Unit 2 – Structure & Function of Federalism
Day 1 – Federalism, Separation of Power, & Checks & Balances
 System of Federalism (3 types of Power)
 Separation of Power
 Checks & Balances
Day 2 – Federal Legislative Branch
 Structure & Powers of Congress
Day 3 – Finish Legislative Branch, Federal Executive Branch
 Powers of Congress
 Structure of the Executive Branch
Day 4 – Finish Executive Branch, Federal Judicial Branch
 Roles & Powers of the President
 Structure of the Judicial Branch
Day 5 – Work on Federal Government Brochure
Day 6 – NC State Government
 History
 NC Constitution
 Assign State Government Brochure
Day 7 – NC State Government (3 Branches)
 3 Branches of State Government
 Continue State Government Brochure
Day 8 – NC State Government
 Checks & Balances
Day 9 – Work on NC State Government Brochure
Day 10 – Local Government
 Structure & Powers of County Government
Day 11 – Local Government
 Structure & Powers of Municipal Government
Day 12 – Review & Test – Structure & Function of Federalism
 NB Check
 Test Review & Test
Unit 2 – Structure & Function of Federalism
Day 1 – Federalism, Separation of Power, Checks & Balances
Unit Essential Question
 How do democracies attempt to balance power & authority?
Conceptual Lenses
 Authority
 Structure
 Balance
 Democracy
Essential Question
How do democracies attempt to balance power & authority?
Questions From Reading – US Federalism - Read Handout
 Draw a Diagram & Explain how the concept of separation of power works in
the federal government.
 Draw a Diagram & Explain the system of checks and balances put in place in
the Constitution.
 Draw a Diagram & Explain the US system of Federalism.
 Below is a diagram to be filled in that explains the horizontal & vertical
limitations on the power of government. (we will do as a class)
Day 2 – Federal Legislative Branch (Structure & Powers)
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Create a Federal Government Brochure
Brochure may be computer generated, or hand-made.
Fold 8.5x11 paper in 1/3rds.
See Website for Template
Essential Question
What is the basic structure & function of Congress?
Chapter 6, Section 1 (pgs.177-182)
Fill in the chart with information about the US Congress
Houses
Term Length
Term Limits
p.191
p.191
Requirements
Number of Members
Number per state
Leadership
 _________________
 _________________
____________________
Define the Following
 Bicameral
 Constituent
 Census
 Gerrymander
Powers of Congress & Duties of Congress
Chapter 6, Section 2 (pgs. 185-188), Section 3 (pgs. 196)
1) Expressed Powers (Create a Chart to Categorize - 3)
Provide 2 examples of each category.
2) Explain the following power of Congress…
Necessary & Proper Clause, Elastic Clause, Implied Powers
3) Explain the following Non-Legislative Powers of Congress
Impeach – (Explain the 2 steps & 2 Presidents who have been impeached)
Oversight
4) Explain the following powers denied to Congress
writ of habeas corpus
bills of attainder
ex post facto laws
5) What powers does the President & the Supreme Court have over Congress
Day 3 – Structure of the Federal Executive Branch
Essential Question
What is the basic structure of the federal executive branch?
Chapter 7, Section 1 (pgs. 209-213)
Fill in the Chart on the Executive Branch
President
Age
Citizenship
Residency
Vice President
Explain the Following
o Electoral College
Purpose, Total # of Members, # needed to win, # per state
o 23rd Amendment
o Who votes for President if no candidate receives a majority?
o How long is a Presidential term?
o 22nd Amendment
o 25th Amendment
o Presidential Succession Act (1947) – 1st 3 in line of succession
Powers of the President
Chapter 7, Section 2 (pgs. 215-218); Section 3 (pgs. 220-223)
Roles of the President – Define Role & Powers
o Chief Executive
Executive orders
Appoint officials
Pardons, Reprieves, Amnesty
o Commander-in-Chief
Deploy Troops
War Powers Act (1973)
o Legislative Leader
o Head of State
o Economic Leader
Prepare Budget (2 Step Process)
o Party Leader
o Diplomatic Leader
Foreign Policy & The President – Explain the Following
o What is Foreign Policy?
o 4 Goals of Foreign Policy
o Foreign Policy Bureaucracy (4)
o Treaties (Economic & Defense)
o Executive Agreements
o Appointing Ambassadors
o Foreign Aid, Trade Sanctions, Embargo, Military Force
Day 4 – The Federal Judicial Branch
Essential Question
What is the basic structure & function of the federal court system?
