Classroom Resource

Federalism/Crash Course Government and Politics

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

10, 12

Overview

Craig Benzine teaches you about federalism or the idea that in the United States, power is divided between the national government and the 50 state governments. Craig will teach you about how federalism has evolved over the history of the U.S., what powers are given to the federal government, and what stuff the states control on their own.

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 10 - United States History I

SS10.US1.4

Describe the political system of the United States based on the Constitution of the United States. [A.1.a., A.1.b., A.1.d., A.1.g., A.1.i.]

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.US1.4

Vocabulary

  • political system
  • elements
  • distinguishing
  • ideologies
  • conflicting

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The inadequacies of Articles of Confederation and how these lead to the writing of the Constitution.
  • Personalities, issues, ideologies, and compromises related to the Constitutional Convention and the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
  • The purpose and effects of the Federalist Papers.
  • Details of the political system of the United States based on the Constitution of the United States.
  • How to interpret the Preamble to the Constitution.
  • The purpose of the separation of powers and how this works in the U.S. federal system.
  • The meaning and purpose of the elastic clause.
  • The purpose of the Bill of Rights and the effects of these amendments.
  • Factors leading to the development and establishment of political parties, including Alexander Hamilton's economic policies, conflicting views of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, George Washington's Farewell Address, and the election of 1800.
  • The reasons for and effects of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth Amendments.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Analyze and describe the political system of the United States based on the Constitution of the United States by giving a verbal or written account with characteristics of the political system.
  • Interpret the Preamble of the Constitution, separation of powers, federal system; elastic clause, the Bill of Rights; and the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth Amendments by examining these parts.
  • Describe the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation by giving a verbal or written account of the weaknesses.
  • Distinguish personalities, ideas, issues, ideologies and compromises related to the Constitutional by highlighting these differences.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The Constitution replaced a weak Articles of Confederation and provides the basis for governing the United States.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 12 - United States Government

SS10.USG.3

Analyze major features of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights for purposes, organization, functions, and principles, including rule of law, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, judicial review, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.USG.3

Vocabulary

  • rule of law
  • federalism
  • limited government
  • popular sovereignty
  • judicial review
  • separation of powers
  • checks and balances
  • ratification
  • Anti-Federalist
  • confederation
  • amending
  • Federalist
  • article of the Constitution

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Key principles of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights as well as their meaning.
  • Key arguments given by the Federalists and Anti-Federalists regarding the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
  • The Constitution is an evolving document through both formal and informal means.
  • The process by which an amendment can be added to the U.S. Constitution.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Outline the possible paths taken to ratify an amendment to the Constitution.
  • Interpret how constitutional principles are embedded in current and past issues in US history and politics.
  • Interpret primary documents from both Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
  • Analyze a given passage of the U.S. Constitution to identify how it relates to a key principle of American government.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Many key principles of the Constitution, including judicial review, federalism, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, rule of law, and popular sovereignty, are embedded in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and that their meaning has been debated throughout U.S. history.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 12 - United States Government

SS10.USG.4

Explain how the federal system of the United States divides powers between national and state governments. (Alabama)

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.USG.4

Vocabulary

  • enumerated power
  • concurrent power
  • reserved power
  • implied power
  • Elastic Clause
  • federalism
  • cooperative federalism
  • dual federalism
  • fiscal federalism
  • block grant
  • categorical grant
  • formula grant
  • project grant
  • unfunded mandate
  • 10th Amendment

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Which powers are given to the state and federal governments.
  • The relationship between state and federal governments in their policy-making goals.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Categorize a power as it applies to a specific level of government.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The federal system of government utilized by the United States provides both benefits and responsibilities to the states and federal government by dividing powers between the two levels of government.
Link to Resource
https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/federalism-states-government-crashco…

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS
Accessibility
License

License Type

Custom

Custom License Type (URL)

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/

Comments or Notes

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