Can You BILL-ieve It? (Infographic)

Lesson Plan

Thousands of bills are introduced in Congress each year, but very few actually become law. So, how does a bill become a law? Use this printable infographic to follow a decision tree through the life and death of a bill in Congress.

iCivics en español! A version of this infographic is available in Spanish along with a Spanish Teacher’s Guide.

Pedagogy Tags

Teacher Resources

Get access to lesson plans, teacher guides, student handouts, and other teaching materials.

Can You BILL-ieve It How a Bill Becomes a Law Infographic

Can You BILL-ieve It How a Bill Becomes a Law Infographic - Teaching Guide

I find the materials so engaging, relevant, and easy to understand – I now use iCivics as a central resource, and use the textbook as a supplemental tool. The games are invaluable for applying the concepts we learn in class. My seniors LOVE iCivics.

Lynna Landry , AP US History & Government / Economics Teacher and Department Chair, California

Related Resources

Lesson Plan

Rank Your Choice (Infographic)

What is ranked-choice voting? How does it work? This infographic will walk you through the process!
View
Lesson Plan

Representation

Knowing who represents you and what they represent are different things. In this lesson, students take a look at ways to examine their representatives. Students explore the various models of representation and factors their representatives consider when casting votes in Congress. Then students explore their legislators’ congressional voting records and determine how their representatives measure up.
View
Lesson Plan

Running for President (Infographic)

Lace up your shoes and learn how candidates run the race to become President of the United States!
View
Lesson Plan

Shedding Light on a State of Emergency (Infographic)

In case of emergency, declare it! Help your students understand what it means when a state of emergency is declared with this printable infographic.
View
Lesson Plan

Six Roles of the President (Infographic)

From Commander-in-Chief to Chief Executive—keep track of the many roles of the president with this printable infographic for your classroom!Love this infographic? Explore all of our free election curriculum and teaching resources at our Election Headquarters. iCivics en español! A version of this infographic is available in Spanish along with a Spanish Teacher’s Guide.
View
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.
View
Lesson Plan

The Poll Picture (Infographic)

Public opinion polls can give insight into people's priorities and opinions, and give candidates and the media a sense of the whole picture.
View
Lesson Plan

The Spectrum of State Election Laws (Infographic)

Voting laws vary by state. Where do your state's laws fit on the wide spectrum of election laws across the country?
View
Lesson Plan

Trial and Appeal (Infographic)

Most cases start and end in trial court, but what if there's an error? Show students how a case works its way up in this printable poster for your classroom!iCivics en español! A version of this infographic is available in Spanish along with a Spanish Teacher’s Guide.
View
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.
View