Chapter 8, Section 1 (pgs. 239-242), Section 2 (pgs.244-247)
Explain the Following
o What is the primary goal of the federal courts? Why is this difficult?
o What is jurisdiction & explain each of the following types?
Exclusive Jurisdiction, Concurrent Jurisdiction
Original Jurisdiction, Appellate Jurisdiction
o What types of cases is the jurisdiction of the federal courts?
o What is the only court established by the Constitution?
o Who has the power to establish lower federal courts?
District Courts
o # of courts
o Type of Jurisdiction
o Judiciary Act of 1789
o How is a case heard?
Court of Appeals (Circuit Courts)
o # of courts
o Type of Jurisdiction
o Judiciary Act of 1891
o How is a case heard? (3 Decisions – uphold, overturn, remand)
Supreme Court - pgs. (249-253)
o # of judges
o Type of Jurisdiction
o How is a case heard?
Supreme Court Method of Hearing a Case
Chapter 8, Section 3 (pgs. 249-253); Section 4 (pgs. 255-259)
Explain the Following
o In what types of cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?
o Judicial Review
o Marbury v Madison (1803)
o 3 Principles of Judicial Review
o Precedent
Method of Hearing a Case
Chapter 8, Section 4 (pgs. 255-259)
o Opinions
Majority Opinion
Concurring Opinion
Dissenting Opinion
o Announcement
Define the Following
 Judicial Activism, Judicial Restraint
Day 5 – Federal Government Brochure
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Students may work on Federal Government Brochure.
Essential Question
How is the Federal Government organized to solve problems?
Day 6 – NC State Government
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Create a State Government Brochure
Brochure may be computer generated, or hand-made.
Fold 8.5x11 paper in 1/3rds.
See Website for Template
Essential Question
How is the basic structure of NC government similar to the US
government?
Chapter 12, Section 1 & 2 (pgs. 355-358)
Explain the Following about Early State Government
o When did delegates meet to write a constitution for NC?
o How many constitutions has NC had?
o When was the current Constitution adopted?
Explain the Following about the Constitutions of NC
o Constitution of 1776
o Constitution of 1868
o Constitution of 1971
o 1972 Amendment
o 1977 Amendment
o 1996 Amendment
Chapter 12, Section 3 (pgs. 355-358)
Explain the Following - Structure & Principles of the NC Constitution
o Declaration of Rights
o Popular Sovereignty
o Separation of Power, Checks & Balances
o Amendment Process
Day 7/8 – Structure of NC Government
Essential Question
How is the state government organized to solve problems?
Chapter 13, Section 1 (pgs. 377-381)
Explain the Following about the NC Legislative Branch
o What is the NC Legislative Branch called?
o What are the (2) Houses? (bicameral)
o What are the Steps in How a Bill Becomes a Law in NC?
o Explain the following for both the NC House & NC Senate.
# of members, Qualifications, Term Length, Leadership
Chapter 13, Section 2 (pgs. 383-387)
Explain the Following about the NC Executive Branch
o Explain the following about the Governor.
Qualifications, Term Length, & Limits
o Explain the following about the Lieutenant Governor.
How Chosen?
Succession?
Term Length & Limits
President of the ______________
o What is the NC council of State, and what officials are on it?
o What is the Governor’s Cabinet, and what officials are on it?
o Explain the following powers and responsibilities of the NC Governor.
