Legislative Branch Printable Reading Comprehension |
| Grade Level: 6+ | Lexile: 1200 | Word Count: 426 |
Use this Activity: |
| Discuss - Why do you think the Constitution gave each state equal representation in the Senate but based representation in the House on population? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this system? How do the different term lengths and election cycles for senators and representatives affect the way each chamber operates and responds to public opinion? Why might it be important for the Senate and the House to share responsibilities but also have exclusive powers, such as the Senate approving treaties and the House initiating revenue bills? How do the committee systems in both the Senate and the House help or hinder the lawmaking process? Should committee power be increased, reduced, or restructured? |
| Debate - Should states with larger populations have more influence in the Senate? |
| Reading Groups - This passage serves as an excellent tool for enrichment-based reading groups in language arts or social studies. |
| Morning Work - The activity takes most students about 25 minutes to complete, making it an ideal solution for morning work. It can be part of a series of Constitution-themed comprehension activities offered to students as morning work. |
| Homework - This activity is a great way to assign homework in social studies or language arts. |
| Whiteboard - Have students come to the whiteboard to annotate important information or to circle the correct answers. |