Law Related Education and the State Bar of Texas
A World of
Governments
A World of Governments – Why?
• The concept of comparative world
governments is challenging for sixth
graders.
• Students struggled with understanding of
other sources.
• Teachers struggled with finding sources that
were informative yet appropriate for 6th
grade.
• Finding sources that covered all the
government and citizen strands of our
TEKS, yet with enough culture strands for
our subject matter.
Mind Play
• Get a partner and stand.
• One person faces the screen, the
other faces AWAY from the screen.
• Person facing the screen gives
content clues to solicit the category
from their partner – characteristics,
similarities, differences, examples,
people involved, etc.
• Use no part of the term.
• Sit down when you get all categories!
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Constitution
Type of Government
Suffrage
Independence
Civil Rights
Ethnicity
Country Cards
Afghanistan
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Costa Rica
Cuba
France
Germany
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Libya
Mexico
Nigeria
North Korea
Norway
Pakistan
Russia
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sudan
Sweden
Tanzania
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States of
America
Venezuela
Ancient Greece
European Union
Adding:
Ancient Rome
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
United Nations
What on this?
• Country Name
• Current Flag
• Type of
Government
• Constitution
• Capital
• Date of
Independence
or colonial ruler
• Population
• GDP per capita
• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Literacy Rate
Back of cards
• Civil Rights
and
Freedoms
• Suffrage
• Political
Parties
• Current
Issues
Introduction Lesson – Scavenger
Hunt
• To introduce students to the
Country Cards.
• To show where certain information
can always be found on the cards.
• To introduce the government and
citizenship TEKS to students.
• 6.11ABCD, 6.12ABC, 6.13ABC,
6.14AB, Social Studies Skills
What’s the Difference?
Unlimited Government
Either no written or unwritten constitution
exists prescribing what government can
and cannot do, especially with regards
to the rights of citizens, or the
constitution (written or unwritten) is
ignored and government does as it
wishes
Limited Government
A written or unwritten constitution
followed and subscribed to by most of
a nation’s citizens prescribes what
government may or may not do,
especially with regards to the rights of
citizens
Jerry Perry
EVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT
SPECTRUM OF GOVERNMENT
Objectives
Be able to answer the three key questions!
1. What are the attributes of different types of
government?
2. How has government changed over time?
3. Who are the individuals involved in the
evolution of government?
Presidential vs. Parliamentary
Presidential Examples:
Parliamentary Examples:
U.S.
Mexico
South American countries
U.K.
Canada
Australia
President
Legislature
Voters
Legislature
Prime Minister
Voters
Presidential System
In a presidential system of government
citizen voters directly or indirectly elect the
chief executive or Head of Government.
They also separately and independently
choose members of the legislature. The
chief executive and members of the
executive cabinet cannot at the same time
be members of the legislature. The
executive serves for a definite, set term of
office and may or may not also serve as
the nation’s ceremonial Head of State.
Parliamentary System
In a parliamentary system of government citizen voters
directly elect members of the legislature. The members of
this popularly elected legislature then choose one of their
members (usually a member of the majority party) to serve
as the chief executive or Head of Government. The Head
of Government does not serve for a definite, set term but
instead only for as long he/she enjoys the support of a
majority of the members of the legislative body. Members
of the executive cabinet are also at the same time
members of the nation’s legislature. In most nations with a
parliamentary system a different individual (such as an
hereditary monarch) serves as the ceremonial Head of
State.
Lessons - Vocabulary
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Frayer
Bingo
Crossword
Cards
Frayer Vocabulary Cards
• Objective: The student will
understand the vocabulary necessary
to the use of the Country Cards.
• TEKS: 6.11AB, 6.12A, 6.22A
Extensions
Word Sorts
• How are these words
connected?
• Find similar/different
words.
Word Walls
• Personal student
word wall in ISN
• Classroom word
walls.
Sorting students
• All students who are
holding forms of
government line up
next to the white
board.
Bingo
• Students will review each of the
vocabulary words that are used on
the Country Cards.
• This lesson covers Social Studies
Skills 6.22
Set up your Bingo Card (24 Terms)
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Bicameral
Capital City
Chief of State
Civil Rights/
Freedoms
Electoral
College
Constitutional
Democracy
Dictatorship
Direct
Democracy
GDP
Ethnicity
Executive
Federal
• Federation
• Legislative
• Head of
Government
• Independence
• Islamic
Republic
• Judicial
• Nation/State
• Limited
Government
• Literacy
• Monarchy
• Communist
• Parliament
• Republican
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Government
Political
Parties
Universal
Transitional
Suffrage
Province
Per Capita
Unitary
Totalitarian
Socialist
Popular Vote
Unlimited
Government
Unicameral
Theocracy.
Country Card Bingo
Vocabulary
•A ruling position
that is passed
down within a
certain family
(hereditary).
•Usually a king or
queen.
•Rule by one
•A person in charge of a
country’s government
and holds real power.
•Examples: President,
Prime Minister,
Chancellor
•Having two parts of
a legislature.
•“Bi” means two.
•A national legislative
body.
•Same as US
Congress
• Branch of government that
includes the Head of State
and Head of Government.
