Democratic Citizenship - Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch (Chapters 10-12)
Objectives: At the end of this unit, I hope you will be able to
1) explain how we make laws in this country, and who gets to make them
2) describe the checks and balances within the legislative process
3) identify expressed and implied powers of the legislature
4) explain the structure of the national, and state legislatures
5) understand the different philosophies regarding the role a legislator should
play in representing his/her constituents
CONGRESS
1. What is meant by a bicameral legislature. What are the 3 reasons we have it today?
2. What are the terms of Congress? What are sessions? What is a special session?
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1. How does the census connect to the membership of the House of representatives?
How many people, on average, does 1 representative represent? Explain
reapportionment.
2. When do we elect our representatives? What generally happens in “off-year”
elections? Why do you think this is so?
3. What is Congressional REDISTRICTING? Who is responsible for it?
4. What is GERRYMANDERING? What impact does it have on elections?
SENATE
1. Why did the framers of the Constitution make the Senate smaller?
Democratic Citizenship - Legislative Branch
I.
The Members of Congress
1. Describe the makeup of Congress today:
2. Characteristics of a typical Congressperson:
3. Members of Congress are primarily lawmakers and representatives of their
constituents. Describe their other main jobs:
A) Committee MembersB) Servants of their constituents3. As a member of Congress is considering how to vote on a bill, they have 4
basic options. Describe each:
A) TRUSTEEB) DELEGATEC) PARTISAND) POLITICOIII. Powers of Congress
1. What is meant by the expressed powers of Congress? Where are they listed?
Explain the following categories of expressed powers (sects. 2 & 3)
A) TAXING (purposes, limits, budget) *activity
B) COMMERCE
C) FOREIGN RELATIONS & WAR POWERS
D) COPYRIGHT/PATENT
E) NATURALIZATION
2. What is meant by IMPLIED powers? Where are they found and why is this
sometimes called the ELASTIC CLAUSE? (Sect. 4)
Democratic Citizenship - Legislative Branch
2. Look at the chart on p. 308 for examples of IMPLIED powers. Give 2
implied powers that come from the expressed power of regulating commerce:
4. Where are the powers that are denied to Congress found? (class notes)
-Cannot suspend HABEUS CORPUS:
-No BILLS OF ATTAINDER:
-No EX POST FACTO LAWS:
5. Describe the duties that Congress performs that DO NOT involve lawmaking:
A) AmendmentsB) Electoral Duties (rare) –
C) ImpeachmentD) Confirmation of Appointments and TreatiesE) InvestigationsIV. Congress in action
1. What is the purpose of committees?
2. What are the kinds of committees? (explain each)
A) STANDINGB) JOINTC) CONFERENCE3. What is the basic path a bill must follow in order to become a law? (flowchart/class
discussion)
4.Discuss all the influences on lawmakers there are…(class discussion)
5. The president’s role in the legislative process? (p. 346)