Oklahoma Academic Standard 5. The student will describe the structure and responsibilities of the American system of government and the role of the individual citizen.

Objective 5.5.2 Describe the roles of Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court in the legislative process.

In a Nutshell

Students should understand that Congress has the power to address societal problems through legislative actions. However, the process is more complex because of the interrelated roles played by the Executive and Judicial Branch during the legislative process and through implementation of laws. Students should be able to describe the basic roles played by each branch as they relate to the legislative process created by the Framers and why such a process was deemed necessary.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Assist students to explain how laws are made in a democratic society to protect individual freedoms. 

• Provide opportunities for students to explain how laws have changed society in the past and present.  

• Use information from multiple print or digital sources (e.g. diagrams) to explain the steps of creating, adopting, and implementing public laws .

• Compose narratives to describe the steps of the legislative process, using information appropriately in a structured format.   

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• basic legislative process, including role of Congressional committees, laws, debate, vote and approval by both houses, approval or veto by President, potential of override by Congress, enforcement by executive branch officials, determination of Constitutionality by Supreme Court ("judicial review")

• Some students may mistakenly embrace the idea that laws passed by Congress are absolute and without influence by the executive or judicial branches.

• Many students are not aware of the role individuals have played to win Constitutional rights and protections through appeal to the Supreme Court. 

Instructional Resources