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  • U.S. Government
    • Federalism
    • Civil Liberties and the Election Process
    • The Legislative Branch
    • The Executive Branch
    • The Judicial Branch
  • World History
    • For the Teacher
    • Introduction to the Class
    • Unit 1 - First Civilizations >
      • Journal 1 - Activating Words
      • Journal 2 - River Valleys Map
      • Journal 3 - The Mesopotamian Civilization
      • Journal 4 - Trade in early Mesopotamia
      • Journal 5 - Hammurabi's Code
      • Journal 6 - Egyptian Life
      • Journal 7- Ancient Religions
      • Journal 8 - Ancient Chinese Dynasties
      • Journal 9 - Teachings of Confucius
      • Unit 1 Quiz
    • Unit 2 - Classic Empires >
      • Journal 10 - “Activating Words: Classical Empires”
      • Journal 11 - “MAP OF GREECE”
      • Journal 12 - “THE GREEK POLIS”
      • Journal 13 - “THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS”
      • Journal 14 - “ALEXANDER THE GREAT”
      • Journal 15 - “HELLENISTIC WORLD”
      • Journal 16 - “MAP OF ROME”
      • Journal 17 - “ROMAN REPUBLIC VS. ROMAN EMPIRE”
      • Journal 18 - “JULIUS AND AUGUSTUS CAESAR”
      • Journal 19 - “THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY”
      • Journal 20 - “THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE”
      • Unit 2 Quiz
    • Unit 3 - Empires and Kingdoms >
      • Journal 21 - “Activating Words: Empires and Kingdoms”
      • Journal 22 - “Map of Constantinople”
      • Journal 23 - “EMPEROR JUSTINIAN”
      • Journal 24 - “The Great Schism of 1054 C.E.”
      • Journal 25 - “THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE”
      • Journal 26 - “The Mongol Conquests”
      • Journal 27 - “The Rise of Islam”
      • Journal 28 - “Three Monotheistic Religions”
      • Journal 29 - “Muslim Culture”
      • Unit 3 Quiz
    • Unit 4 - Emergence of Modern Europe >
      • Journal 30 - “Activating Words: Emergence of Modern Europe”
      • Journal 31 - “The beginning of the Middle Ages”
      • Journal 32 - “Feudalism in Europe”
      • Journal 33 - “The Power of the Church”
      • Journal 34 - “The Crusades”
      • Journal 35 - “The Renaissance”
      • Journal 36 - “The Spread of Renaissance Ideas”
      • Journal 37 - “Luther Leads the Reformation”
      • Journal 38 - “England becomes Protestant”
      • Unit 4 Quiz
    • Unit 5 - The Emerging Global World >
      • Journal 39 - “Activating Words: Emerging Global World”
      • Journal 40 - “Native American Societies”
      • Journal 41 - “The Explorers”
      • Journal 42 - “The Impact of Trade”
      • Journal 43 - “Mercantilism”
      • Journal 44 - “The Scientific Revolution”
      • Journal 45 - “The Enlightened Thinkers”
    • Unit 6 - Global Tensions >
      • Journal 46: “Activating Words: Mounting Global Tensions”
      • Journal 47 - “Absolute Rulers”
      • Journal 48: “Causes of the French Revolution”
      • Journal 49 - “Revolutions around the world”
      • Journal 50 - “Napoleon’s Empire”
      • Journal 51 - “Effect of the Industrial Revolution”
      • Journal 52 - “Adam Smith”
      • Journal 53 - “Karl Marx”
      • Journal 54 - “The Scramble for Africa”
      • Journal 55 - “Imperialism”
    • Unit 7 - The World at War >
      • Journal 56 - “Activating Words: World at War”
      • Journal 57 - “Causes of World War I”
      • Journal 58 - “Events of WWI”
      • Journal 59 - “The Russian Revolution”
      • Journal 60 - “Imperial China collapses”
      • Journal 61 - “The Rise of Fascism”
      • Journal 62 - “Nationalism sweeps through Asia”
    • Unit 8 - World War II to Cold War
    • World History Final Study Guide
  • U.S. History
    • Unit 1: European Settlement – Pre Revolutionary War
    • Unit 2: The Early Republic
    • Unit 3: Civil War-Reconstruction
    • Unit 4: Development of the West- Populism and Progressivism
    • Unit 5: Emergence of the U.S. as a World Power-The New Deal
    • Unit 6: WWII- Early Years of the Cold War
    • Unit 7&8: 1950's- U.S. in the Post-Cold War World

The Legislative Branch

“I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a disgrace, that two become a lawfirm, and that three or more become a congress.” 
― John Adams

Standards
SSCG9 The student will explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, with emphasis on terms of office, powers, organization, leadership, and representation of each house.

SSCG10 The student will describe the legislative process including the roles played by committees and leadership.
a. Explain the steps in the legislative process.
b. Explain the function of various leadership positions within the legislature.

SSCG11 The student will describe the influence of lobbyists (business, labor, professional organizations) and special interest groups on the legislative process.
a. Explain the function of lobbyists. 
b. Describe the laws and rules that govern lobbyists. 
c. Explain the function of special interest groups.

SSCG14 The student will explain the impeachment process and its usage for elected officials.
a. Explain the impeachment process as defined in the U.S. Constitution.
b. Describe the impeachment proceedings of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.


