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iCivics Curriculum Unit

The Legislative Branch

Students will learn about the structure, function, and powers of the legislative branch of government. They will explore the legislative process, as well as the influence of citizens and political parties.

View our Constitution Explained video series for short-form videos to share with students about the legislative and other branches of government.

Choose Grade Level:

  • Lesson Plan

    Why Do We Have A House And Senate, Anyway?

    Students learn why there are two houses of Congress and discover how a bicameral legislature ensures that all states have a voice in bills. Together, the class creates a school cell phone policy and experiments with different voting groups that demonstrate why the bicameral compromise was necessary. Students also examine how things might be different today if there were just a House or a Senate. Got a 1:1 classroom? Find fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials here.
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  • Lesson Plan

    Mini-Lesson: Congressional Leadership

    How are leaders in Congress elected and organized? In this short mini-lesson, students learn about Congress' leadership positions and the primary duties of each one. Students will also think through how to creatively represent the leadership structure in diagram form. Looking for more? Follow this mini-lesson with our visual infographic Leadership & the Agenda!
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  • Video

    Patsy Mink: Changing the Rules

    In this video, students learn about the life of Patsy Takemoto Mink who became the first woman of color elected to Congress. In her 24 years as a Representative, Mink battled inequality by changing the laws. Her greatest legacy is as the co-author of Title IX, the landmark legislation that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal money.This video was made in conjunction with Makematic.
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  • Game

    Branches of Power

    Learn to control all three branches of the U.S. government!
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  • DBQuest

    Non-Voting Delegates in Congress

    The Northwest Ordinance established the role of territorial delegate to Congress in 1787. But the position and its role was undefined. Today there are six non-voting members of Congress representing American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this DBQuest, students will explore the duties and limitations of non-voting members from the perspective of the members themselves. 
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  • DBQuest

    Policy, Public Interest, and... Margarine?

    Laws are put in place. Sometimes, they are amended. Sometimes, they are repealed. Sometimes, we forget all about them! So what changes? We do! Public policy is just that– a series of laws, regulations, and guidelines that work together to address an issue. For example, we now regulate where and when people can smoke, we tax tobacco when it is sold, and we have public health campaigns to discourage tobacco use-- combined, that is public policy.Let’s take a closer look at how the public can inform and impact public policy over time. It’s a DBQuest with extra butter (or margarine) on top! 
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  • Lesson Plan

    Gerrymandering: Where Do We Draw the Line? (…

    Where do we draw the line? Find out how redistricting turns into gerrymandering, and how gerrymandering negatively impacts people in those districts.
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  • WebQuest

    Who Represents Me?

    Do you know who represents you in the federal, state and local government? Do you know how to get in touch with them? Follow this WebQuest to find answers to these questions and more!
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  • Lesson Plan

    Midterm Math (Infographic)

    How many reasons are there to care about the midterms? Thousands! Use this printable infographic to show your students the impact that the 2022 midterm elections have on the legislative and executive branches.iCivics en español! A version of this infographic is available in Spanish along with a Spanish Teacher’s Guide.
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  • Game

    LawCraft

    Jump into the law making process of Congress.
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See how it all fits together!

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