Override
□Expressed Powers
□Annual
□Trade
□Veto
□ Legislation
Directions: Use the words from the word bank and match to the definitions below.
A group of people who meet to make the laws (Example- Congress)
In Congress, the political party to which more than half of the members belong
A person from a legislator’s district
Powers of Congress that are listed (or enumerated) in the Constitution
Powers that Congress has that are NOT specifically listed in the Constitution
To apply or establish a tax
To accuse a government official of misconduct while in office
A plan for making and spending money
Income (money) that the government collects for public use
To vote against a presidential veto
A representative of an interest group that contacts lawmakers in order to
influence their policymaking
Yearly
To exchange goods and services
A rule made by a legislature for all people to follow
Refusal to sign a bill or law
An idea or a draft for a new law
A group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote
their belief
To discuss and argue over different viewpoints
Laws made by a governing body
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National Government- Legislative Branch
The Constitution of the United States defines and outlines the structure and the powers of the national
government. The powers held by the government are split between the national government in Washington,
D.C. and the governments of the 50 states.
These powers are distributed among three distinct and independent branches of the national government.
They are the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Legislative branch is called the Congress. Congress is a bicameral, or two chamber, legislature. The
first chamber is made up of the House of Representatives with 435 members who are elected based on the
population of each state. The official Census that is conducted every 10 years for the purpose of counting all
citizens in every state is the way in which each state is allocated, or given its share of representatives. The
second chamber is called the Senate with 100 members. There are two senators from each state. (50 states
x 2 senators = 100 total senators)
The Constitution gives the Congress certain powers: making the laws of the nation; approving the
annual national budget; raising revenue through taxes and other levies; confirming presidential
appointments; regulating interstate and foreign trade; and declaring war against other hostile
nations.
1. Explain why Congress is a “bicameral legislature”?
2. Name the powers of Congress and the Legislative Branch.
The Legislative Branch- Separation of powers & checks and balances
At the legislative branch, there are two ways Congress checks the President, or executive branch.
First,
Congress can override, or reverse a presidential veto of legislation. A veto is the power of one branch of
government to reject the legislation of another branch. Second, Congress can impeach and convict a
President of violating or disobeying the laws of the land. To impeach means to remove somebody such as the
President from public office.
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The Congress also checks the judicial branch, or the courts. One way Congress does this is by confirming or
refusing to confirm the nominated judges or justices of federal courts. Another way Congress checks the
courts is by impeaching and convicting judges or justices of violating, or disobeying the laws of the land.
1. How can the legislative branch check the executive branch?
2. How can the legislative branch check the judicial branch?
The Lawmaking Process ~ National Level
The voters elect officials to serve in Congress, our national legislature, on our behalf and make the laws for us.
It is important to remember that the formal powers of Congress are limited by the Constitution of the United
States.
Congress has a number of expressed and implied legislative powers. Expressed legislative powers
are those powers specifically listed in the Constitution of the United States. Implied legislative powers are
those used to carry out expressed powers. (Example: The Constitution spells out how to become a citizen of the United States.
You remember there are 2 ways: birth and naturalization. These are expressed powers. These are stated in the Constitution. However, regulating and
controlling immigration is an implied power. These are not specifically written in the Constitution but are necessary to enforce, or carry out
naturalization laws. )
How does Congress make laws? The process of lawmaking in Congress begins with a Senator or a
Representative who introduces a bill. The bill is then referred or moved to a committee for review. Next
it is debated on the floor of both houses (the Senate and the House of Representatives). Then the
bill is voted on by both houses. If passed, the bill is sent to the President who can sign the bill into
law.
Senators and Representatives write laws and take action in response to problems or issues that affect their
voters. In some cases, individuals or interest groups may help shape how the bill is written and thereby
influence public policy.
1. What is the difference between an implied power and an expressed power?
2. List the steps (in order) of how a bill becomes a law.
3. Who influences the Senators and Representatives to make laws?
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Homework- Write a friendly letter
Pretend you have a pen pal or friend in another country. He/she wants to know how our
Congress is structured for a school project. Write a letter back giving with as much detail
as possible to help your friend. Use the space below.
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Summary :
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TITLE:
Essential Question:
DATE:
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Congress has 2 legislative
power granted by the
Constitution
1. Expressed Powers are listed in the Constitution:
 Makes ________________________________________
Example
Approves ______________________________________
Example-

