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Objectives (Code)
Day Three
3. principles necessary for our
nation
a. separation of powers
b. checks and balances
c. popular sovereignty
Day Three
3.a-b. Illustrate how separation of
powers and checks and balances
work cohesively
3.c. Define popular sovereignty
Day Three
3.a-b.Worksheet- separation
of powers and checks and
balances
3.a-c.Questions- separation of
powers, checks and balances,
and popular sovereignty
3.c.Take out the door- popular
sovereignty
We will however, discuss the principle of checks and balances that the
founding fathers established so that one branch could not gain authority
over another branch. Each branch has different powers, but we are going
to see the each power weighs the same. I am going to give you a
worksheet to fill out as we discuss how checks and balances play a part in
every branch of our government.
Looking at the worksheet we are going to start in the top-left section which
describes the roles of the president
Question: What is the first blank in the top-left
Treaties
Exactly, one of the roles of the president is to make treaties with other
countries. The president also carries out laws, which is the second blank
in the section.
Question: What power does the president have when a law comes to him
that he doesn't like?
Veto power
Correct, the president also has the power to write the budget as well
Now moving the right part of the worksheet which discussing some of
Congress's checks on the president's power
The first check on the president's power that we see is that Congress has
the right to modify any treaties or budget that the president designs.
Question: what portion of votes in congress is the minimum that can be
had to override a president's veto?
2/3
Question: What is it called when Congress "fires" the president if they
think he is not ruling in the best interest of the county?
Impeach
Correct.
Question: Why do you think the founding fathers added this check on the
president's power?
So the president could not become a tyrant in the government and
realizes that his power is in check
Question: Can anyone show me on our power scale how the check and
balance of veto power would look?
The student will show that the executive branch and the legislative
branch are balanced on the power scale.
Very good, we have now seen an example of how the executive branch's
power is checked by the legislative branch.
Moving down the worksheet we will examine how the judicial branch is
checked by the legislative branch.
Question: What does the judicial branch interpret?
Laws
Correct, it is their job to see if any laws go against the Constitution, which
we will talk about more in tomorrow's lesson.
Question: Which branch of government passes laws?
Legislative
Exactly, the legislative branch also has the power to approve presidential
appointments for judges and justices and they can also remove judges
based on evidence of misconduct.
Question: So how is power checked between the judicial branch and the
legislative branch?
The legislative branch makes the laws, but the judicial branch
interprets the laws.
Question: Can anyone show me on the power scale?
Student will show how on the scale how the power of laws is evenly
balanced between the legislative and judicial branch?
Very good, so once again our power scale would be in perfect balance.
Finally, we the worksheet shows us how the executive and judicial
branches check and balance each other
The executive branch, or the president appoints judges for life-time term,
while the judicial branch can prove laws to be unconstitutional and can say
that the decisions that president makes go against the constitution.
So, our power scale would be evenly balanced between the executive
branch and the judicial branch because the president has the power to
make decisions for our nation, and the judicial branch can determine if
those decisions are unconstitutional.
Question: Why would the founding fathers establish a system of checks
and balances?
So one branch of government couldn't gain power over another
branch.
Lesson Ending (Review, Preview, Closure)
Closure: Please before you leave, take time to fill out the exit slip by answering
the following questions.
Put up PowerPoint on board with questions the students need to fill out.
Review: Today we have seen how the founding fathers avoided one branch
dominating the other branches of government through the principal of checks and
balances. This again was a reflection of the attitudes had by the founding fathers
after the failure of the Articles of Confederation. We also looked at the
importance of popular sovereignty and how it's influence on the Constitution.
Preview: Tomorrow we will be learning more about the three separate branches
of government and how they use these checks and balances we have discussed
today. We will also take a look at the different state and federal representation
propositions that were considered, and how we reached the representation
procedure we use today. We will also be looking at the attitudes of the different
political groups during this time in regards to the emergence of the Constitution
and how they contributed to the change and continuity of the nation.