Lesson Plan: Congressional Committees

This lesson provides an overview of the United States’ congressional committee system. The lesson opens with reflective questions that ask students to consider how large groups of people build consensus and their prior knowledge of the legislative branch. Students then view an introductory video clip about why congressional committees exist. Next, students view and analyze six video clips that provide information about the different types of congressional committees. From there, students view and analyze six video clips that describe the purposes of the congressional committee hearing process. Finally, students view an additional reflective video clip and then respond to a summative writing prompt that asks them to assess the role of congressional committees as part of the U.S. legislature.