Home > The Legislative Branch > Congress in a Flash!

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to...

  • Explain the structure and powers of the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government.
  • Describe the legislative process in the U.S. Congress.
  • Identify the legislative branch's role in the system of checks and balances/separation of powers.
  • Analyze a primary source (excerpts of Article I).

Overview

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 about the legislative branch, and how a bill becomes law. They analyze some actual language from the Constitution, compare the House and the Senate, and simulate the lawmaking process by reconciling two versions of the same fictional bill.

iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this lesson are available in Spanish.

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EL/ML
Spanish
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