Confirms ______________________________________
Example-

Raises ________________________________________
______________________________________________
Example-
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Regulates _____________________________________
Example-

Declares ______________________________________
Example-
2. Implied Powers are used to carry out the expressed powers:
 This power is NOT _____________________________
 This power is “hinted at” or “implied” by the _________
______________________________________________
 Expands ______________________________________
Examples-
Checks and Balances
Congress (the Legislative Branch) can “check” the powers of the other
2 branches:
1. Congress checks the Executive Branch and the President when
 Overrides ____________________________________
 ___________________________________ a president
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2. Congress checks the Judicial Branch and the Supreme Court
 Confirm or refuse
________________________________
 __________________________________ federal judges
The Powers of Congress
are limited
1. The powers of Congress are NOT _______________________.
2. The ___________________________ limits the power of
Congress.
CONCLUSION
Homework- Powers of Congress Matching
Directions- The following items are the main powers of Congress. Match the pictures below to each item by writing the
number of the power beneath the picture.
1-makes the laws for the nation
2- approves an annual budget
3- confirms presidential appointments
4- raises revenue through taxes and other levies
5- regulates interstate and foreign trade
6- declares war
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The Legislative Branch – How a Bill Becomes a Law
House of Representatives
Senate
House STEP 1:
House STEP 2:
House STEP 3:
House STEP 4:
Senate STEP 1:
A bill is a
written idea
or proposal
for a law.
If it goes
through all
steps in each
house of
Congress
and gets
approved by
the
president, it
becomes an
official law!
STEP 5:
Summary :
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Senate STEP 2:
Senate STEP 3:
Senate STEP 4:
Homework- Legislative Process (how a bill becomes a law)
Directions- Cut out the steps in how a bill becomes a law provided to you on class and paste them on the comic strip
below in the correct order of the steps.
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Legislative Branch Study Guide
Vocabulary
□
□
Define all 19 of the vocab words on the Legislative Branch list
Recognize all of the vocab words when used in the context of a question or answer
Concepts to know:
1. Name the two houses in Congress- Senate and House of Representatives
2.
The Legislative Branch is outlined in Article I (one) of the Constitution
3.
The main role of Congress is to - make laws
4.
Title of the leader of the House of Representatives- Speaker of the House
5.
Title of the acting leader of the Senate- President Pro Temp
6.
Representation in the House is based on the state’ s- population
7.
Representation in the Senate is- equal (2 per state)
8.
There are 100 members of the Senate and 435 members of the House
9.
Name the two types of powers the Constitution gives to Congress ( recognize examples)


expressed- listed in the Constitution (enumerated)
o
declare war
o
makes the laws of the nation
o
approves annual budget
o
confirms presidential appointments
o
raises revenue through taxes and other levies
o
regulates interstate and foreign trade
implied- not listed, but used to carry out the expressed powers by the "necessary and proper clause
10. How can Congress check the other 2 branches
Checks the Executive Branch- override presidential vetoes, impeach and convict a president

Checks the Judicial Branch- confirm or refuse the confirm presidential appointments of officials, impeach and convict a federal
judge/justice
11. Understand the steps in the legislative process (how a bill becomes a law)
idea
bill is written with the idea
by a sponsor in Congress
bill introduced to the
house the sponsor belongs
to
bill sent to a committee for
review and editing
Congress can override
presidential veto by 2/3
vote in favor of the bill
if bill passes in both
housed- goes to the
president to 1) sign 2) veto
if it passes on one house,
bill has to go to the other
house to be introduced,
committee work, debate
and vote
12. Explain how groups and/or individuals can influence the legislative (or policymaking) process



the media can help set the public agenda by:
1.
focus public attention on certain issues
2.
offer a forum (meeting place) for opposing viewpoints to be communicated
3.
hold officials accountable to the public
individuals can have influence on public policy:
1.
participate in politics (voting, campaigning, holding office)
2.
express opinions (lobby, protesting, write letters)
3.
join interest groups
interest groups (because of their size and money) can influence our lawmakers (legislators) by:
1.
identify issues (for the public agenda)
2.
make political contributions (donate money)
3.
lobby government officials (the people who do the lobbying are called lobbyists)
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bill comes back to the
floor for a debate
vote on the bill
(must pass with a majority)