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DocsTeachThe online tool for teaching with documents, from the National Archives National Archives Foundation National Archives

Congress in Article I of the Constitution

Seeing the Big Picture

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Congress in Article I of the Constitution

About this Activity

  • Created by:Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives
  • Historical Era:Across Eras: Civics & Government
  • Thinking Skill:Historical Analysis & Interpretation
  • Bloom's Taxonomy:Understanding
  • Grade Level:Middle School
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Please use a tablet or desktop computer to use this activity.
In this activity students will match primary source documents to clauses from Article I of the United States Constitution that detail six powers of Congress. This study will reinforce the idea of separation of powers between branches by highlighting six of the powers the Founders specifically granted to Congress.
https://docsteach.org/activities/student/congress-in-article-i

Suggested Teaching Instructions

This lesson is appropriate for introducing students in grades 5–8 to studying the text of the Constitution.

Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask students to begin the activity, analyzing each document for a possible link to Article I of the Constitution. Students should match each document with one clause from Article I. They will identify six pairs to reveal some of the characteristics and powers of Congress.

Once they have matched the pairs and clicked "I'm Done," they will be prompted to reflect on the pairs they have identified and the rest of Article I. Hold a class discussion based on the final question: What characteristics and powers of Congress justify its being referred to as the "people's branch of government"?

Follow up on this lesson by having the students use the lesson Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution, from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.

Documents in this activity

  • Anyone Home?
  • Constitution of the United States
  • Credentials of David Crockett
  • Resolution of Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson
  • Senate Joint Resolution 116, Declaring War Against Japan
  • Resolution to Censure Senator Joseph McCarthy
  • 14th Census

CC0
To the extent possible under law, Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to "Congress in Article I of the Constitution".

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