Unit 2: Congress
Duration of Days: 12
The structure of Congress as a bicameral legislature composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The differences in terms of office, qualifications, leadership roles, and representation between the House and Senate.
The enumerated powers of Congress listed in Article I of the United States Constitution.
The difference between expressed, implied, and concurrent powers.
How the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) expands congressional authority.
The process by which a bill becomes a law.
The role of congressional committees in shaping legislation.
The powers unique to each chamber (e.g., impeachment in the House, trials and treaty approval in the Senate).
The concept of checks and balances as it relates to Congress.
The role of Congress in budgeting, taxation, and oversight of the executive branch.
How representation is determined, including reapportionment and redistricting.
The impact of political parties and leadership positions (Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leader, committee chairs).
Analyze Article I of the United States Constitution to identify and explain the enumerated powers of Congress.
Compare and contrast the structure, powers, and leadership roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Simulate the legislative process by drafting, debating, amending, and voting on a mock bill.
Trace and explain how a bill becomes a law, including the role of committees and conference committees.
Evaluate how checks and balances limit congressional power.
Interpret data and maps related to reapportionment and redistricting.
Analyze case studies involving implied powers and the Necessary and Proper Clause.
Assess how political parties and leadership influence legislative outcomes.
Construct written arguments explaining Congress’s role in budgeting, oversight, and impeachment.
Apply vocabulary (filibuster, cloture, gerrymandering, enumerated powers, oversight, etc.) accurately in discussion and writing.
Analysis of primary sources.
Projects
Comparison of Supreme Court cases related to the branch.
Debates
Unit Assessment
| Lesson # | Lesson Title | Duration of Days |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Branch of Government | 2 |
| 2 | McCulloch v. Maryland investigation | 2 |
| 3 | Gerrymandering and it's impact on House of Representatives | 2 |
| 4 | What a U.S. Senator Does (primary source analysis) | 1 |
| 5 | Commerce Clause and U.S. v. Lopez | 2 |
| 6 | ICivics Law Craft | 1 |
| 7 | Unit Review and Assessment | 2 |