Government Unit 2

Big Idea:

Understand the U.S. Constitution and basic concepts of Federalism.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

GOV.7(A) explain the importance of a written constitution

Focus TEKS

GOV.7(B) evaluate how the federal government serves the purposes set forth in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

GOV.7(C) analyze how the Federalist Papers such as Number 10, Number 39, and Number 51 explain the principles of the American constitutional system of government

GOV.7(D) evaluate constitutional provisions for limiting the role of government, including republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights

GOV.7(E) describe the constitutionally prescribed procedures by which the U.S. Constitution can be changed and analyze the role of the amendment process in a constitutional government

GOV.7(F) identify how the American beliefs and principles reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution contribute to both a national identity and federal identity and are embodied in the United States today

GOV.7(G) examine the reasons the Founding Fathers protected religious freedom in America and guaranteed its free exercise by saying that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," and compare and contrast this to the phrase, "separation of church and state."

GOV.8(A) analyze the structure and functions of the legislative branch of government, including the bicameral structure of Congress, the role of committees, and the procedure for enacting laws

GOV.8(B) analyze the structure and functions of the executive branch of government, including the constitutional powers of the president, the growth of presidential power, and the role of the Cabinet and executive departments

GOV.8(C) analyze the structure and functions of the judicial branch of government, including the federal court system, types of jurisdiction, and judicial review

GOV.8(D) identify the purpose of selected independent executive agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and regulatory commissions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

GOV.8(E) explain how certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution provide for checks and balances among the three branches of government

GOV.8(F) analyze selected issues raised by judicial activism and judicial restraint

GOV.8(G) explain the major responsibilities of the federal government for domestic and foreign policy such as national defense

GOV.8(H) compare the structures, functions, and processes of national, state, and local governments in the U.S. federal system

GOV.9(A) explain why the Founding Fathers created a distinctly new form of federalism and adopted a federal system of government instead of a unitary system

GOV.9(B) categorize government powers as national, state, or shared

GOV.9(C) analyze historical and contemporary conflicts over the respective roles of national and state governments

GOV.9(D) understand the limits on the national and state governments in the U.S. federal system of government

GOV.13(A) understand the roles of limited government and the rule of law in the protection of individual rights

GOV.13(B) identify and define the unalienable rights

GOV.13(C) identify the freedoms and rights guaranteed by each amendment in the Bill of Rights

GOV.13(D) analyze U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution in selected cases, including Engel v. Vitale, Schenck v. United States, Texas v. Johnson, Miranda v. Arizona, Gideon v. Wainwright, Mapp v. Ohio, and Roe v. Wade

GOV.13(E) explain the importance of due process rights to the protection of individual rights and in limiting the powers of government

GOV.13(F) recall the conditions that produced the 14th Amendment and describe subsequent efforts to selectively extend some of the Bill of Rights to the states, including the Blaine Amendment and U.S. Supreme Court rulings, and analyze the impact on the scope of fundamental rights and federalism

Ongoing TEKS

GOV.20(A) analyze information by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations and predictions, and drawing inferences and conclusions

GOV.20(B) create a product on a contemporary government issue or topic using critical methods of inquiry;

GOV.20(C) analyze and defend a point of view on a current political issue

GOV.20(D) analyze and evaluate the validity of information, arguments, and counterarguments from primary and secondary sources for bias, propaganda, point of view, and frame of reference

GOV.20(E) evaluate government data using charts, tables, graphs, and maps

GOV.20(F) use appropriate mathematical skills to interpret social studies information such as maps and graphs

GOV.21(A) use social studies terminology correctly

GOV.21(B) use standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation

GOV.21(C) transfer information from one medium to another, including written to visual and statistical to written or visual, using computer software as appropriate

GOV.21(D) create written, oral, and visual presentations of social studies information

GOV.22(A) use a problem-solving process to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution

GOV.22(B) use a decision-making process to identify a situation that requires a decision, gather information, identify options, predict consequences, and take action to implement a decision

Student Learning Targets:

• I will explain the six basic principles of the U.S. Constitution.
• I will summarize the checks and balances between the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches..
• I will describe the Preamble and the 7 Articles of the United States Constitution.
• I will explain the rights found in the original Constitution.
• I will identify the methods for amending the Constitution
• I will compare the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.
• I will differentiate between a unitary, confederal, and federal system of government while giving examples of each.
• I will identify the powers of government in a federal system and give examples of each.
• I will identify the constitutional evidence for federalism in a federal system.

Essential Questions:

• What influences a government?
• How is power be shared?
• Why did the founding fathers create our form of federalism?
• How do the principles reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution contribute to our form of government?
• How does the US Constitution provide for a republican form of government?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook:

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center