Unit 3

The colonists are now independent from Great Britain, and they need new governments!! Leaders of each colony set about writing constitutions for their new states PURPOSE OF THE LESSON

Bill of Rights Checks and Balances Executive Branch Higher Law Judicial Branch Legislative Branch Separation of Powers TERMS TO KNOW

How are state constitutions different than the U.S. constitution? Compare and Contrast (6) Can you describe how state constitutions limit the powers of their governments? (6) Why do most state constitutions begin with a Bill of Rights? Justify your answer using text based evidence. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Many colonists thought of their new states as free and independent of each other. At the time, most Americans did not think of themselves as one nation. Why do you think that is? Some colonists thought they should be united to help manage conflict and trade. They set up state constitutions to help manage these issues. A closer look at these state constitutions will help us better understand our United States Constitution. NEWLY FOUND INDEPENDENCE, NEW STATES, PG. 48

Natural Rights (life, liberty and property) Republican Government (power comes from the people electing leaders) Constitutional Government (higher law meaning lawmakers cannot make laws that violate the constitution) WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT DID THE PEOPLE CREATE IN THEIR STATE CONSTITUTIONS? PG. 48 & 49

This means that government power is limited by dividing the power among three branches of government. SEPARATION OF POWERS PG. 49

This branch of government MAKES the laws. The people elected representatives to make the laws. People believed this is the safest branch in which to place most of the power. Why do you think that is the case? LEGISLATIVE BRANCH PG. 49

Carries out and enforces the laws. In the state constitutions the state executive was the governor. EXECUTIVE BRANCH PG. 49

Decides what the laws mean. This branch settles conflicts. It decided what to do with people who did not follow the law (today this is called Supreme Court). JUDICIAL BRANCH PG. 50

THREE RING CIRCUS

The three branches of government are accountable to one another. They check each other and make sure they keep each branch from gaining too much power. CHECKS & BALANCES PG. 50

This is a list of the rights of citizens. It was usually the first part of a state’s constitution. They state the right to: Vote in free and frequent elections, freedom of speech and of the press, representation on tax matters, have a lawyer if accused of a crime, trial by jury, protection form illegal search and seizure, protection from cruel and unusual punishment. BILL OF RIGHTS PG. 50

On a sheet of notebook paper draw a circle and write these times CLOCK APPOINTMENTS

Clock appointments for 6 o’clock, get together, answer question 1 on your review the lesson on page 52. WRITE THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER FOR ONLY #1 CLOCK APPOINTMENT

Clock appointments for 3 o’clock, get together and answer # 2 in the review the lesson section. WRITE THE QUESTION AND ONLY ANSWER # 2 CLOCK APPOINTMENT

Clock appointments for 12 o’clock, get together and answer #3 in the review the lesson section. WRITE THE QUESTION AND ONLY ANSWER #3 CLOCK APPOINTMENT

Clock appointments for 9 o’clock, get together and answer #4 from your review the lesson section. WRITE THE QUESTION AND ONLY ANSWER #4. CLOCK APPOINTMENT

DO THIS WITH YOUR PARTNER. READ AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

WANTED: A JUST RIGHT GOVERNMENT