American Government Calendar

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Unit 3: The Legislative Branch (Chapters 10 - 12)

What makes a successful Congress?

Day #

Date

Monday
2/22

Tasks

Reading/Assignments

Intro Legislative Branch

CN 10.1 & 10.2

A Day in the Life of Congress

VSC Relevant Terms

with Brian Williams

2

Wednesday

Crash Course: The Bicameral Congress

CN 10.3 & 10.4

2/24

Congress for Chicoans

VSC Relevant Terms

Friday

Congress Quiz (Ch 10)

CN 11.1 & 11.2

Current Events: Voter ID Laws (NYT)

VSC Relevant Terms

2/26

Intro Lawmakers and Legislators (TCI 11)

4

Monday 2/29

Lawmakers and Legislators (TCI 11)

CN 11.3 & 11.4

VSC Relevant Terms

Wednesday
3/1

Monday
3/7

Wednesday

Power of Congress Quiz (Ch 11)

CN 12.1 & 12.2

Focus on Congressional War Powers (11.3)

VSC Relevant Terms

Focus on the Lawmaking Process (12.3 & 12.4)

CN 12.3 & 12.4

Congress with Jon Stewart

VSC Relevant Terms

Congress in Action Quiz (Ch 12)

TBD

3/9

Unit Review

Friday

Unit 3 Exam

3/11

TBD

Note: Your instructor reserves the right to amend, add to, and/or subtract from this
calendar as necessary. Current events will be discussed throughout the course and may
take precedence to scheduled activities if applicable. Please note changes on this calendar
when necessary.

American Government Learning Objectives

Unit 3: Legislative Branch (Chapters 10 - 12)

House of Representatives
Senate
Expressed powers
Implied powers

Learning Objectives Chapter 10: Congress (pg.266)

10.1
10.1
10.2
10.2
10.3
10.3
10.4

Explain why the Constitution provides for a bicameral Congress.

Describe special sessions and explain why the Presidents rarely call upon these sessions.
Explain how seats are distributed and describe the length of a term in the House.
Describe the formal and informal qualifications for members of the House.
Compare the size of the Senate to the size of the House of Representatives.
Describe the qualifications for election to the Senate.
Identify the major roles played by those who serve in Congress.

Learning Objectives Chapter 11: Powers of Congress (pg. 294)

11.1 Describe the three types of powers delegated to Congress.
11.1 Identify expressed powers of Congress.
11.1 Analyze the importance and limits of the commerce power.
11.1 Identify the reasons for the federal government to tax.
11.2 Describe the war powers of Congress.
11.3 Explain how the Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress flexibility in
lawmaking.
11.3 Provide examples of Implied Powers of Congress.
11.4 Describe the Presidential impeachment process.
Learning Objectives Chapter 12: Congress in Action (pg. 328)
12.1 Compare the opening days of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
12.1 Describe the roles of Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.
12.1 Explain the process of appointing a committee chairperson in Congress.
12.2 Describe the responsibilities of the House Rules Committee.
12.2 Compare the functions of joint and conference committees.
12.3 Identify the first steps in the introduction of a bill in the House.
12.3 Describe what happens to a bill once it is referred to a committee.
12.3 Explain what happens to a bill on the House floor, and identify the final step in the
passage of a bill in the House.
12.4 Evaluate the actions the President can take after both houses have passed a bill.