Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 12/20/2010
Unit 3: The United States Constitution and the branches of government.
Goal: Students will examine the U.S. Constitution and the components and balances of the federal
government.
Big Idea (s):
The US Constitution is based on fundamental principles and protects the rights and liberties
that impact the daily life of Americans.
The Constitution is a groundbreaking model for republican government that is flexible and
has the ability to meet the test of time. It is a living document.
The Constitution outlines a system of checks and balance that provides controls to safeguard
our democratic system. It is the longest lasting written national constitution in the world. The
Constitution ensures a balance of power through a system of checks and balances.
Power is distributed and shared among the three branches of the national government.
The U.S. Constitution impacts the daily life of Americans in many ways.
The Constitution established the U.S. form of federal government and is the “supreme law of the
land”.
Essential Question (s):
What are the basic principles of American government? Are these principles essential to a
democracy?
How does the Constitution impact Americans?
How is the power of government distributed in the United States?
How are the three branches of government dependent on each other? How does our
Constitution prevent one branch of government from gaining too much power?
How does the system of checks and balances work?
How are power and responsibility distributed, shared and limited in the government
established by the U.S. Constitution? How did the framers distribute power in the
Constitution?
What makes an effective President?
What makes an effective legislator?
What kind of government did the Constitution form?
Is the Constitution really the “supreme law of the land”? Why has the Constitution endured?
Which branch is most powerful?
How is the rule of law different then the rule of men? (honors)
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Literacy 1. Define and apply key
vocabulary/concepts including popular
sovereignty, limited government, separation
of powers, checks and balances, judicial
review, federalism, qualifications, terms,
elections, powers, limitations, impeachment,
succession:
 Paraphrase/summarize
 Compare/contrast
As evidenced by a written, oral or visual:






Vocabulary journals
Narrative descriptions
2-3 Column Notes (i.e.
term/definition/illustrate/paraphrase/relate)
Lincs/Frayer
Visual representation (i.e concept
diagram/map, graph, chart, drawing, poster,
comic strip, cartoon)
Discussion
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.
Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 12/20/2010
 Classify
 Categorize
 Discuss/explain
 Illustrate
 Demonstrate
 Reflect/relate
 Infer
10.10 Demonstrate an understanding of the
principles of American government and the
purpose of the US Constitution:



Oral presentation
Short answer
Essay
Summary of the principles of
American government.
1) All people are created equal and have
basic rights;
2) Government protection of basic rights;
3) Representative government;
4) Limited government; and 5) A federal
governmental structure.
 Popular Sovereignty
 Limited Government
 Separation of Powers
 Checks and Balances
 Judicial Review
 Federalism
10.11 Read, discuss, interpret and evaluate the
Preamble.
(H) – expert groups jigsaw on Principles of
the U.S. Constitution (popular sovereignty,
limited govt., separation of powers, checks &
balances, judicial review, federalism)
*Create a poster demonstrating knowledge of
all principles EXCEPT for your “area of
expertise”.
10.12 Explain how the design of the Constitution
intended to balance powers.
Explanation of how the design of the
Constitution balances powers between the
branches of government.
1.5 Apply a historical understanding of balancing
powers to a current event.
10.13 Explain the relationship between the Supreme
Court and the other branches of government.
10.14 Describe and evaluate the legislative
branch in relation to:
 Qualifications
 terms
 elections
 powers
 limitations
 impeachment
 succession
 structure
Summary of the purpose of the Constitution
Paraphrase the Preamble and take a position on
the most important phrase.
(H) – Current event search: Find a current
event or political cartoon illustrating the
balance of power and summarize it.
Summary of the characteristics of the Legislative
Branch.
Evaluation of the powers and limitations of the
Legislative Branch.
(H) – Write a persuasive essay explaining
why limitations on the powers of the
legislative branch are necessary.
8.1 Form questions, research multiple sources,
develop an opinion and defend a position on
current issues.
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.
Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 12/20/2010
10.15 Identify your representatives in national and
state legislature:

