Learners take a critical look at the ways in which the president interacts with Congress in order to make political and economic decisions. They use a series of well-constructed discussion questions to guide their thinking as they...

Get a fun discussion going with this current events worksheet, which has scholars analyzing 2 political cartoons about an incident in 2009, when Congressman Joseph Wilson accused President Barack Obama of lying during a speech....

Clear up "lame duck" congressional confusion with this political cartoon analysis worksheet. Background information on the concept's history and current use is provided, and 2 cartoons give a past and present context. Three talking...

Use this as a quiz or to guide reading. There are five true/false and five multiple choice questions for the class to answer. Topics covered relate to the type of power Congress has and the constructionists movement.

Although this legislative process lesson is designed to accompany a specific text, it is valuable independently. Young learners participate in a picture walk (worksheet included) through My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View...

Learners use the internet to research and determine who their representative is. In groups, they discuss how the representatives set their priorities and identify the various roles they can play. They determine which role their own...

Students review the roles and responsibitlies of members of Congress. After reading excerpts of a book about one member, they write their own version about the same representative. They also identify the challenges and benefits of begin...

Students explore the topic of child poverty in the United States and the government's responses to it in different areas and through different programs and laws. They share their thoughts in letters to their Congressional representatives.

Students get involved in the legislative process of law-making by assuming different roles and working with contemporary issues. Working in small groups, students write and work on different bills. Evaluation rubric included.

Fifth graders explain the process of making and passing laws within Congress by simulating this as a class. They review the three branches of government and focus on the legislative branch for the purposes of creating a bill.

Eleventh graders examine the powers of Congress.  In this American Government lesson, 11th graders read about Congress.  Students complete a worksheet on their findings.  

Fifth graders discover how a bill becomes a law in America. After watching a video, they put the steps of a bill becoming a law into the correct order. They create their own bill that they believe needs to be passed out of construction...

Students participate in a role play activity that emphasizes the theory behind the Electoral College. They form small groups of different sizes in order to present a candidate for class president. Finally, they use a map to determine the...

Eighth graders research congressional delegates from state of Texas, create database including delegate profiles, write introductory paragraphs on how census affects Congressional representation, and import information into word...

Middle schoolers are introduced to the First Federal Congress. After reading various documents, they answer and discuss questions as a class. They identify the responsibilities and expectations for the First Congress and determine how...

Students explore the causes and major events of the Texan and American revolutions. Comparisons and contrasts are made between the two revolutionary experiences and applied to the symbolism used on the Texas State quarter.

Ninth graders research the Bill of Rights and consider which freedoms are the most important for them. They consider the Bill in detail and then write to their Congressperson about something they would like to see done or changed.

Students use pennies to illustrate how our states are represented in Congress. This activity is to be implemented during a unit covering the branches of United States government.