Chief Executive
Commander-in-Chief
Legislative Leader
Judicial Leader
Chief of State
Party Leader
Chapter 13, Section 3 (pgs. 389-393)
Explain the Following about the NC Judicial Branch
o What is the primary role of the NC Judicial Branch?
o How many levels of courts are there in NC?
o For each court, explain the following…
NC District Court
NC Superior Court
NC Court of Appeals
NC Supreme Court
Type of Jurisdiction
Types of Cases Heard (Civil & Criminal)
How do judges get their job?
How long are terms for judges?
Explain the Following about the NC Supreme Court
 What are the roles of the NC Supreme Court?
Day 9 – State Government Brochure
Essential Question
How is the state government organized to solve problems?
 Students may work on State Government Brochure.
Day 10&11 – Local Government (County & Municipal Government)
Essential Question
How is the Local Government organized to solve problems?
Chapter 14, Section 1 (pgs.403), Section 2 (pgs. 407-409)
Explain the Following about County Government in NC
o What is a county?
o Why do states form counties?
o How many counties has the General Assembly divided NC into?
o Explain the following about the structure of County Government.
County Legislature
Elected by
Responsibilities
County Executive
Hired by
Responsibilities
State Boards
ABC Board, Board of Elections, Board of Education,
Mental Health, Public Health, Social Services
County Law Enforcement
Register of Deeds
Clerk of Court
Chapter 14, Section 1 (pgs. 404-405)
Explain the Following about Municipal Government in NC
o What is a municipality?
o How are municipalities created?
Incorporated
Charter
o What is annexation?
o How is a municipality governed?
Mayor-Council Plan
Council-Manager Plan
o Who enforces laws in a municipality?
o Local Legislation
Ordinance, Referendum
Day 12 – Unit 2 Review & Test
Essential Question
How do democracies attempt to balance power & authority?
Unit 2 – Function & Structure of Federalism
Multiple Choice – 20 questions – 3 points each – 60 points total (All Classes)
Checks & Balances
Judicial Review
City Council
Local Government Services
Concurrent Powers
NC Executive Branch - Structure
Congress – Structure
Roles of the President
Federalism
Senate - Structure
House v Senate
Supreme Court - Power
Implied Powers (Source)
Supreme Court - Structure
Congress & Supreme Court
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Constructed Responses – Honors & Seminar – Do Both. Standard – Choose (1)
1) How do democracies attempt to balance power and authority? Explain using
(2) of the following principles… (Federalism, Separation of Power, Checks &
Balances).
2) Provide & Explain (1) similarity, and (1) difference between the US & NC
Constitutions. These must be important.
Unit 2 Quizzes
Congress & The President
1) Which house of Congress would be impacted by a census?
2) Provide (1) example of the military powers of Congress. Provide (1)
example of an economic power of Congress.
3) This is a written order requiring the police to bring a suspect before a
judge and inform the suspect of the charges, and the evidence the
police have of the crime.
4) Answer the following about the election of the President…
 How many members in the Electoral College?
 Number needed to win?
 How many does each state have?
 What is the maximum number of years a President may serve?
5) What are the first (3) people in the line of succession for the President?
(Must be in correct order)
Constructed Response
Congress has (3) categories of powers (Money, Military/Foreign Policy, and
Commerce). Explain (1) of these categories, and explain an example of a power
Congress has in this category.
State Government Quiz
1) How many Constitutions has NC had?
2) After the Preamble, what is Article 1 of the NC Constitution? (Hint different
than US Constitution)
3) What is the name of the Legislative Branch of the NC Government? What
are the names of the 2 houses?
4) In the Executive Branch, what (3) positions are elected?
5) How do judges in NC get their job?
Constructed Response
The US Constitution and the NC Constitution have many similarities and
differences. Explain (1) similarity and (1) difference between them.
Local Government Quiz
1) How many counties are there in NC?
2) What is the title of the county executive, and how does this person get his/her
job?
3) What is a municipality?
4) What is annexation?
5) What are the two types of plans for operating a municipal government in
NC?
Constructed Response
Explain the difference between the Mayor-Council Plan & the Council-Manager
Plan?