Voting in Congress Lesson

VOTING IN
CONGRESS:

It’s More Than Just

“Yea” or “Nay”

(It’s more than thumbs up or down, too. Sorry.)

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

THINK ABOUT

FOUR FACTORS

when deciding whether to

vote for a law.

FACTOR #1

What is my personal

opinion?

FACTOR #3

What are the views of

my political party?

FACTOR #4

What do my voters

think?

Does the Constitution

give Congress the

power to pass the law?

Factor #2

FACTOR #1

Does the Constitution
give Congress the power
to pass the law?

FACTOR #1

The POWERS of CONGRESS

Congress is limited by what the
Constitution says.

The Constitution only gives Congress
certain powers.

Like What?

Here is what the Constitution says
Congress can do:

• Collect taxes to raise money to pay

debts, to defend the country, and
to provide for the general welfare of
the United States.

FACTOR #1

The POWERS of CONGRESS

Multiple Choice

The Powers given to Congress that are literally written in the Constitution under Article I Section 8 are called ____________ Powers

• Necessary and Proper Clause

• Implied

• Expressed

• Exclusive

• Control commerce (business) that

happens across state lines, with
foreign countries, and with Indian
tribes.

FACTOR #1

The POWERS of CONGRESS

Here is what the Constitution says
Congress can do:

• Make laws about immigration.

• Make laws about bankruptcy.

• Establish post offices.

FACTOR #1

The POWERS of CONGRESS

Here is what the Constitution says
Congress can do:

• Declare war.
• Raise and support armies.

FACTOR #1

The POWERS of CONGRESS

Here is what the Constitution says
Congress can do:

Oh, and here’s one more:

• Make all laws that are “necessary

and proper” for executing any of
these powers.

Hold on! What does that mean?

FACTOR #1

The POWERS of CONGRESS

That means Congress can sometimes
do things that are not on the list . . .

. . . if it relates to something that is
on the list!

FACTOR #1

The POWERS of CONGRESS

Multiple Choice

What is another name for "necessary and proper clause"?

• Expressed Powers

• The Elastic Clause

• Enumerated Powers

• External Powers

Multiple Choice

Is Congress able to pass any law they want?

• yes

• no

FACTOR #2

What is my personal
opinion?

FACTOR #2

PERSONAL OPINION

Members of Congress are human
beings, just like you!

Sometimes they agree with a bill…

…and sometimes they are
totally against a bill.

No way!

Love it!

FACTOR #3

Political Party Views

FACTOR #3

POLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

People in a political party share similar
values.

They work for laws that reflect those
values.

For a member of Congress, being in a
political party is like being on a team.

Members of the team support each

other and try to create bills that reflect

their values.

FACTOR #3

POLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

Usually members of Congress agree
with their political party about bills.

But sometimes they don’t.

FACTOR #3

POLITICAL PARTY VIEWS

Fill in the Blanks

Do members of Congress always have to vote for bills that favor their political party?

FACTOR #4

What do voters think?

FACTOR #4

WHAT THE VOTERS THINK

There would be too many people in
Congress if everyone went . . .

So voters choose a few people to
represent them.

People in Congress are responsible
for representing the voters back
home.

So they’d better think about those
voters, because…

FACTOR #4

WHAT THE VOTERS THINK

Voters send people to Congress . . .

. . . and voters can kick people out!

FACTOR #4

WHAT THE VOTERS THINK

Open Ended

Why do Congress members need to make sure their voters are happy?