1. A Guide to Understanding Systems of Government
Simplifying Systems
A Guide to Understanding Systems of Government

2. Describe the images you see by either:
First things First
Describe the images you see by either:
Carousel Activity
Diagrams are posted around the classroom.
The class will be divided into three groups.
In your groups, rotate from poster to poster writing words you would use to describe the diagram.
PowerPoint ID
Take out a sheet of paper
Describe the diagrams on the following slides – you can use complete sentences or just descriptive words.
Teacher note: decide which method you would prefer to use with your class – the carousel activity of the PowerPoint ID activity. Both have the same outcome, but are implemented with slight differences.

3. Diagram #1 State/ State/ Regional Government Regional Government
Central
Government
If doing the carousel activity, use these slides to debrief the activity.
If doing the PowerPoint ID activity, go through these three slides allowing time for students to describe each diagram. Students may work individually or in groups.
The diagrams will be explained and dissected in future slides. This activity is to assess knowledge base and gain a foundation and familiarity with the diagrams.
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government

4. Diagram #2 State/ State/ Regional Government Regional Government
Central Government
If doing the carousel activity, use these slides to debrief the activity.
If doing the PowerPoint ID activity, go through these three slides allowing time for students to describe each diagram. Students may work individually or in groups.
The diagrams will be explained and dissected in future slides. This activity is to assess knowledge base and gain a foundation and familiarity with the diagrams.
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government

5. Central Government Diagram #3 State/ State/ Regional Government
If doing the carousel activity, use these slides to debrief the activity. Review the words on the diagram posters and ask students why they selected those words.
If doing the PowerPoint ID activity, go through these three slides allowing time for students to describe each diagram. Students may work individually or in groups. After reviewing all three diagrams, go back to Diagram #1 and ask students for their descriptive words about the diagrams. Keep a list on the board or chart paper. Ask students to explain their word choice when describing the diagrams.
The diagrams will be explained and dissected in future slides. This activity is to assess knowledge base and gain a foundation and familiarity with the diagrams.
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government

6. Federal Unitary Confederal
Diagramming Systems
The diagrams you just looked at were outlining three different systems of government:
Federal
Unitary
Confederal
Have students write down these three systems of government on a sheet of paper. They will be referred to throughout the presentation and having the students write down the names of the systems will assist in clarity when explaining.
The diagrams of these systems of government show how power is distributed among the central government and state/regional governments. The kind of system depends on the level of government which makes the decisions.

7. Distribution v. Separation
What is the difference between distributing power and separating power?
Distribution of Power
The distribution of power is about how the government divides power between a central authority and the people/states/regions; relationship between governments
Example: central government and state governments
Separation of Power
The separation of power is about how the government is divided internally; relationship within government
Example: branches of government – legislative, executive, judicial

8. Which diagram would represent a confederal system of government?
Systems of the Past
The United States is a federal system of government, but it has not always been that way.
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
Under the Articles of Confederation, the United States was a confederal government.
A confederal government is one where the state/regional governments have the concentration of power with a weak central government. The central government is essentially run by the state/regional governments.
Which diagram would represent a confederal system of government?
Central
Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government

9. Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles of Confederation, the state governments retained most of the power.
The central or national government commanded little respect and was not able to accomplish much because it had little jurisdiction/power over states or individuals.
States
Nat’l Gov.

10. Problems with the Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles of Confederation, states often argued amongst themselves.
They also refused to financially support the national government.
The national government was powerless to enforce any acts it did pass.
Some states began making agreements with foreign governments.
Most had their own military.
Most states printed their own money. There was no stable economy.

11. Conflict over the confederal system
There were major disagreements during the writing of the Constitution over the confederal system of government.
Who was doing the disagreeing?
Federalists
The Federalists wanted a stronger central government. They favored limiting state power.
Anti-Federalists
The Anti-Federalists opposed a stronger central government. They worried that the states would lose influence with the growth of the national government’s power. The Articles needed to be amended not abandoned.

12. What the Federalists Wanted
State/
Regional Government
They believed in a unitary system of government where the concentration of power should be in the central government, with state governments having little power.
State/
Regional Government
Central
Government
Which diagram would represent a unitary system of government?
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
Unitary System

13. What the Anti-Federalists wanted
State/
Regional Government
They believed in the confederal system, where the states hold most of the power and the central government is weak.
State/
Regional Government
Which diagram would represent a confederal system of government?
Central
Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
Confederal
System

14. Compromising in the Constitution
During the Philadelphia convention, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists had to reach a compromise about the distribution of power between the central government and the state governments.
What would be the compromise between these two systems?

15. Confederal System Federal System Unitary System
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
In a Federal system, power is shared by the central government and the state/regional governments.
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
Central Government
Central
Government
Central
Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
State/
Regional Government
Both the central and state governments have their own powers, in addition to the powers that they share. This system ensures that neither the central government nor the state governments can become too powerful.

16. Federal Confederal Unitary
Line them up!
These three systems of government, are all about the distribution of power.
How would you place these systems on a “power line”, from most centralized power to least centralized power?
Federal
Confederal
Unitary

17. First of all….Foldable Notes!
Follow these steps to make foldable notes for this lesson:
Fold one sheet of paper in half, long ways (hot dog), to create a crease. Unfold paper and lie flat.
Cut one side in 3 equal parts, creating flaps.
When folded in half, it will look like the image below.
Students show follow instructions on slide using a sheet of regular notebook/computer paper.
Fold in half long ways.
Divide the sheet into 4 equal parts. Cut one side in 4 equal parts creating flaps.
FLREA Copyright 2012

18. Label Your Foldable:
Draw a line across your foldable. On the outside write the names of the systems of government in order from most centralized to least centralized.
Most Centralized
Least Centralized
Students should label the front of flaps according to the diagram provided on the slide.
Inside, students should write on the appropriate flap 1. information about the document 2. the main ideas expressed in the document.
FLREA Copyright 2012

19. On the Inside:
Draw a diagram of each system under the appropriate flap and a written description of each system of government.
Diagram
Diagram
Diagram
Description
Description
Description

20. Unitary Federal Confederal
Most Centralized
Least Centralized
Examples:
Australia
Germany
United States
Examples:
US under Articles of Confederation
Confederate States of America
Examples:
France
Japan
Saudi Arabia