Bellringer Objective 2: Examine contemporary

issues affecting the United States and how government and citizens respond.

Homework: None Answer: What do you know about the

Legislative Branch? What do you want to know about the Legislative Branch?

3 Branches of Government Legislative – makes laws Executive – executes or enforces laws Judicial – interprets laws

The Legislative Branch Also known as: Congress Function: To make laws, Most powerful

branch of government Article: I Bicameral legislature: two-house (or two-

part) government body 2 houses called the Senate and the House of

Representatives Powers: Make laws, declare war, override

vetoes, print money, borrow money

Which function of the legislative branch?

Which function of the legislative branch?

Which function of the legislative branch?

Which function of the legislative branch?

Which function of the legislative branch?

Which function of the legislative branch?

House of Representatives Representation based on: Population (more

populated states have more representatives, less populated states have fewer representatives) US Census determines population of each state every

10 yrs. Each state is broken up into districts, NC has 13

districts. # of members: 435 Leader: Speaker of the House- runs the meeting,

directs which bills will be discussed Term length: 2 yrs Duties: Make revenue (money) bills, impeach the

president, elect president if there is no majority winner

Senate Representation based on: Equal representation,

2 per state # of members: 100 Leader: Vice President, President pro tempore Term length: 6 yrs Duties: Hold trial for president’s impeachment,

approve presidential appointments to Supreme Court, ambassadors, and other positions

Fun Facts! Privileges:

Salary: $165,000 a year Free parking, free trips to their home

states Franking privilege (send mail for free!) Gym, special restaurants, medical Access to the library of congress Get helpers

Practice Looking at your sheet, decide what

house the person belongs in! (Or both, or neither!)

Comparing Legislative Branches

NATIONAL Known as: Congress Two houses: Senate

and House of Representatives

Term: Senate 6 yrs, HoR 2 yrs

Key Issues: Censoring the internet, immigration reform, patents/copyrights, etc.

Laws known as: Statutes (any law)

STATE Known as: General

Assembly Two houses: Senate

and House of Representatives

Term: Senate and HoR 2 yrs

Key Issues: State lottery, minimum wage, campaign reform

Laws known as: Statutes (any law), ordinances (local laws)

Just a Bill activity! Step 1 Directions Come up with an idea that you’d like

to see as a bill and later as a law. Complete the outline that describes

your bill, including what exactly the bill is supposed to do, how it will be implemented step by step, where the money to pay for it will come from, and who it will affect and how.

10 Minutes

Just a Bill activity! Step 2 Directions 3. Now that you have written the

law you have five minutes to get your law signed and approved by another representative.

5 minutes!

Just a Bill activity! Step 3 Directions 1. Now that you have gotten your bill

endorsed you must introduce your bill to the floor.

2. As a committee, select two of the best bills. These bills will be presented to the floor.

3. Then select two people to speak o behalf of each bill.

4. Complete the speaking points below for each bill selected.

10 minutes

Just a Bill activity! Step 4 and 5 Directions Step 4: Once your group has

presented one member from the HoR, Senate and your committee will make a change to your bill.

Step 5: While you are listening to the other bills write down at least one change you would like to make to the bill.

Just a Bill activity! Step 6 and 7 DirectionsStep 6: In the space below, summarize the changes the representatives, senate and committee made to your bill.

Step 7: As a committee vote against or for the bill with the changes.

10 minutes

Just a Bill activity! Step 8 Directions Step 8: Present your passed bill with

the changes. HoR will vote.

Just a Bill activity! Step 9 Directions 9: Present your passed bill with the

changes. Senate will vote.

Just a Bill activity! Step 10 Directions Bring all passed bills to the

president and president will chose to sign or veto the bill

BILL INTRODUCEDSenator or Representative presents a

bill to his/her house in written or verbal form.

FLOOR DEBATE AND ACTION The whole house debates the bill.

Filibuster: method used in the Senate where senators refuse to stop talking about a bill until people get sick of hearing about it and give up

Each house votes on passage.

VOTING Conference committee (representatives from the

HoR and the Senate) works out differences between the Senate and the HoR’s bills and creates a compromise bill.

House and Senate vote on compromise bill. If a majority approves, it goes to the President.

PASSAGE President passes, vetoes, or pocket vetoes

bill. Pocket veto: when the President refuses to sign a

bill, but does not actively veto it—instead, he just ignores it

Note: If Congress wants to override the veto, they can do so by a 2/3 vote.

FINAL TASK Make a cartoon strip depicting the steps

in how a bill becomes a law. Must have at least five boxes: Proposal,

Committee Action, Floor Action, Conference Action, Passage

Must include the following words: committee, compromise, veto, kill, pass

Exit Ticket – T/F (if false, correct the statement so it’s true!)Example:1. The main function of the legislative branch is to

enforce laws. TRUE OR FALSE? False… so how can we correct it?

The main function of the legislative branch is to enforce laws make laws.