1. 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

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

3. 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

9. Post-Simulation Activities

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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?

16. 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.

17. 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?

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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?

25. 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

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

27. 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.

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

29. 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?

30. Role Playing

31. Role Playing
Part #1
Part #2

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