Government NOTES AND ACTIVITIES

Writing Assignment Pick one the writing activities below.  Write a paragraph explaining why you want to be independent from your parents.  Write a paragraph explaining why the colonists wanted their independence from England.

Declaration of Independence  “Declaration”- When you declare something, you make an announcement.  Practice declaring your independence with a partner.  After the war, the colonists declared their independence from England. Act this out with a partner.

Declaration of Independence  Discuss: How does your family celebrate the 4 th of July.  What the video clip from School House Rocks. Why do we celebrate the 4 th ? (no more kings, declaration of independence)

Articles of Confederation- page 5 Read and SUBSEARCH page 5.  Underline (paragraph 1): What is the Articles of Confederation?  Symbols (paragraph 2-3 ): Write a “S” next to the paragraphs if the new government in the U.S. was the same as the government in England. Write a “D” if the governments were different.  Enumerate (paragraph 4): What types of things were Congress not allowed to do?  Reaction (paragraph 5): What problems would you run into if Indiana and Illinois had completely different rules and money?

Constitution & Preamble  SUBS E A R CH pages 6-7 E numerate: Number the 3 parts of the constitution. R eact: Which part of the preamble do you think is most important? Why?

Constitution Preamble Articles Amendments

Preamble  In groups, figure out what our founding fathers meant when they wrote the following: “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.”

Articles (parts)- pg. 8  The constitution has _____________ articles (parts).  Articles 1-3 talk about the 3 parts of the federal government. __________________________________________________________________ In pairs, complete the Branches of Government notes (Jobs, Who?)

Branches of Government In groups, create a poster about your branch of government. Include:  The name of the branch (write this in LARGE letters)  The job of the branch  The people who make up the branch  Why this branch is important.

Checks and Balances  What does it mean if someone “keeps you in check ”?  What does balance mean?

Checks and Balances  Each branch of the government has equal power. The branches “check” one another to keep the power balanced between all three.

SUBSEARCH page 9  In YELLOW, highlights the ways the executive branch “checks” other branches.  In PINK, highlight the ways the judicial branch “checks” other branches.  In GREEN, highlight the ways the executive branch “checks” other branches.

Pair-Share Activity  What do you think would happen if 1 branch had more power than the others?

Article 1: Legislative Branch  Create a power point about a specific section of article 1

Article 2: Executive Branch Think-Pair-Share  For 3 minutes, discuss with a partner all the things you know about the executive branch. Be ready to share your knowledge with the class!

Article 2: Executive Branch SUBSEARCH- Highlight the answers to the following questions:  How often do we elect a new president and vice president?  What do electors do?  How old does a president have to be?  What group of people is the president incharge of?

Article 2: Executive Branch  This part talks about the President and Vice President.

Executive Branch  Every 4 years there is an election for the President and Vice President.

Executive Branch  We vote for electors who are the people who vote to see who our next president and vice president will be.

Executive Branch  President and vice president have to be at least 35 years old. 35

Executive Branch  President Obama makes $569, a year.

Executive Branch  The president is in charge of the military.

Article 3- Judicial Branch  SUBSEARCH pages HIGHLIGHT the key information. 1. Highlight the names of the 3 levels of federal courts. 2. How many years do federal judges keep their jobs? 3. What is a jury?

Article 3- Judicial Branch Trial courts

Jury Duty 