U.S. Government: Legislative Branch
Learn all about the U.S. Congress and how it operates. Other topics include how laws are made, how to write a bill, and how to contact your elected official. Includes interactive virtual tour of the U.S. Capitol. There are also links to eThemes Resources on Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, and How a Bill Becomes a Law.
Grades
- 4
Links
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iCivics: The Legislative Branch of Government
Use these lesson plans and activities to teach students about the structure, function, and powers of the legislative branch of government.
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Ben's Guide
Learn about how laws are made and how the different branches of government operate. Click on "Election Process" to learn more about senators and representatives.
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Schoolhouse Rock: How Bill Becomes a Law
A musical version of how a bill becomes a law. Provide a hand-out for students to follow along as the song just touches on the procedure.
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ThinkQuest: The Legislative Branch of Government
This link explains the purpose of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Also explained are how laws get passed in Congress.
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The Legislative Branch of Government
This in-depth video discusses the creation of the United States government and the legislative branch.
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Separation of Powers
This video explains the concept of the three branches of our government and checks and balances.
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Broadcast Coverage of the US Congress
View real-time video of the day-to-day operations in both the house and senate. Click on the text links under the heading "Today's Coverage."
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Treasures of Congress
View exhibits displayed by the National Archive Rotunda in Washington, DC. Follow any of the links to find pictures and information on landmark congressional activities. Includes photos of primary documents.
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The U.S. Senate
This is the home page for the U.S. Senate. Learn about the Senate, its history, Senate activities, and U.S. Senators. You can also search for bills.
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The U.S. House of Representatives
This is the home page for the U.S. House of Representatives. Learn about the House, House activities, and U.S. Representatives. Find Missouri's representatives by clicking on "Member Offices."
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Write Your Representative
This page provides a quick and easy route for finding and contacting your representative. To send an e-mail, simply select your home state and zip code.
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The U.S. House of Representative Educational Resources
This page details the day-to-day operations, the history, and important historical documents of the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Congress
Click on the links to learn more about Congress. Includes tables of the salaries through the years and a list of elected officials by state. NOTE: This site contains ads.
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Architect of the Capitol
Read about the U.S. Capitol. Topics include the building's architecture and the U.S. Botanical Garden. Includes photos and a map.
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U.S. Capitol Virtual Tour
Take this interactive virtual tour of the U.S. Capitol and learn interesting facts about the building. A fun site to explore.
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eThemes Resource: U.S. Government: Executive Branch
In this eThemes Resource, learn all about the U.S. Congress and how it operates. Other topics include how laws are made, how to write a bill, and how to contact your elected official. Includes an interactive virtual tour of the U.S. Capitol.
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eThemes Resource: U.S. Government: Judicial Branch
In this eThemes Resource, learn about the role of the Supreme Court and the judicial branch of government. Includes information on the justices, explanations of court proceedings, summaries of landmark cases, and a Webquest.
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eThemes Resource: U.S. Government: How a Bill Becomes a Law
These websites focus on `How a bill becomes a law'. Learn about the steps a bill takes to become a law. Includes interactive sites, flow charts, games, actual cases, and lesson plans. There are links to eThemes resources on the executive branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch of the U.S. government.
Education Standards
- AR
- ME
- MO
- NV
- UT
- DE
