Curriculum Unit

The Legislative Branch

Students will learn about the structure, function, and powers of the legislative branch of government. They will explore the legislative process, as well as the influence of citizens and political parties.

View our Constitution Explained video series for short-form videos to share with students about the legislative and other branches of government.

6-8

9-12

Lesson Plan

6-8

Congress in a Flash!

Need to teach the legislative branch in a hurry? This lesson is designed to cover the basics in a single class period. Students learn what Congress is, what the Constitution says…
WebQuest

6-8, 9-12

Who Represents Me?

Do you know who represents you in the federal, state and local government? Do you know how to get in touch with them?
DBQuest

6-8, 9-12

The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out

President Jefferson usually gets the credit for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the young nation. But this ignores one important actor, the U.S. Congress.…
WebQuest

6-8, 9-12

Making Laws

Do you ever wish you could make the rules? Well, there are people whose job it is to make the rules for this country. These rules are called laws, and the people who make them are…
Lesson Plan

6-8, 9-12

Can You BILL-ieve It? (Infographic)

How does a bill become a law? Follow this decision tree through the life and death of a bill in Congress.
Lesson Plan

6-8, 9-12

Leadership & the Agenda (Infographics)

Members in the House and Senate decide who will take on important leadership roles. Teach students about how party leaders shape the congressional agenda.
Lesson Plan

6-8

Voting In Congress

How do members of Congress decide whether to vote yea or nay on a bill? In this lesson, students learn what factors members of Congress consider when deciding whether to vote for a…
Game

6-8, 9-12

Branches of Power

Learn to control all three branches of the U.S. government!
Game

6-8, 9-12

LawCraft

Jump into the law making process of Congress.
Lesson Plan

6-8, 9-12

LawCraft Extension Pack

Transform your students’ gameplay into meaningful and memorable learning. You can now download and assign extension pack materials directly from the LawCraft game page. The…
Lesson Plan

6-8

Why Do We Have A House And Senate, Anyway?

Students learn why there are two houses of Congress and discover how a bicameral legislature ensures that all states have a voice in bills. Together, the class creates a school…
Lesson Plan

6-8, 9-12

Mini-Lesson: Congressional Leadership

How are leaders in Congress elected and organized? In this short mini-lesson, students learn about Congress' leadership positions and the primary duties of each one. Students will…

Use the Scope & Sequence to help you plan your iCivics classroom experience!

Whether you enjoy finding opportunities within a well-structured sequence of resources or prefer looking around for pieces and bits that can be jigsawed together, our Scope & Sequence documents are a perfect reference point for planning. Scope & Sequence documents are available for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms and list all of our resources in one place.

Explore Our Resource Guides:

FOR TEACHERS

FOR DISTRICTS

The Legislative Branch

Congress in a Flash!

Who Represents Me?

The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out

Making Laws

Can You BILL-ieve It? (Infographic)

Leadership & the Agenda (Infographics)

Voting In Congress

Branches of Power

LawCraft

LawCraft Extension Pack

Why Do We Have A House And Senate, Anyway?

Mini-Lesson: Congressional Leadership

First Branch: Legislative

Who Represents Me?

The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out

Making Laws

Can You BILL-ieve It? (Infographic)

Leadership & the Agenda (Infographics)

Mini-lesson: Congressional Committees (HS)

Branches of Power

LawCraft

LawCraft Extension Pack

Mini-Lesson: Congressional Leadership

Mini-lesson: Filibusters (HS)

Use the Scope & Sequence to help you plan your iCivics classroom experience!

The Legislative Branch

Explore resources in this unit

Congress in a Flash!

Who Represents Me?

The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out

Making Laws

Can You BILL-ieve It? (Infographic)

Leadership & the Agenda (Infographics)

Voting In Congress

Branches of Power

LawCraft

LawCraft Extension Pack

Why Do We Have A House And Senate, Anyway?

Mini-Lesson: Congressional Leadership

First Branch: Legislative

Who Represents Me?

The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out

Making Laws

Can You BILL-ieve It? (Infographic)

Leadership & the Agenda (Infographics)

Mini-lesson: Congressional Committees (HS)

Branches of Power

LawCraft

LawCraft Extension Pack

Mini-Lesson: Congressional Leadership

Mini-lesson: Filibusters (HS)

Use the Scope & Sequence to help you plan your iCivics classroom experience!