THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015 Warm-up: See weekly sheet or… Define the term “ratified”: Use the term “ratified” in a sentence

that applies to our government lesson

Content objective: We will learn about the voting process in Congress; we will understand the importance of civic responsibilities

"The legislative branch is made up of..."Activities:

iCivics lesson on a) Why two houses? Civic Responsibilities Script/Commercial

VOTING IN CONGRESS:It’s More Than Just

“Yea” or “Nay”

(It’s more than thumbs up or down, too. Sorry.)

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THINK ABOUT

FOUR FACTORSFOUR FACTORS when deciding whether

to vote for a law.

FACTOR #1FACTOR #1 FACTOR #2FACTOR #2 What is my personal

opinion?

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3 What are the views

of my political party?

FACTOR #4FACTOR #4 What do my voters

think?

Does the Constitution give

Congress the power to pass the law?

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

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

Like What?

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 #1FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESSThe POWERS of CONGRESS

• Control commerce (business) that happens across state lines, with foreign countries, and with Indian tribes.

FACTOR #1FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESSThe POWERS of CONGRESS

Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:

• Make laws about immigration.• Make laws about bankruptcy.• Establish post offices.

FACTOR #1FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESSThe POWERS of CONGRESS

Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:

• Declare war.• Raise and support armies.

FACTOR #1FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESSThe POWERS of CONGRESS

Here is what the Constitution says Congress can do:

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 #1FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESSThe POWERS of CONGRESS

That means Congress can sometimes do things that are not on the list . . .. . . if it relates to something that is on the list!

FACTOR #1FACTOR #1 The POWERS of CONGRESSThe POWERS of CONGRESS

MINI-QUIZ!MINI-QUIZ!Test Your Knowledge About Test Your Knowledge About Factor Factor #1#1

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZCan Congress pass any Can Congress pass any

law it wants to?law it wants to?A. YES! Congress has the

power to do anything. B. NO! Congress can only

do what the Constitution says it can do.

Congress has the power Congress has the power to create armies.to create armies.

A. True B. False

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

Congress cannot control Congress cannot control business that happens in business that happens in

more than one state.more than one state.

A. True B. False

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

Congress may collect Congress may collect taxes for certain taxes for certain

reasons.reasons.

A. True B. False

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

Congress may not make Congress may not make any laws about any laws about immigration.immigration.

A. True B. False

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

Congress may make any Congress may make any law as long as it is law as long as it is

“necessary and proper.”“necessary and proper.”

A. True B. False

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

When may Congress do When may Congress do something that is not something that is not

listed in the Constitution?listed in the Constitution?A. Always B. NeverC. When it relates to

something that is listedD. Only on Thursdays

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

FACTOR #2FACTOR #2What is my What is my personal opinion?personal opinion?

FACTOR #2FACTOR #2 PERSONAL OPINIONPERSONAL OPINION

Members of Congress are human beings, just like you!Sometimes they agree with a bill…

…and sometimes they are totally against a bill.

No way!

Love it!

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3 POLITICAL PARTY VIEWSPOLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

People in a political party share similar values.

They work for laws that reflect those values.

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 #3FACTOR #3 POLITICAL PARTY VIEWSPOLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

Usually members of Congress agree with their political party about bills.

But sometimes they don’t.

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3 POLITICAL PARTY VIEWSPOLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

FACTOR #4FACTOR #4 WHAT THE VOTERS THINKWHAT THE VOTERS THINK

There would be too many people in Congress if everyone went . . .

So voters choose a few people to represent them.

People in Congress are responsible for representing the voters back home.

So they’d better think about those voters, because…

FACTOR #4FACTOR #4 WHAT THE VOTERS THINKWHAT THE VOTERS THINK

Voters send people to Congress . . .

. . . and voters can kick people out!

FACTOR #4FACTOR #4 WHAT THE VOTERS THINKWHAT THE VOTERS THINK

MINI-QUIZ!MINI-QUIZ!Test Your Knowledge Test Your Knowledge About About Factors 2, 3, and 4Factors 2, 3, and 4!!

Members of Congress vote Members of Congress vote based based onlyonly on their on their personal opinions.personal opinions.

A. TRUE! Personal opinion is the only factor.

B. FALSE! They consider other factors too.

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

Members of Congress Members of Congress always agree with their always agree with their

political party about bills.political party about bills.

A. True B. False

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

When considering a bill, When considering a bill, members of Congress members of Congress should think about...should think about...

A. Only themselves B. Voters back homeC. People on the moon

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

If members of Congress If members of Congress do a bad job, voters can do a bad job, voters can

kick them out.kick them out.

A. True B. False

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

In Congress, being in a In Congress, being in a political party is like political party is like

being on a...being on a...

A. Team B. Game showC. Surf board

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People in the same People in the same political party share political party share

similar…similar…

A. Eye color B. Opinions about moviesC. Values

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ

When considering a bill, When considering a bill, members of Congress members of Congress usually think about…usually think about…

A. Their own opinions B. The Constitution C. Political party viewsD. What voters think E. All of the above

MINI-QUIZMINI-QUIZ