SSCG10 The student will describe the legislative process including the roles played by committees and leadership.

13) JOURNAL ENTRY, “Activating Words Unit 7”

  • On the Right Side – First, Define the following: Bicameral, Majority/Minority Party, Speaker of the House, president pro tempore, House Rules Committee, filibuster, riders, and cloture. Along side the definition give one specific additional fact to go with each. Use the below link for most of your information.
    • The Structure of Congress.
  • On the Left Side – Describe the difference between a Standing Committee, Select Committee, Joint Committee, and Conference Committee. Make sure you indicate the purpose for each.
    • Types of Congressional Committees

SSCG9 The student will explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, with emphasis on terms of office, powers, organization, leadership, and representation of each house.

14) JOURNAL ENTRY, “Requirements and Organization” 
Essential Question – What are the requirements and organization of the Senate and the House of Representatives? 


  • On the Right Side – Using the links below, make a T-Chart (Senate and House of Representatives) with the following categories: Why the body was created (intention), members, term length, leaders, and qualifications. Underneath this write briefly on the role of the Majority/Minority Leaders and Whips.
    • http://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-politics/american-government/congress/section1.rhtml
    • http://www.cqpress.com/context/constitution/docs/structure_powers.html
    • Majority Minority Leaders and Whips Purpose
  • On the Left Side – Using the link, write about the three main reasons for the formation of a bicameral body as opposed to a unicameral.
    • http://www.shmoop.com/legislative-branch/bicameral-congress.html

a. Explain the steps in the legislative process.

15) JOURNAL ENTRY, “How a Bill becomes a Law” 
Essential Question – How does a Bill become a Law?

  • On the Left and Right Side – Create a flow chart that describes in detail how a bill becomes a law. Give plenty of details. You can make you chart look anyway you like.
    • o http://www.genome.gov/12513982
    • How a Bill becomes a Law

    • Underneath (or beside) this. Use the link below to describe the three main categories of legislation. Make sure you understand the differences between each of the categories.
      • Legislation Categories

Picture
Lastly, look/click the image below and determine at which step is the Bill the most likely to fail. Write your answer in a complete sentence and tell why?


b. Explain the function of various leadership positions within the legislature.

16) JOURNAL ENTRY, “Role of Leadership and Committees” 
Essential Question – What is the role of the Leadership and Committees in Congress?


  • On the Right Side – Using the link and the graphic organizer "Congressional Leadership," identify the leadership positions of the House and the Senate and their roles.
    • http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_leadershippositions.htm
    • Congressional Leadership
    • Link to Senate Majority Whip
congressional_leadership.doc
File Size: 24 kb
File Type: doc
Download File

On the Left Side - Investigate and report on the following Committees: House Committee of Rules, House Committee of Ways and Means, House Committee of Transportation, and House Committee of Agriculture. Include only the Chairman, members (number from each party), and then click the Official Website and then the "About " tab and give a simple synopsis of the role that they play. Lastly, select any two Committees from the Senate and get the same information. Did you notice anything different in respect to their leadership? You can use the worksheet to organize your responses.
  • U.S. Congress list of Committees
house_and_senate_committees.docx
File Size: 64 kb
File Type: docx
Download File


SSCG11 The student will describe the influence of lobbyists (business, labor, professional organizations) and special interest groups on the legislative process.a. Explain the function of lobbyists.
b. Describe the laws and rules that govern lobbyists.
c. Explain the function of special interest groups.


17) JOURNAL ENTRY, “Lobbyists and Special Interest Groups” 
Essential Question – What are Lobbyists? What is the role of Special Interest Groups?


  • On the Right Side – First, define the following: Interest Group, Lobbyist, and Constituents. Then answer the series of questions using the following links. You must write out the questions in your journal.
    • What are lobbyists and who do they work for?
    • What are lobbyists and Special Interest Groups?
    • Visit the Site on Laws governing Lobbying and write a brief summary of the sections detailing what Lobbyists can give Congressional members (gifts and travel expenses).
    • Rules of Lobbying
    • How much have lobbyists spending increased from 1998 to 2012?
    • http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/
    • What industries spend the most on lobbying (TOP 5, include total spent) - Investigate which party gets most of their money.
    • http://dc.about.com/od/jobs/a/Lobbying.htm

  • On the Left Side – Preview this link: Answer the series of questions using the following links. You must write out the questions in your journal.
    • How have PACs tried to influence election results? Summarize the article in ½ page.
    • http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/229649-super-pac-ads-look-to-tie-obama-to-wall-street-depress-turnout
    • How has the NRA become one of the strongest special interest groups? Summarize the article in ½ page.
    • http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2012/06/eric_holder_charged_with_contempt_how_did_the_nra_swing_the_votes_of_so_many_democrats_.html

SSCG14 The student will explain the impeachment process and its usage for elected officials.a. Explain the impeachment process as defined in the U.S. Constitution.b. Describe the impeachment proceedings of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.

18) JOURNAL ENTRY, “The Power of Congress - Impeachment”
Essential Question – What is Impeachment? And when has this power of Congress been used in history?

  • On the Left and Right Side – First, define "impeachment." Make sure you include what crimes can cause a vote of Impeachment. Then look at the two times in history where a president was Impeached by the House. Write a detailed summary of each event. Were these Presidents removed from office? Why or Why not?
    • What is Impeachment?
    • Impeachment Info
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Test 7 Study Guide

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