Students and Leaders: Leaders in the Legislative Branch

Lessons on Leadership

Air Times:

March 21-25

6pm & 7pm PT
9pm & 10pm ET

on C-SPAN2

Teachers!
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e-mail: educate@c-span.org
phone: (202) 626-4858

National leaders visit Los Angeles high schools
Students & Leaders on
the C-SPAN Networks

Purpose: This activity will help you understand the ways that leadership is important in the legislative branch.

Background: Voters in states, districts, counties and cities elect representatives to serve in legislative bodies and make laws that represent their interests. Whether they convene in the city council, state assembly or the U.S. Congress, elected officials can also lead by working together and compromising. Lawmakers engage in public debates, behind-the-scenes vote trading, committee hearings and coalition building. All the while, they must represent and satisfy their constituencies, with an eye toward the next Election Day.

Discussion Questions: As you watch the video clips below use these discussion questions to examine the leadership roles of leaders in the legislative branch.

LA Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa (D) [ Watch Clip ]
Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa tells students he overcame many obstacles to become a leader in both his personal and professional lives. He believes a good leader needs to work with others in their community and engage individuals to accomplish common goals. He says the measure of a great government is what it can do for people who don't have a voice.

[ Watch Clip ] Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy (R)

California State Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy became interested in politics at a young age. He started his first business, a deli, at nineteen years old. He views himself as an entrepreneur first who attributes a lot of his political success to timing and the changing political climate in California.

Other Lessons:

Public Service | Legislative | Journalism