Responsibilities of Govt & the
Legislative Process
Lesson 3.4
Abstract
• While the Preamble describes the
purposes of government, the legislative
process is set forth in Article I of the US
Constitution. Legislation is introduced to
serve one or more of the purposes of
government. Yet, political parties often
differ in how they view legislation. These
differences are reflected throughout the
legislative process.
• Purposes in the Preamble
• Explain to the class that politicians and
activists use the ideas set forth in the
Preamble to encourage support for their
policies and visions for the country.
• Priorities and methods for achieving these
goals often reflect the differences in the
parties.
Preamble to the U.S.
Constitution
• We the people of the United States, in
order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States of
America.
Stances on Issues
• Identify a position on each issue and
match it to a purpose of government as
listed in the Preamble.
The Five Purposes of
Government
• Promote Justice
– Laws must be reasonable, fair and impartial.
– Laws must be fair on their face and in their application.
• Domestic Tranquility - Peace and calm within our
borders
• Common Defense – Protection from outside dangers,
outside our borders
• Promote the General Welfare – Protect the general
well-being its citizens
• Secure the Blessings of Liberty – Protect the
freedoms citizens’ now have so that they may exist for
future generations
Example
• Democratic Party favors government funding of
embryonic stem cell research because embryonic cells
are regenerative in nature and may offer a renewable
source of replacement cells to treat diseases, conditions,
and disabilities. Democrats might argue that embryonic
stem cell research could provide cures to diseases which
would promote the general welfare.
• The Republican Party supports funding research using
adult stem cells, but opposed embryonic stem cell
research. Republicans might argue that the government
should not support embryonic stem cell research and in
fact should ban the use of embryonic stem cells (even
privately) to protect the life of the embryo, thereby
promoting the general welfare.
I’m Just a Bill
Dynamic Legislative Process
• http://www.centeroncongress.org/modules/
Legislative_Process/main.htm
• Look at the 4th segment
Question
• How do pressures from interest groups,
media, political party leadership, shape
public opinion and affect public policy?
– Partner Up – Brainstorm how political parties
can influence the legislative process
– Put a star next to each step that may be
influenced by political parties
Flowchart & Questions
• Where in the legislative process might disagreements
among the political parties be visible?
• When one party has a majority in the Senate or House,
that party controls the chairmanship of the congressional
committees in that house. How might action in the
committees be affected? What if the sponsor of a bill is
from the other party? What if it is from the committee
chairman’s party? What is the likely outcome from a
committee if one of the bill’s sponsors is the chairman?
Why might committee chairmanship matter?
• If a bill makes it out of committee, how
does the legislative process differ in the
two chambers of Congress? Why might
the filibuster be permitted in one but not in
the other?
• What is a conference committee? What
purpose does it serve?
• Why can bills on taxes only originate in the
House?
• What might happen if the House and the Senate are
controlled by different political parties?
• What might be different if both houses of Congress are
controlled by the same party?
• What role does the president play in creating legislation?
How can he stop legislation?
• How might the President’s political party affect his use of
veto power?
• If the President is from a different political party than the
majority in both Houses, how might the legislature
respond to a president veto?
• The legislative process takes a long time. Why do you
think the Framers created such a prolonged process?
Homework
• Why must compromise be an essential
ingredient in the legislative process?