About Us
Congress: The Context
SUBJECTS
U.S. Government, Civics, U.S. History, International Affairs
GRADE LEVEL
9-12
OBJECTIVES
Students will use primary sources to decide when they think it is appropriate for Congress to intervene in foreign affairs.
LESSON PLAN
Class 1:
1. Review with students the difference between domestic policy and foreign policy.
2. Refer to Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution using Congresslink. Ask the students to list what powers Congress has in relation to foreign policy.
3. Ask students to analyze "The Congressional Front" (21 October 1939) by Senator Everett M. Dirksen. Have the students compare their analysis of the role of Congress in foreign policy with that of the Senator. Have them adjust their list accordingly.
4. Direct the students to the Thomas web site for the United States Congress. Have the students peruse the web sites of the committees in both houses that deal with foreign affairs. As the students visit the site have them summarize how each of the committees fulfills their Constitutional obligations students described after analyzing Article One, Section 8.
Homework: have the students over the next several days collect articles in newspapers or news magazines involving U.S. involvement in foreign affairs. Have the students bring their articles to class on day three. CongressLink has an excellent page with connections to several reputable new sources at http://www.AboutGovernment.org.
Class 2
Instruct the students to survey the platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Have the students draw a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the views of the two parties as to when it is appropriate for Congress to intervene in foreign affairs. The platforms can be reached on-line using the addresses below:
Republican Party: http://www.gop.com/index.php
After the students are through, have them create a continuum placing the Democratic Party on the left and the Republicans on the right. Have the students mark an "x" on the continuum as to where they would place their beliefs on foreign policy relative to the two political parties and have them write a brief essay explaining their placement.
Class 3
Now that the students have a basic understanding of how the left and right differ in their views on foreign policy and U.S. involvement in world affairs, and the role of Congress in world affairs, have the students investigate some current world events to determine if US intervention is appropriate. Have the students use the news articles they have been collecting; for each articles briefly describe: 1. What the event is about. 2. What the interests of the United States are in the event 3. If Democrats and Republicans differ in their view of US intervention 4. What part of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to intervene in the event?
Class 4
The question arises, "When should Congress legislate intervention in world affairs?" Begin addressing this question by having the students analyze Senator Dirksen's radio-television broadcast, "Then and Now," by responding to the following questions: 1. What event in history is the Senator addressing? 2. What were the interests of the United States in this event? 3. Did Senator Dirksen believe the United States should play a role in this event? If not, why? If so, what does he believe the United States should do? 4. Are the Senator's comments consistent with the Democratic or Republican platforms you previously analyzed? Explain your answer. 5. Would the Senator's comments apply to the current events you previously investigated? EXPLAIN
Homework: Instruct students that they are to write an organized essay explaining their response to the question, "When should Congress legislate intervention in world affairs?" that incorporates the information they gathered the last four days. Have them write their essay in the form of a letter that they will send to one of their elected officials.
For addresses of our elected officials, go to the CongressLink's home page
RESOURCES
Congressional Address Book link on CongressLink.
CREDIT
Mary Ellen Daneels,
Community High School District 94,
326 Joliet Street,
West Chicago, IL 60185
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