The Legislative Branch
Unit 4 Lessons
Unit 4 Exam Review Materials
- Structure and Organization of Congress
- Powers of Congress
- Lawmaking
- Influencing Lawmaking
- State and Local Legislatures
Unit 4 Exam Review Materials
Unit Four Overview (Adapted from the MSDE Web Based Course)
Rationale or Purpose for Teaching:
The purpose of this unit is to provide students with knowledge about the importance of the legislative branch to the foundations of American democracy. Students begin by examining ways in which the framers of the Constitution envisioned the power of government could be balanced against the public good. As part of that examination, students will consider the necessity of being informed about:
Essential Concepts
In addition, students will examine the legislative process of three levels of government: local government, the Maryland General Assembly, and the United States Congress. Students will discover the structure, functions, and powers of the legislative body at each of those levels. They will also analyze the power of legislation to protect and to limit the rights of individuals and groups. Finally, students will examine vocabulary and terminology specific to the legislative process and to both the Maryland General Assembly and the United States Congress.
Essential Vocabulary:
Rationale or Purpose for Teaching:
The purpose of this unit is to provide students with knowledge about the importance of the legislative branch to the foundations of American democracy. Students begin by examining ways in which the framers of the Constitution envisioned the power of government could be balanced against the public good. As part of that examination, students will consider the necessity of being informed about:
- the structure, functions, and powers of the legislative branches; and
- the immediate impact that local, state, and national legislatures have on contemporary society.
Essential Concepts
- the structure, functions, and powers of the legislative branches; and
- the immediate impact that local, state, and national legislatures have on contemporary society
- Principles of government (Popular Sovereignty, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Federalism)
- Delegated v. Reserved powers
- Representative government
- Purpose of government
- Role of government in peoples’ daily lives
- Basic economic principles, (supply and demand, money supply, interest rates, wages, taxes)
- Knowledge of the purpose of the legislative branch
- Basic knowledge of the Congress
- What are the powers, structure and organization of the legislative branches (United States Congress, Maryland General Assembly and local councils)?
- How are legislative tools used in the law making process as a method of limiting government and ensuring that the people are represented?
- What are the powers denied to national and state governments?
- What are the implied powers of United States Congress?
- How can individuals and groups initiate change in government?
- What is the effectiveness of legislation promoting equity (immigration policies, affirmative action)?
- How do changes in demographics affect representation and decisions by representatives?
- What are the election and appointment processes for members of the national, state and local legislative branches?
In addition, students will examine the legislative process of three levels of government: local government, the Maryland General Assembly, and the United States Congress. Students will discover the structure, functions, and powers of the legislative body at each of those levels. They will also analyze the power of legislation to protect and to limit the rights of individuals and groups. Finally, students will examine vocabulary and terminology specific to the legislative process and to both the Maryland General Assembly and the United States Congress.
Essential Vocabulary: