1. Paper Preparation group
We do not need paper.
Do not sit down.
I will assign you to groups.

2. Three Branches Simulation (SS.7.C.1.7)
- by the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
explain how each branch has distinct powers and responsibilities
explain how each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches

3. Three Branches Review
Three branches of government House of Representatives legislative (Congress) Senate government executive (the President) judicial (the Supreme Court)

4. What We Are Doing
Laws can change how the country works. This activity can change how this classroom works. Today we will simulate the lawmaking process to better understand separation of powers and checks and balances.

5. How We Are Graded
Do not write on any of today’s papers. You are graded on how you participate within your group. Being off-task causes you to lose points. As we move from one step to the next, please follow along on your papers and on the board.

6. Solo Step 1 Vote for a Speaker of the House.
Legislative Branch
House of Senate
Representatives
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Vote for a Speaker of the House.
Vote for a Majority Leader.
Think of an idea for a new law in this class.
Vote for a Chief Justice.
This person will be the group speaker.
This person will be the group writer.

7. Spotlight Step 2 Executive Branch
Announce your idea to the class.
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Support Step 2
Judicial Branch
Listen to the President announce her/his idea to the class.

8. Spotlight Step 3 Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Discuss the President’s idea.
The Speaker of the House will write an idea for a law on chart paper. The Speaker may write down the President’s idea or the Speaker’s idea.
Discuss the President’s idea.
The Majority Leader will write an idea for a law on chart paper. The Majority Leader may write down the President’s idea or the Majority Leader’s idea.
Executive Branch
Support Step 3
Judicial Branch
Convince the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader to write your idea on their papers.
Discuss the President’s idea to see if it violates any classroom rules.

9. Spotlight Step 4 Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Vote on the idea. If it passes, ask the Senate to vote on it, too.
Before the Senate can vote on it, they must cross out what they’ve written and write down the House’s idea.
Vote on the idea. If it passes, ask the House to vote on it, too.
Before the House can vote on it, they must cross out what they’ve written and write down the Senate’s idea.
When both houses agree, we can move to step 5.
Executive Branch
Support Step 4
Judicial Branch
Convince the members of the House and the Senate how they should vote.
Discuss the ideas written on chart paper to see if they violate any classroom rules.

10. Spotlight Step 5 Executive Branch
Decide if you like the bill that Congress passed.
If you like the bill that Congress passed,
sign the bill into law (sign the chart papers).
If you don’t like the bill that Congress passed,
write “VETO” next to the bill.
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Support Step 5
Judicial Branch
See if the President vetoes the bill.
Watch quietly as Congress passes a bill to the President.

11. Spotlight Step 6 Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
If the President signed the bill, we all skip this step.
Vote on the bill again to try and override the veto.
If two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate votes to override, then the President’s veto doesn’t matter. Go to step 7.
If the legislative branch can’t override the veto, go back to
step 3
Executive Branch
Support Step 6
Judicial Branch
If you signed the bill, the class skips this step. If you vetoed the bill, convince Congress to go back to your original idea.
The Supreme Court does a lot of waiting and watching, doesn’t it?

12. Spotlight Step 7 Judicial Branch
Part 1 – Petitioner
If you are the Chief Justice:
call the class to order;
say “today we will hear the case Mr. Deutsch versus the class”;
and then say “the petitioner will rise.”
Listen to your teacher explain why the law violates classroom rules.
Any justice may interrupt the teacher to ask questions at any time.
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Support Step 7
Executive Branch
Listen to the teacher’s argument about the law
so you can be ready to rebut the argument.

13. Spotlight Step 7 Judicial Branch
Part 2 – Respondents
If you are the Chief Justice, say “the respondents will rise.”
Call on one student at a time. Listen to their arguments, interrupting as much as you like just like when your teacher was talking.
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Support Step 7
Executive Branch
Stand up if you’d like to argue your case. Convince the Supreme Court that the new classroom law doesn’t violate current rules.

14. Spotlight Step 7 Judicial Branch
Part 3 – Deliberations
After all arguments, discuss the classroom law with the other members of the court.
Vote privately to determine if the new law is not compatible with the older rules. Do not announce the results of your vote yet.
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Support Step 7
Executive Branch
Be as quiet as possible to try and hear the Supreme Court talk.

15. Spotlight Step 7 Judicial Branch
Part 4 – Verdict
If the Chief Justice voted with the majority, she/he will announce the verdict and the reasons the court voted that way.
If there is a dissenting opinion, that person will get to stand and share her/his feelings on the case, as well.
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives Senate
Support Step 7
Executive Branch
Listen to the justices announce the verdict.
See if they cite any of your arguments in
the majority opinion or in the dissenting opinion.