Utah’s Constitution and Government I like to read the preamble and compare it to the United States Constitution preamble. I also go through it word for word making sure they understand what it means.

What does a Constitution do? A constitution tells us how our government works and how to make laws! Elicit ideas from the students before showing answer.

Separation of Powers When the United States Constitution was written, the Framers were worried about governments that became too powerful. The U.S. Constitution gives each branch of government its own specific powers and responsibilities. Each branch “checks and balances” the others to make sure no branch gets too powerful.

Separation of Powers Have them draw the lines in their notes.

How does Utah’s Constitution relate to the United States’ Constitution? The Utah Constitution, though written more than 100 years later, is based on the U.S. Constitution. The Utah Constitution is basically a fun-sized version of the U.S. Constitution! U.S. Constitution Utah Constitution

Legislative Branch Makes the laws The State Legislature is made up of two houses – the House of Representatives and the Senate. A legislator is someone who has been elected to serve in the Legislature There are 75 Representatives in the Utah House. There are 29 Senators in the Utah Senate.

Utah House Why are some districts so small? Why are some districts so large? Each district represents around 38,000 people.

Utah Senate Each Senate district represents around 100,000 people. Obviously, this slide will have to be changed for differing locations. Visit the following website to get the representatives for your students location. http://www.utahsenate.org/map.shtml

Making laws Representative serve for 2 years; Senators for 4 years. A bill is a written proposal for a law. Any citizen of Utah can submit a bill to the Legislature. Each Legislator is assigned to committees that study bills. Committees act like filters to make sure that only the best bills use the whole houses’ time. When I get to the section on creating a bill, I ask them for an idea of something that they would like to change in our state’s laws. They of course come up with some absurd things (“Everyone should get free ice cream on Fridays!”) and some very relatable things (“The driving age should be lowered to 14.”) I choose the best idea and use it as an example as I go through the process of how bills become laws. It helps this abstract concept much more relatable to them.

Dirty water goes in, clean water comes out and the bad stuff stays inside. Committees are the same, all bills go in, the good ones pass through to the full house and the bad stuff (dumb laws stay inside.) Filter

Have them fill in the blanks in their notes and continue using their example to help explain the process.

Legislative Branch continued If the bill passes a committee, the whole house will vote on it. Both houses have to approve the same bill with more than half the legislators voting for it for a bill to proceed. If it doesn’t pass, the bill’s supporters can try again next year. If it does pass, it is sent to the governor’s office. This more of a review after using the chart on the previous slide.

Executive Branch Enforces the law The governor leads the Executive Branch. What does the governor do? commands the National Guard day to day business of the State presents bills to the legislature calls the Legislature for a special session when necessary signs (approves) or vetoes (rejects) bills pardon (forgive and free) people convicted of crimes Make sure to take time to give a clear understanding of what they are.

Executive Branch Continued There are many other Executive departments that make sure we are safe and protected. Department of Public Safety (and the Utah Highway Patrol) Department of Agriculture and Food Department of Health

Utah’s current governor is Gary Herbert. Which, yes, does kind of rhyme with sherbet.

Judicial Branch Interpret the laws The Supreme Court leads the judicial branch. Made up of city, county, state, and federal courts. Courts main job in government is to determine whether a law is constitutional. A law is unconstitutional if it disagrees with the Constitution. They study the law and the Constitution to make sure they agree. Example: In the 1950s in Topeka, Kansas, schools were segregated. Segregation is when students of different races attend different schools.

Judicial Branch The Supreme Court of the USA decided that it was unconstitutional and said that students all have to be together for schools to be fair. Courts are also in charge of deciding whether a law has been broken. (Criminal Cases) They also handle disagreements between people as well. (Civil cases) – like lawsuits

Checks and Balances Checks and balances means that each branch has a way to keep the others in control (check) so the power always balances out. If the Governor does not like a law the Legislature has passed, he can veto that law. In return, if at least 2/3 of both Houses of the Legislature votes for a law, it cannot be vetoed.

Checks and Balances The Supreme Court decides whether or not a law is constitutional. The Legislature can amend the Constitution (with the help of the people in a vote) to change the Constitution. The Governor can pardon people he thinks have been convicted unfairly.

Government Chart Executive Branch Enforce the laws Governor President

Government Chart Legislative Branch Make the laws Legislature Congress Another good way of reviewing the information is to take the students on a Virtual Tour of the State Capitol (http://www.utahstatecapitol.utah.gov/visitors/virtualtours/index.html) while having them talk about who meets where, what their main purpose it, and what we call their Federal equivalent.

Government Chart Judicial Branch Interpret the laws Supreme Court