• Examples: Presidents,
Prime Ministers,
Chancellors
•Electors chosen by
the voters of each
state that elect the
president and vicepresident of the
United States of
America.
•A form of
government where
citizens themselves
serve as their
government, voting
and acting on every
issue.
Example: Ancient
Athens
•A
government
where the
people rule,
either by
themselves
directly or
through elected
representatives.
•A type of
government where
the leaders have
limited power and
must follow the
same laws all
citizens follow.
•Government owns
everything, including
the businesses,
farms, and property,
the government also
provides health care,
education, and
general welfare for its
citizens.
•The formal head of
a nation, as
distinguished from a
Head of
Government. In
most nations, this is
a ceremonial role
with little power.
• A political organization
that seeks to influence
government policy by
nominating candidates
and trying to elect them
to positions in
government.
•An economic
system of
community
ownership. In this
system the goal is
for the overall
good of the
people.
• A nation that is
passing from
one form of
government to
another.
• Including
every citizen
in a country.
•A government
that is
controlled by a
particular
religious group.
•An administrative
division of a nation.
•Equivalent of a
state in the United
States
•A branch of
government that
makes laws and is
also tasked with
other duties such
as approving
executive
appointees.
•A form of
government that is
ruled by and
controlled by
followers of the
Islamic faith.
•Rights that protect
individual
freedoms, such as
speech, religion,
assembly, petition,
and property.
•Having a
Constitution
•Form of government
written down
•A country that is
ruled by a single
leader, who is not
elected, and uses
force to keep
control.
•A group of
people that
share common
heritage and
common
culture.
•A group of states
with a republican
form of
government.
•There is usually a
division of powers
between the states
and the federal
government.
•Gross Domestic
Product is the market
value of all officially
recognized final goods
and services within a
country in a given
period of time.
•Freedom from a
colonial ruling
power, or date
that a region
becomes an
independent
country.
•A type of
government where
the leaders have no
limits to their power.
•A politically
organized body of
people under a
single government.
•A government where
most or all power is
in the hands of a
central (national)
government.
•The ability to read
and write.
•The process by
which qualified
voters choose their
candidates or vote
on issues.
•A government
where the power
rests with the
people.
•The people elect
representatives
to represent
them in
government.
•The right to vote
•A branch of
government that
interprets the
meaning of law and
settles disputes.
•Having one
legislative body.
•“Uni” means one.
The city where a
state or nation
houses its
government.
•A county with one
political party.
•Citizens are forced to
do what the
government tells them
to do, and are usually
prevented from
leaving the
country.
•Value of goods
and services a
person produces
in a given time.
•Usually shown
in an average
dollar amount.
There is a division
of powers
between
governments
such as states or
provinces and the
national
government.
Crossword
6.22A Social Studies
Skills
Students will review the
vocabulary for country
cards.
Country Card Vocabulary
1
3
D
E
M
O
C
11
P A R
A
C
Y
19
J U D I
2
V O T
H
E
O
C
R
L I A
C
Y
14
E
X
E
C
17
U N
T
C I A
V
E
E
4
S
6
U
F E
7
I
F
N
F
9
10
D
D I R E C T
T
12
M E N T
A
C O M
P
G
T
13
E
L E G I S L A T
N
L
15
D I C T A T O R S H I P
E
T
N
A
I C A M E R A L
R
18
E
B I C
L
A
20
M O N A
5
P
D E R A L
8
O
P
V
A
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R
M U N I S T
C
I
I V E
E
S
16
I
S
L
A
A M E R A L
I
R C H Y
Vocabulary Cards
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To be used as flash cards.
Can be sorted.
Can be used for memory games.
Printed on one side can be used for
matching game or mix/match/freeze
Flash Cards
front
Scholar Presentation
Jerry Perry
SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT
LRE Website
Front Page
• Learning Objectives: The student will
create a written newspaper page
based on research of a country’s
government.
• TEKS: 6.11ABC, 6.12A, 6.13B,
6.21A, 6.22BDE, 6.23B
You may need
to show the
students what
an actual
newspaper
looks like.
Sites that have copies of
newspapers:
From LRE
Blueprint
Report Card
• Learning Objectives: The student will
understand the concepts of limited
and unlimited government; rule by
one, few or many; and will review the
human rights records of assigned
countries.
• TEKS 6.11ACD, 6.12AB, 6.13ABC
United Nations Dinner Party
• Learning Objectives: The student will
identify various characteristics of
assigned nations and compare and
contrast types of government, roles
and responsibilities of citizens, and
influences of the government.
• TEKS 6.11BC, 6.12AB, 6.13ABC
3-2-1
• Learning Objectives: Students will understand
and compare ways in which people organize
and participate in various contemporary
societies.
• Teaching Strategy:
– Pass out Country Cards.
– Allow students to read and research card.
– Allow students time to discuss and complete the
following:
• 3 important facts about the government of the country.
• 2 questions you would ask a citizen of the country
about their civic participation.
• 1 difference in participation between the citizens in this
country and citizens in the United States.
