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 In
Congress Assembled
LESSON THREE: Linking Past to Present
The Constitution of the United States vests in Congress the power
to make laws, to collect taxes, and to allocate funds for government
programs, both domestic and foreign. It is in Congress that the
day-to-day work of our democracy finds its most clear expression
at the national level. It is up to the men and women elected to
serve in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United
States to formulate policy and enact legislation on behalf of
their constituents, as well as the entire country.
A study of
three perennial issues -- veterans' benefits, the national debt,
and terrorism -- shows the ways in which Congress responded to problems
in 1785, and in recent years.
Preliminary Activity:
- Review the purpose of government.
- Read Alexander Hamilton on "Good Government":
The Federalist #1.
- Review how a bill becomes a law [A Note on Legislation]
Discussion: Veterans' Benefits
| National Debt | Terrorism
Veterans' Benefits:
Distribute copies of: "By
the United States in Congress assembled. June 7, 1785. . .",
(Continental Congress) P.L.
108-183, (H.R.2297) Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, and P.L.
108-454 (S.2486) Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. Compare
and contrast the legislative actions relative to veterans' benefits, and
respond to questions such as:
- How much did Congress propose to pay disabled veterans of the American
War for Independence? What were other parts of the plan to take care
of disabled veterans?
- How does P.L. 180-183 reveal the concerns of today’s government
in dealing with current veterans?
- Why was the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 necessary? Which
concerns are addressed in this legislation?
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National Debt
The following documents can be used in succession (or working
within pairs study one set of documents at a time), to investigate
Congress' efforts to reign in the national debt during the time
of the Continental Congress and in recent years:
Set 1
- "By the United States, in Congress assembled, September
4th, 1782"
- "Impressed with a sense of the sacred trust committed
to them..."
Consider such questions as:
- How much money was needed to pay the interest on the nation's
debts in 1782? In 1783?
- What is the tone of Document #2? What was "the dangerous
situation of this nation" to which Congress referred in 1783?
Set 2
- "By the United States, in Congress assembled, September
27th, 1785"
- "An address from the United States in Congress assembled..."
- If needed, revisit Student Background on the Articles of Confederation {Preliminary Activity for Lesson One}
Consider such questions as:
- How much money was needed to pay the interest on the nation's
debts in 1785?
- What does Document #2 tell you about the success of the resolves
set forth in Document #1?
- What is the "circumstance too disgraceful to admit of
belief" to which Congress refers in Document #2?
Set 3
- "Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution..." (H.J.Resolution 1, 104th Congress). Select version 4, "Passed by the House."
- "H.J.RES.1--Detailed Legislative History"
Consider such questions as:
- What are the essential elements of H.J.RES.1?
- What was the final outcome of this bill?
Culminating question or essay topic for national debt discussion:
To what degree does the responsibility to address the
national debt belong in Congress? What are the historical -- and
Constitutional -- aspects of this ongoing issue?
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Terrorism
In "Office for Foreign Affairs, 29 September,
1785" John Jay suggests to Congress that ". . . piracy
is war against all mankind." Consider similar statements made in
recent years about terrorist activities.
For modern responses to terrorism review this legislative action
in the 107th Congress:
- P.L.
107-39 (S. J. Res. 22), A joint resolution expressing the sense
of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding the terrorist
attacks launched against the Unites States on September 11, 2001
- P.
L. 107-56 (H.R. 3162), USA PATRIOT Act
- P.
L. 107-296 (H.R. 5005), Homeland Security Act of 2002
To locate debate related to the terrorist attacks on September
11, 2001, search on keywords "September 11" in the Congressional
Record for the 107th Congress. Change the “Specify number
of documents to be retrieved” box at the bottom of the page
from 50 to 2000.
Review this legislation from the 108th Congress:
- P.
L. 108-458, (S. 2845) Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004
Consider questions such as:
- What incidents prompted Congress to act in this manner?
- What specific steps did Congress take in response to terrorism?
Examine "Office for Foreign Affairs, 20th
October, 1785 . . ." and respond to the following question:
What "good effects" does John Jay and Paul Jones think
will come out of the fact that the Algerines had declared war against
the United States in October 1785?
Review John Jay's reports to Congress from the Office for Foreign
Affairs, 29 September and 20
October 1785. Consider his suggestions for prosecuting people caught
committing piracies and felonies on the high seas and discuss such questions
as:
- What title would John Jay have if he held the same position in
the American government today?
- What punishment was recommended for persons convicted of these
crimes?
- Why does Jay not specify punishments for treason? What statement
of his illuminates one of the confusing aspects of citizenship in
the "new" United States?
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Culminating Activity:
Brainstorm other recent discussions in Congress that have historical antecedents (e.g., Social Security, affirmative action, health care). What differences are there between perceptions of similar issues over time?
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