Name: ___________________________________________________________ Block: _____
Legislative Branch: Web Quest
U.S. Government
The United States Congress is made up of the Senate and House of Representatives. You will be researching each chamber using the Internet sites below.
· U.S Senate ‑ www.senate.gov
· House of Representatives ‑www.house.gov
The United States Senate: Go to: www.senate.gov
Go to “Find Your Senators” at the top right, put in Virginia. It will list the two Senators from our state.
Senator #1 (Click on their websites for more information on them)
Senator: __________________________ Party: __________________
1.) What “services” does he provide?
2.) What committees is he on and does he hold any significant positions?
3.) What are some of the legislative issues important to him? Looking at his biography section may provide some insight.
4.) How can you contact this Senator?
Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
Senator #2: __________________________ Party: __________________
5.) Which services does he provide that are DIFFERENT from the other VA Senator?
6.) What committees is he on and does he hold any significant positions?
7.) What are some of the legislative issues important to him? Looking at his biography section may provide some insight.
8.) How can you contact this Senator?
Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
Go back to the home page of www.senate.gov, and click on Art & History at the top. To the left, click on Origins and Development, and then click on Institutional. From here, click the appropriate links/headings to answer the following questions.
9.) What are all the qualifications for a Senator?
10.) What are the three types of Senate committees?
On the left hand side of the page, below Institutional, click on Powers and Procedures:
11.) Explain the Senate’s role in impeachment.
12.) Explain the powers of the Senate in regards to expulsion and censure.
13.) Explain what the filibuster is and how the Senate can stop it.
14.) What are the Senate investigations for?
Go to Senators (top of page in the red heading) Click on Leadership on the left.
15.) For each leader of the Senate, identify their name and party:
President of the Senate:
President Pro Tempore:
Senate Majority Leader:
Senate Assistant Majority Leader:
Senate Minority Leader:
Senate Assistant Minority Leader:
Go to Committees (top of page in the red heading). Look over the “About The Committee System” section.
16.) Why does the Senate have the committee system and what do they do?
Look at the Types of Committees listed on this homepage. Identify the 3 types of committees, as well as an example of each.
17.)
18.)
19.)
Go to the House of Representatives at www.house.gov. Put in your zip code in “Find Your Representative” in the top right corner.
20.) Representative from Virginia’s 10th District: ______________________________
21.) Party________________________
Go to our Representative’s website and click on “How Can I Help You.”
22.) What services does he provide his constituents?
Go to Issues and Legislation or his Biography section to answer the following questions.
23.) Identify the committees he is on.
24.) What are some of the legislative issues important to him?
Click on “Contact Me”.
25.) How can you contact this Representative?
Mailing Address:
Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
Go back to the House of Representatives website. Click on “Leadership”.
26.) For each leader of the House, identify their name and party:
Speaker of the House:
Majority Leader:
Majority Whip:
Minority Leader:
Minority Whip:
Go to back to www.house.gov and look over the Committees.
27.) What similarities or differences do you see?
Go to “The House Explained” and click on The Legislative Process. Read the information under “How Bills Are Made”. What are the steps in the legislative process?
28.) Laws begin as __________. First, a representative sponsors a _______. The bill is then assigned to a __________ for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be ________ on, _________ or _________. If the bill _________ by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the _________. In the Senate, the bill is assigned to another _________ and, if released, debated and voted on. Again, a simple majority (51 of 100) passes the bill. Finally, a ___________ committee made of House and Senate members works out any __________ between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The resulting bill _________ to the House and Senate for ________ approval. The Government Printing Office prints the revised bill in a process called enrolling. The __________ has _____ days to ______ or ______ the enrolled bill.
1