Unit Two: Interactions Among Branches of Government
Overview:
Because power is widely distributed and checks prevent one branch from usurping powers from the others, institutional actors are in the position where they must both compete and cooperate in order to govern.
The three key institutions of the federal government are Congress, the presidency, and the courts. The bureaucracy, which implements policy, is seen by some as an extension of the executive branch and by others as, in effect, a fourth branch of government because of the discretion it can exercise in carrying out policy directives. The Constitution grants specific powers to Congress, the president, and the courts, and in addition, each branch exercises informal powers (developed through political practice, tradition, and legislation). Because checks and balances are designed to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful, Congress and the president, for example, will sometimes cooperate and sometimes compete in governance.
PART ONE: THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The powers of Congress are set forth in Article I of the Constitution. Congress is bicameral, with the Senate representing states and the House of Representatives reflecting each state’s population. Congress passes laws that cover a wide range of policy areas, and each chamber has different responsibilities and rules. The federal budget is a good example of how the president and Congress must cooperate and compromise. While Congress is empowered to develop and pass a budget, in the modern era the president typically proposes one, which may lead to ideological debate. There are several reasons it is difficult for Congress to pass legislation, including ideological differences. Much of the work of Congress is done in committees, and congressional committees also exercise oversight to ensure that the bureaucracy is carrying out policies as intended.
Lesson 2.1: Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives
Enduring Understanding:
The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress.
Essential Knowledge:
The Senate is designed to represent states equally, while the House is designed to represent the population.
Different chamber sizes and constituencies influence formality of debate.
Coalitions in Congress are affected by term-length differences.
The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow the creation of public policy by Congress, which includes:
- Passing a federal budget, raising revenue, and coining money
- Declaring war and maintaining the armed forces
- Enacting legislation that addresses a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues based on the Necessary and Proper Clause
Activity # 1: CUA
Please click
CUA 1 to take the district assessment.
Activity #2: Congress One Pager
In order to create a "divider" in your notebooks that will served to separate Unit One and Unit Two Part One, we are going to create a one pager over the Legislative Branch. To get a look at what a one pager looks like click
this link. Here is what your one pager should include...
- A title and subtitle across the middle
- A border that includes the 18 powers of Congress
- A Picture in one quadrant
- Congress' checks in another quadrant
- The structure of Congress in another
- A quadrant that has three questions you have about Congress
