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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

    Congress in a Flash!

    Need to teach the legislative branch in a hurry? This lesson is designed to cover the basics in a single class period. Students learn what Congress is, what the Constitution says about the legislative branch, and how a bill becomes law. They analyze some actual language from the Constitution, compare the House and the Senate, and simulate the lawmaking process by reconciling two versions of the same fictional bill.iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this lesson are available in Spanish.
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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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  • DBQuest

    The Louisiana Purchase: Branching Out

    President Jefferson usually gets the credit for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the young nation. But this ignores one important actor, the U.S. Congress. Nearly every step of the process involved the approval of, and funding from, the Legislative Branch. This DBQuest will walk you through primary sources that show the give and take between the two branches. 
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  • WebQuest

    Making Laws

    Do you ever wish you could make the rules? Well, there are people whose job it is to make the rules for this country. These rules are called laws, and the people who make them are members of Congress. In this WebQuest, you'll get an introduction to your members of Congress and what they do. Maybe someday this will be you! 
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  • Lesson Plan

    Can You BILL-ieve It? (Infographic)

    How does a bill become a law? Follow this decision tree through the life and death of a bill in Congress.
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  • Lesson Plan

    Leadership & the Agenda (Infographics)

    Members in the House and Senate decide who will take on important leadership roles. In these printable infographics, teach students about how party leaders shape the congressional agenda. Separate infographics are provided for the House of Representatives and the Senate, and they can be combined for students to compare and contrast!Looking for more? Pair these infographics with our mini-lesson on Congressional Leadership. iCivics en español! A version of this infographic is available in Spanish along with a Spanish Teacher’s Guide.
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  • Lesson Plan

    Voting In Congress

    How do members of Congress decide whether to vote yea or nay on a bill? In this lesson, students learn what factors members of Congress consider when deciding whether to vote for a bill, including the powers given to Congress by the Constitution, what a member's constituents want, his or her political party's position, and the member's personal views. Students simulate the decision making process using hypothetical bills based on real-life issues.** If you're looking for the older version of this lesson, please contact the help desk.
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  • Game

    Branches of Power

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

    LawCraft

    Jump into the law making process of Congress.
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  • Lesson Plan

    LawCraft Extension Pack

    Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for LawCraft. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you!  This Extension Pack uses a Google Slides deck and is designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards. 
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See how it all fits together!

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