1. Warm Up
Which committee in the House of Representatives works on the tax bills?
Which committee in the Senate works on the tax bills?
Opinion: Recently the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, said, “The legislative agenda of Barak Obama is over.” What did he mean?
Ways and Means Committee
Finance Committee

2. Learning Goal: Students will identify the ways Congress in influenced.
Influencing Congress
Standard 12.4
Learning Goal: Students will identify the ways Congress in influenced.

3. I. Influence of Voters
Members of Congress usually vote what their constituents want
This helps with reelection
Accessing Voter Information
Go back to districts
Messages/letters
Surveys/Polls
Key Supporters

4. II. Influence of Parties
Members usually vote with the political party
Members are not experts on all issues so they seek advice from other members.

5. Democrats: usually vote for social-welfare programs, job programs through public works, tax laws helping lower income & gov’t regulating business
Republicans: support lower taxes, less gov’t spending, support business, limit gov’t involvement in economy & local & state solutions over federal

6. III. Other Influences The President Interest Groups
The lobbyist focus attention on committees
Political Action Committees (PAC)
Political fund-raising organizations

7. Committee Action
Continue to discuss bills and go through the handout together.
If you finish your bills you may work on homework or your other committee action sheets (the vocabulary sheet)

8. Guided Reading Use pages 189-198
Each person takes turns reading and writing, you go back and forth, I should see two people’s writing when you are done
Due at the end of class!