1. Learn
  2. Civics Connects
  3. Government at the National Level
  4. Structure and Powers of the Legislative Branch

Civics Connects

Civics Connects

Welcome to Civics Connects, a comprehensive, classroom-ready resource for Virginia’s middle grades. 

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  1. Learn
  2. Civics Connects
  3. Government at the National Level
  4. Structure and Powers of the Legislative Branch
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Unit 3
Unit 3 - Now Available! | Lesson 3.2

Structure and Powers of the Legislative Branch

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What is the legislative branch, and how does it function in our national government? In this lesson, students will learn to describe the powers of the legislative branch of the federal government, and explain how it is balanced by the executive and legislative branches.

2023 Standards of Learning (SOL)
CE.2b
Lesson Outline
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Download Outline

Lesson 3.2 Slide Deck

The interactive slides in this lesson can be used in multiple ways:

  • teachers can direct all students to generate their own copies of the Google Slides on a tablet or laptop, allowing the students to interact directly with the prompts individually.
  • teachers can use the deck as a presentation, guiding the entire classroom through the content as a large group.
  • by creating their own Google Slides copy, teachers may rearrange or edit the content to suit their own pacing or adaptation needs.
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Games & Activities
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3.2 Bellringer

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3.2 Email a Legislator

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3.2 Matching Sets

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3.2 Legislative Branch Constitutional Scavenger Hunt

Additional Resources
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3.2 Exit Ticket: Structure and Powers of the Legislative Branch

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3.2 Vocabulary

How did the three branches of government interact to end school segregation?

Join Claire, a student and aspiring actor, as she explores how the three branches of government interacted to help end segregation in schools.  She speaks with Virginia Supreme Court Justice Cleo Powell about the critical role the judicial branch played, starting in Virginia. Claire then travels to Washington D.C. to speak with White House Historical Association Historian Lina Mann and to Dan Holt, Associate Historian, United States Senate, to learn about the roles the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch played. 

Education Level
Middle School