Unit Objectives. Legis= Latin root for law

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1 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 117

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3 Legislative Branch Vocabulary Interest Group Levy (ies) Budget Annual Bill Legislature Revenue Trade Debate Impeach Lobbyist Veto Constituent Implied powers Override Legislation Majority Party Law Expressed Powers 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 119

4 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. 120

5 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? 121

6 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. 122

7 Topic: Date: Essential Question: Main Ideas/ Connections to Notes: Notes: 123

8 Summary : 124

9 TITLE: DATE: Essential Question: 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- 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 125

10 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 126

11 Topic: Date: Essential Question: Main Ideas/ Connections to Notes: Notes: 127

12 The Legislative Branch How a Bill Becomes a Law House of Representatives House STEP 1: Senate STEP 1: Senate House STEP 2: House STEP 3: House STEP 4: 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! Senate STEP 2: Senate STEP 3: Senate STEP 4: STEP 5: Summary : 128

13 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. 129

14 Vocabulary Legislative Branch Study Guide 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 o o o o o declare war makes the laws of the nation approves annual budget confirms presidential appointments raises revenue through taxes and other levies 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 bill comes back to the floor for a debate 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 vote on the bill (must pass with a majority) 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) 130