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Lesson

Congress in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Duration
125 min
Published
Nov 5, 2020
Historical image of a large assembly in a legislative chamber with an American flag and a speaker at a podium.
As the United States entered a new century, it found itself a new country. Reborn from the ashes of the Civil War, the nation was establishing itself as a world economic power. The promise of freedom and opportunity had brought millions of European immigrants to the United States, and more were coming. These sweeping changes led many progressive reformers to advocate change at the state and national level. The Congress of the United States, too, was swept up in the spirit of reform. Constitutional amendments passed during this era fundamentally altered how the Congress functions. In addition, Congress changed its rules to reduce the influence of party leadership and decentralize power, distributing it to individual members and committees. As the century progressed, the legislature continued to shift and adapt to better respond to its ever-expanding reach.

Founding Principles

Consent of the Governed, Representative / Republican Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances

Objectives

  • Students will analyze twentieth and twenty-first century reforms of Congress.
  • Students will analyze the difference between constitutional reforms and the reforming of congressional rules.
  • Students will assess the arguments for and against congressional reforms.
  • Students will analyze the effects and significance of these reforms on Congress.

Materials

Student Handouts

Teacher Resources

Lesson Components

ActivityHandout A: Background Essay – Congress in the 20th and 21st Centuries
ActivityHandout B: Critical Reading Graphic Organizer
ActivityHandout C: The Indirectly Elected Senate
ActivityHandout D: The Directly Elected Senate
ActivityHandout E: The Seventeenth Amendment Class Discussion
ActivityHandout F: The Filibuster
ActivityHandout G: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
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Lesson plan

125 minClick a phase to open it

Key Terms

Reform
Progressivism
Vetting
Revolt
Transformative

Standards

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