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What Is the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government? | History

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The U.S. government is made up of the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch. The executive branch, led by the President and the Vice President, enforces our laws. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets our laws. The legislative branch, which makes our laws, is the Congress.

Congress has two parts: the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Each state has two U.S. Senators and at least one U.S. Representative; the more residents a state has, the more U.S. Representatives it is allowed. There are 100 U.S. Senators and 435 U.S. Representatives.

The laws Congress makes help Americans. There are laws that say kids have to go to school, laws that set standards for vehicle and highway safety, and laws that protect animals and nature. Congress meets in the Capitol in Washington, D.C. You can learn more about the Capitol by visiting Art & History or Around the Capitol.

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Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives

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The U.S. government is made up of the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch. The executive branch, led by the President and the Vice President, enforces our laws. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets our laws. The legislative branch, which makes our laws, is the Congress.

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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 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.

Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!

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 bill, including the powers given to Congress by the Constitution, what a member's constituents want, his or her political party's position, and the member's personal views. Students simulate the decision making process using hypothetical bills based on real-life issues.
Partner Resources for this Lesson Plan include:

Do you know who represents you in the federal, state and local government? Do you know how to get in touch with them? Follow this WebQuest to find answers to these questions and more!

Play Time: 15-30 mins

Jump into the law making process of Congress.

Make your students' game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for LawCraft. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you!

Extension Packs require PowerPoint and are designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.

Play Time: 30+ mins

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

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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.Check out this quick video about the Legislative Branch on YouTube!

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US Government for Kids: Legislative Branch - Congress

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Kids learn about the Legislative Branch of the United States Government. The Congress, House of Representatives and Senate.

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The Legislative Branch JEOPARDY!!! Jeopardy Template

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What is copyright?, What does it mean to impeach?, What is a hopper?, What is filibuster?