UNDERSTANDING BY DESIGN®
Enduring Understanding
- Congress makes the law and serves as a check on the other branches by, among other things, confirming presidential nominees, overseeing the executive branch, approving treaties, and using the impeachment power.
Essential Questions
- How have the powers of Congress changed over time?
- How does the separation of powers influence the work of Congress?
Students will know:
- the expressed powers and implied powers of Congress.
- how revenue bills originate.
- the legislative powers of Congress, including taxing, spending, and regulating interstate commerce.
- the difference between appropriations bills and authorization bills.
- the reason for passing the War Powers Act in 1973.
- the nonlegislative powers of Congress, including impeachment, confirmation of presidential appointments, ratification of treaties, and proposing constitutional amendments.
- that Congress has the power to investigate government agencies and oversee the work of the executive branch.
- the procedures of congressional investigations and the rights of congressional witnesses.
- how congressional investigations can lead to reforms in government programs.
- the procedures Congress uses to exercise its oversight of the executive branch.
- why the separation of powers is the main source of conflict between Congress and the president.
- the sources of conflict between Congress and the president.
- power of the presidential veto allows the president to play a major role in legislation.
- how divided government may exacerbate tensions between Congress and the White House.
- that Congress has given extra powers to the president in times of crisis.
- how Congress and the president create the national budget.
- the history of the legislative veto and the line-item veto.
Students will be able to:
- contrast the expressed powers and implied powers of Congress.
- explain the importance of the power of the purse.
- describe the nonlegislative powers of Congress.
- analyze the importance of Congress’s power to investigate.
- identify how Congress exercises its power to investigate.
- describe the ways Congress limits the power of the executive.
- identify sources of conflict between Congress and the president.
- explain the importance of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act.
- analyze how the balance of power between Congress and the president have shifted over time.
Predictable Misunderstandings
Students may think:
- that either house of Congress may introduce a bill for raising revenue. Encourage students to learn about the process by which bills may be introduced in Congress, and what restrictions exist concerning the types of bills that may be introduced in each manner.
- that the president has the power to approve treaties with foreign nations. Many students may believe that this power belongs to the executive branch, since it is generally the president who meets with foreign leaders. This is also not a power of the legislative branch that most students would recall seeing exercised.
- that the legislative branch checks the executive branch only through the power to override a president’s veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses. In fact, Congress also enjoys the power of oversight, which allows it to assess the performance of the executive branch as it carries out laws created by the legislature.
- that the president may veto one part of a bill while signing the rest into law. Encourage students to research the history of the line-item veto and determine whether this power exists at the federal, state, and local levels.
Assessment Evidence
Performance Tasks:
- Hands-On Chapter Project
Other Evidence:
- Guided Reading Activities
- Vocabulary Activity
- Lesson Quizzes
- Chapter Tests, Forms A and B
SUGGESTED PACING
½ day — Introducing the Chapter
1 day — Lesson 1
1 day — Lesson 2
½ day — Lesson 3
½ day — Chapter Wrap-Up and Assessment
3½ Days — Total
DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
The activities presented are suitable for all levels. Modifications for student ability levels are available for many of the activities. The types of modifications available are indicated by the icons below.
Approaching Level
Beyond Level
English Language Learner
All students benefit from activities that utilize different learning styles. Activities are designated with the labels below to help you differentiate teaching by the types of learners.
Intrapersonal
Logical/Mathematical
Visual/Spatial
Verbal/Linguistic
Interpersonal
Auditory/Musical
Kinesthetic
Naturalist