Our Government
In this unit from MC3 students will explore the idea of why the federal government is organized to give and limit powers. By the end of this units students should be able to answer the questions:
- Why do we have both state and federal governments?
- How are core democratic values and constitutional principles reflected in our government?
- How is our government organized to give and limit power?
This graphic organizer shows important ideas about our government.
Big Ideas of Lesson 1
1. There would be many serious consequences if schools, communities, and our country tried to function without government and rules or laws.
2. People institute governments for many reasons such as safety, promoting the common good, and protecting individual rights
3. The Constitution describes how the government is organized
2. People institute governments for many reasons such as safety, promoting the common good, and protecting individual rights
3. The Constitution describes how the government is organized
Graphic organizer on why we need government.
Check out this link to see why government matters to kids.
You will use information off of this link for an essay question in class to help answer a question asking why we have government.
Here are the lyrics to the Preamble video. The Preamble is the introduction to our constitution. Here is the text of the Preamble:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Constitution
The constitution is the highest law of our land and the document that describes how our government is organized. In other words, it is a plan for government. A law is a statement that defines how a citizen should behave, or a rule.
Click on the arrow above to start the show. Once you read the screen, click the arrow again and it will move to new content. Keep clicking as you finish to move on to the next portion.
You can download the Bill of Rights project here. Please note students are only required to complete the first 4 amendments!
Lesson 2 Big Ideas
1. The framers of the Constitution were afraid of giving one group or one person in government too much power.
2. To keep one group or one person from having too much power the Framers divided the government into three branches.
3. The three branches are given different functions and their own special powers. This principle is known as the separation of powers.
4. Each of the three branches has the authority of checks and balances that prevent the other branches from becoming too powers
Supplemental Material
Click on the above link to find the vocabulary cards, information sheets on the three branches of government, and a handout on how a bill becomes a law. Click here for the homework assignment that reviews the Constitution material.
Study Guide for the Test on Government
Government Quiz Study Guide 1.1-1.2
___ Separation of powers
___ Veto
___ Bill of Rights
___ Articles
___ Amendment
___ Federalism
___ Constitution
___ Government
You can practice them at http://mytest.vocabtest.com/vocabulary_word_test.php?tid=86804
Click here for a printer friendly copy
- Explain why we have government
- Explain why we have rules and laws
- What is the name of the men who wrote the constitution? (framers)
- What is the purpose of the constitution?
- Name the three branches of government and what the purpose of each is.
- Explain why it is important that our government has a system of checks and balances (separation of powers).
- What two houses make up the Legislative branch?
- Name which branch is in charge of the following powers:
- Armed forces
- Collecting taxes
- Head of State
- Can declare a law unconstitutional
- Who is in charge of our government?
- Be able to explain how a bill becomes a law
- Know that the President can veto a law, and how many votes it takes to overturn his veto.
- Be able to provide examples of powers given to either the federal or state government
- Know these vocabulary words
___ Separation of powers
___ Veto
___ Bill of Rights
___ Articles
___ Amendment
___ Federalism
___ Constitution
___ Government
You can practice them at http://mytest.vocabtest.com/vocabulary_word_test.php?tid=86804
Click here for a printer friendly copy