Local

State

National
10.16 Evaluate contemporary roles of legislators.
8.6 Read, discuss, interpret and evaluate multiple
literary sources.
10.17 Describe and evaluate the executive
branch in relation to:
 Qualifications
 terms
 how elected
 powers
 limitations
 impeachment
 succession
 structure
8.1 Form questions, research multiple sources,
develop an opinion and defend a position on
current issues.
Honors 10.18 Describe relationships between past
and present trends in the executive branch.
List of representatives and senators and their
party affiliation.
(H) – Research a current issue of concern to
you and write a letter to your local or state
representative.
Evaluation of a legislator’s role:






qualifications
terms
election process
powers
structure
process for proposing and enacting legislation
Summary of the characteristics of the Executive
Branch.
Evaluation of the powers and limitations of the
Executive Branch.
(H) – Write a persuasive essay explaining
why limitations on the powers of the
executive branch are necessary.
Description between past and present trends in
executive branch.
10.19 Explain the structure and role of the
Judicial branch
 Qualifications
 How appointed
 terms
 powers
 organization
 jurisdiction
Explanation of structure and role of the Judicial
branch.
10.20 Analyze the importance of Judicial Review:
 Marbury v. Madison
Analysis of the importance of Judicial Review.
(H) – Research a case of judicial review and
explain its impact on American society.
10.21 Describe the importance of the Supreme
Court and how the Supreme Court is a changing
court.
Explanation of the importance of the Supreme
Court and how the Supreme Court stays current
with the times.
Resources:
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.
Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 12/20/2010
Extension Activity:


Compare and contrast current President to one of the past.
Research a past or present Supreme Court Justice and evaluate his/her effect on the Supreme
Court and nation.
Teacher(s) Designed Formative Assessments
District-wide Trimester Assessment(s)
http://sde-cthsi/DWTA/academic.html
 TBD
Concepts
Skills
Students need to know about:
Students need to be able to do:
10.10 Purpose of the US Constitution:
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Judicial Review
Federalism
10.11 Preamble.
Apply (an understanding of the purpose of the
US Constitution.
 Popular Sovereignty
 Limited Government
 Separation of Powers
 Checks and Balances
 Judicial Review
 Federalism)
Read, discuss, interpret and evaluate
(Preamble).
10.12 Design of the Constitution intended to
balance powers.
Explain (how the Constitution balances
powers.)
1.5 Historical understanding of a current event.
Apply (a historical understanding of a current
event).
10.13 Relationship of the Supreme Court and the
branches of government.
10.14 Legislative branch in relation to:
Qualifications
terms
elections
powers
limitations
impeachment
succession
structure
8.1 Position on current issues.
10.15 National and state legislators:
Explain (relationship between Supreme Court
and the legislative and Executive branches).
Describe and evaluate (the legislative
 Qualifications
 terms
 elections
 powers
 limitations
 impeachment
 succession)
 structure)
Question, research, defend (a position on current
issues).
Identify (national and state legislators):
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.
Connecticut Technical High School System
CIVICS/AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 12/20/2010
10.16 Contemporary roles of legislators.
Evaluate (contemporary roles of legislators).
8.6 Multiple literary sources.
Read, discuss, interpret and evaluate (multiple
literary sources).
10.17 Executive branch in relation to:
Qualifications
terms
elected
powers
limitations
impeachment
succession
structure
Honors 10.18 Past and present trends in the
executive branch.
Describe and evaluate (the executive branch in
relation to:
 Qualifications
 terms
 elected
 powers
 limitations
 impeachment
 succession
 structure)

Form questions, research multiple
sources, develop an opinion and defend a
position on current issues.
Honors Describe (past and present trends in the
executive branch).
10.19 Structure and role of the Judicial branch
Qualifications
terms
powers
organization
jurisdiction
Explain (structure and role of the Judicial branch
 Qualifications
 terms
 powers
 organization
 jurisdiction)
10.20 Judicial Review:
Marbury v. Madison
10.21 Supreme Court
Analyze (importance of Judicial Review:
 Marbury v. Madison)
Describe (significance and how the Supreme
Court is a changing court).
8.1 Form questions, research multiple sources,
develop an opinion and defend a position on
current issues.
(H) Honors. Honors students will complete a cross cycle/over the trade assignment.