What’s for lunch? CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ON THE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT SS.7.C.1.7 Describe how the Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers and checks and balances. What’s for lunch? ACTIVITIES

6 groups (2 executive, 2 legislative and 2 judicial) Groups of 3 (each student in the group plays a role) 1 packet per group

OFFICIAL PROCEDURE for DECIDING NEW SCHOOL LUNCH MENU Lead Chefs suggest food categories Menu Writers write the menu Lead Chefs approve or reject the menu Menu Writers change rejected menu or override the Lead Chefs Nutrition Inspectors evaluate the menu

Post-Simulation Activities

Who’s Who? Lead Chef = ? Congress Menu Writers = ? Supreme Court Match your roles in the simulation with real-life roles: Lead Chef = ? Congress Menu Writers = ? Supreme Court Nutrition Inspectors = ? President

Who’s Who? Lead Chef = President Menu Writers = Congress Match your roles in the simulation with real-life roles: Lead Chef = President Menu Writers = Congress Nutrition Inspectors = Supreme Court

Unscramble It! Supreme Court decides whether the law is constitutional Use what you learned in the simulation to put these real-life steps in order: Supreme Court decides whether the law is constitutional Congress makes changes to the bill or overrides the President’s veto President sets the agenda for laws that are important Congress writes bills that may become law President vetoes the bill or signs it into law

Unscramble It! President sets the agenda for laws that are important Use what you learned in the simulation to put these real-life steps in order: President sets the agenda for laws that are important Congress writes bills that may become law President vetoes the bill or signs it into law Congress makes changes to the bill or overrides the President’s veto Supreme Court decides whether the law is constitutional

Discussion Why do you think the government is structured in this way? What is the benefit of the branches having separate powers? During the Anticipation Activity, could the Lead Chef, Menu Writer, or Judge make all of the decisions? What was the outcome of each role having a say in the process?

constitutional government -a form of government based on a written set of laws that all citizens agree to; in this form of government, the constitution is the highest law of the land.

Constitutional Government Discussion What does this term mean in your own words? What evidence in the definition led you to your answer? Do we have a constitutional government? How do you know?

Write in your journal (separated on next 3 slides) The legislative branch is made up of Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislative branch writes and passes laws. The executive branch is made up of the President, the Cabinet and federal agencies. The executive branch signs bills into law and can veto bills. This branch makes sure that laws are carried out. The judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. This branch makes sure laws are in line with the U.S. Constitution.

Write in your FCIM journal SS.7.C.1.7 Describe how the Constitution limits the powers of government through separation of powers and checks and balances.

Legislative Branch The legislative branch is made up of Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislative branch writes and passes laws.

Executive Branch The executive branch is made up of the President, the Cabinet and federal agencies. The executive branch signs bills into law and can veto bills. This branch makes sure that laws are carried out.

Judicial Branch The judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. This branch makes sure laws are in line with the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial Review write in FCIM journal The power to declare laws unconstitutional is held by the judicial branch. This power is known as the power of judicial review and is not found in the Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison (1803) established this power.

What does this mean in your own words? Article II, Section 2 “He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.” What does this mean in your own words?

Limited Government The Founding Fathers separated powers among the three branches of government in order to prevent any of the branches from becoming too powerful and therefore harming the rights and well being of citizens. This concept is known as “limited government.” By structuring the government in this way, it limits government’s power because each branch is responsible for only the powers and functions of their branch as outlined in the U.S. Constitution

Write in your FCIM journal limited government – a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement.

Checks and Balances In addition to each branch having separate powers, each branch also has the ability to “check” the powers of the other two branches. This is known as “checks and balances” and means that each branch can limit the actions of the other two branches.

Write in FCIM journal Checks and Balance- each branch has the ability to “check” the powers of the other two branches.

Discussion What is the difference between ‘separation of powers’ and ‘checks and balances’? How would describe these concepts to someone who doesn’t know how the government works? How do these concepts support the idea of a limited government?

Role Playing

Role Playing Part #1 Part #2

Essential Question How does the Constitution limit the powers of the government?