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Understanding the Legislative Branch and the Powers of Congress

This text provides information on the legislative process, the two main roles of Congress, government spending, and other powers of Congress. It also covers the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate, including their specific powers and responsibilities.

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Understanding the Legislative Branch and the Powers of Congress

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Warm Up Have out your Decoding the Constitution Worksheet and review the information on Article I Prepare for Notes

  2. The Legislative Branch The Workings of Congress

  3. The Role of Congress • Two Main Roles • Control Government Spending • Make Laws

  4. Making Laws • A bill is a proposed law • Thousands are proposed each year

  5. Government Spending • Congress appropriates all tax funds • Tax and spending bills start in House • This is a check!

  6. The Legislative Process • Bill is submitted by legislator • Goes to a standing committee • Sent to subcommittee • Goes to floor for debate

  7. Legislative Process (cont’d) • If passes one house, it goes to the other • Must pass both houses as same bill • If not same bill a joint committee meets • Goes to president for signature • If vetoed 2/3 over ride vote

  8. Legislative Process (cont’d) • At any time a bill can be killed • At any time a bill can be added to (rider) • At any time the bill can be sent back to committee • At any time the bill can be changed (amended)

  9. Other Powers of Congress • Open Constitution to Article I Section 8

  10. General Powers of Congress • Declare War • Approve Treaties • Determine Penalties for Federal Crimes

  11. The Senate and the House

  12. Roles of The House and Senate • Both Representative bodies of the people • Different powers in Constitution • What are requirements to be Rep or Senator?

  13. House of Representatives I’ll get you House of Representatives ! • All tax and spending bills • Bring charges against (impeach) President

  14. The Senate I was impeached, but those Senators couldn’t get the votes! • Try all impeachments • May propose or concur on Amendments • Approves all foreign treaties • Approve Supreme Court nominees

  15. Powers of Congress Illustration Activity • Create a drawing illustrating the different powers of Congress • Use your Legislative Branch activity worksheet to help, as well as Art 1 Sec 8 of Constitution • Be Colorful, Creative and Informative • Use the Multiple Intelligences, Challenge self to use a new one • Draw at least 4 different powers

  16. Decoding Constitution Worksheet

  17. Illustrated Powers of Congress

  18. Lawmaking Process and Committees!

  19. Committees in Congress I served on the first Foreign Affairs committee. • 4 Types of Committees • Standing Committees • Subcomittee • Select Committees • Joint Committee • Conference Committee

  20. Standing Committee • Permanent groups that specialize in a certain topic • Example: The House Committee on Agriculture http://www.house.gov/agriculture/

  21. Subcommittee • Smaller portion of committee that focuses on one particular aspect • Example: The House Committee on Agriculture http://www.house.gov/agriculture/ Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture

  22. Select Committee • Meet to focus on special issues • Can we think of an example of a special issue? I was a special issue. Currently there is a House Select Committee on me!

  23. Joint Committee • A committee that meets between House and Senate to discuss issues

  24. Conference Committee • Special meeting between House and Senate that corrects differences between similar bills

  25. What type of committees exist today? • 20 Senate Committees • 22 House Committees • http://www.senate.gov/ • http://www.house.gov/

  26. The Legislative Branch Activity

  27. Warm Up • Prepare for Notes

  28. The Executive Branch Our Nations Leader & A Man of Many Hats

  29. “The Leader of the Free World” • The President is our first and foremost representative to our country and to the world • The President decides our country’s policies both foreign and domestic

  30. The President • The Chief Executive of our Government • Some of the Roles the President has: • Chief Executive • Chief Legislator • Chief Diplomat • Chief of State • Commander in Chief • Policy Maker • Leader of his Party

  31. Chief Executive Hey Bill, wanna hang out later? YOU KNOW IT! As soon as I am done jamming out! Lets go knock over some mailboxes! • Appoints several thousand officials • Oversees executive department • Executes the laws

  32. Chief Legislator • Has ability to propose and introduce legislation • What is the Presidents role in checks and balances?

  33. The President as our Representative Abroad • Mostly as Chief Diplomat • Sets up trade agreements • Peace treaties

  34. Chief of State • Represents the whole nation particularly when the President attends meetings and conferences that involve other countries and governments.

  35. Military Leader • Head of all military branches of government • “Commander in Chief”

  36. Policy Maker • The President determines how our country work on a variety of issues • Ex. Social Security, Trade, Workers rights

  37. Leader of Party • In more recent times, the President is the Leader of his political party • Represents all of the goals and aspirations of his party

  38. A Man of Many Hats • Design 2 Hats that illustrate a different constitutional role/power of the President • Make it colorful, and informative • Use page 225 in book to help.

  39. Warm Up • Grab a Worksheet from table up front • Read over

  40. How does the President get Elected? • The Electoral College

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