Article 1: The Legislative Branch

Lesson 3.1

Stop & Jot

• “There are two things you don’t want to see being made —sausage and legislation”

• -- Attributed to Otto von Bismark (1815-1898), Germany’s chancellor from 1871-1890.

• “Suppose you were an idiot. Suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”

• -- Mark Twain, 1891

• Choose 1 Quote to write about

• What does it mean to you?

• Why might people say this?

• What images does Congress invoke in people’s minds?

• Write & Share with someone around you

“People’s Branch”

• People influence this branch more than any other.

• Each member in the House of Representatives represents close to 700,000 people

• Up for re-election every 2 years• Staying in touch with the people is

important• Quotes: legislative process & how we

perceive Congress from the outside.

Politics

• “Art of Governing”• In charge of making laws, but how it

decides what laws to make, and when, is often a matter of politics.

• Analogy: Football team’s goal is to score, but the selection of plays and techniques employed differ depending upon variables such as personnel, playing conditions, and the opponent.

Cont.

• It is not about the best idea.

• BUT, how to employ a successful strategy to garner the support of constituents, key interest groups, party leadership, a majority of the house of representatives, 60 senators, and probably the President.

• Welcome to politics.

Graphic Organizer

• Partner up

• Constitutional Principles

• Complete Analysis

• ALSO – discuss the ways in which each of these constitutional principles serve to limit the power of the government. Write on the back or side of the paper.

House vs. Senate

• Read through Article 1• Construct a list of the differences between

House and Senate– What differences did you notice?– Why start tax bills in the House?– Why give only the Senate the power to

approve treaties and appointments?– Why the age differences?– Why the difference in the length of terms?

Congress

• Founders concerned that it would bully the other 2 branches and people

• That’s why it is the longest branch – very detailed in what they can and can’t do

• PRIMARY FUNCTION – create laws for the betterment of the republic.

• Lawmaking is its primary duty

Other Duties

• Propose Amendments• Declare War• Impeach and try the president and other federal

officials• Hold special sessions on important matters• Hold hearings• Conduct investigations• Oversee implemented legislation and the affairs

of the executive branch• Senate approves judicial appointments and

ratifies treaties.

Current Legislation

• Identify and summarize current legislation

• Find something interesting

• Find something that is in the news

• We will be conducting a simulation of how a bill works its way through congress. This will be fun!