• Students can then share and evaluate in a
variety of methods such as with a partner, small
group, gallery walk, jigsaw, or poetry slam.
Country Cards
Acrostic Poem
• Learning Objectives: The student will
be able to identify and describe
examples of limited and unlimited
governments and roles of citizens in
assigned countries.
• TEKS 6.11AB, 6.12A, 6.13ABC
• Student will use the information on
the card to complete an Acrostic
Poem about the country.
Example: Acrostic Poem
Sunni Muslim
Unification did not happen
Displacement of people
Arab culture vs African culture
Non-Muslims seceded
Scholar Presentation
Jerry Perry
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
Types of Government
Democracy—
The people govern
themselves by meeting
together and making laws
for their society. (Pure)
Dictatorship—
One person rules the
nation with no limits on his
power and does whatever
he wishes.
Types of Government
Monarchy—
One person rules for life
usually as a result of
inheriting the position as a
member of a certain
family. Power may or may
not limited.
Republic—
Through elections the
people choose those
who govern them.
(INDIRECT
DEMOCRACY)
Types of Government
Theocracy—
Those who rule do so
because they are members
of a particular religious
faith.
Totalitarian—
One or a few
individuals possess
total control over the
government as well
as the economy. No
opposition is
permitted.
Who Am I?
Africa South of the Sahara
• Learning objectives: Students will be
able to compare the characteristics
and review the records of human
rights abuses of limited and unlimited
governments.
• Materials needed: “Who am I?”
cards, Country name cards, critical
thinking questions, and Country
Cards African South of the Sahara.
Strategy
Teacher puts students into 6 groups.
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• Hands out set of Country Cards (Africa South of the
Sahara).
• Give students time to review cards. Students will need
to write a summary sentence describing each of the 6
countries.
• Post the sentence summaries around the room under
the placard for that country.
• Allow students to gallery walk.
• Teacher should debrief each group about summaries,
noting similarities and differences between countries,
especially about civil/human rights.
• Pass out Who am I? cards and have students to
match descriptor with the Country Name cards.
• Have students finish Critical Thinking portion.
Class Discussion questions
Who Am I?
• Which countries have limited
governments?
• Which countries have unlimited
governments?
• Which country is the most like the
United States? Explain your answer.
• If you had to move to one of these
countries, which one would you
rather live in? Explain your answer.
Pie of Power!
Put the countries that you are
studying in the proper column.
Power Play: Unlimited and Limited
Governments
• Students will be able to
– identify and describe limited and unlimited
governments,
– compare characteristics of limited and
unlimited governments and
– identify reasons for limited the power of
government.
• What students will need:
– PowerPoint
– set of characteristic cards and
– something to write with.
POWER PLAY
A Look at Limited and Unlimited
Governments
Agree or Disagree?
• The president of the United States has
complete control of the U.S. government.
• The governor of Texas must drive the speed
limit when driving in Texas.
• President Obama does not have the to follow
the same laws as you and me.
• In a dictatorship, the leader does not have to
follow the same laws as its citizens.
• The United States has a limited government.
6-3-2013
97
Lesson Objective
• Today you will learn about two types of
governments; limited and unlimited
6-3-2013
98
Draw a T-Chart
Limited
6-3-2013
Unlimited
99
Limited Government
A type of government where the leaders have
limited power and must follow the same laws
all citizens follow .
6-3-2013
100
Unlimited Government
• A type of government where the leaders have
no limits to their power.
6-3-2013
101
Characteristics of Limited Government
• Power of government has a constitution or other written
law - LIMITED power
• Leader follows same laws as all citizens.
• Courts treat everyone as equal
• Peaceful change of leaders
• Free and open media
• Regular elections and majority rules
• Individuals have basic rights such as freedom of speech,
press, assembly, and religion.
• Usually a well educated population
6-3-2013
102
Characteristics of Unlimited
Government
• Control is completely with the ruler(s). They have
UNLIMITED powers
• Government leaders do not have to follow the same rules
as regular citizens
• Courts do not treat everyone as equal
• People who disagree with the government are arrested
• Military is very powerful
• Poor education for some or most of the population
• Citizens do not have basic political rights, such as freedom
of religion, or freedom to travel
6-3-2013
103
Card Sort Answers
Limited Governments
• Citizens or their elected
representatives can remove elected
officials from office.
• The media, newspaper, magazines
and television can freely report
news from around the world.
• A national constitution limits the
power of government.
• Individuals have basic rights such as
freedom of speech, press, assembly,
and religion.
• Democratic-republic government
• Well-educated population
6-3-2013
Unlimited Governments
• People who disagree with the
government are arrested.
• The military shuts down
newspapers and decides who can
run in an election.
• Totalitarian government
• Low literacy rate
• Citizens must have permission
from the government to leave
the country
• Citizens have few individual rights
104
Critical Thinking Questions
• What are reasons citizens would want to limit
the power of their government?
• If you were a citizen of an unlimited
government, describe your freedoms?
• If you were a citizen of a limited government,
describe your freedoms?
6-3-2013
105
Agree or Disagree?
• The president of the United States has complete
control of the U.S. government.
• The governor of Texas must drive the speed limit
when driving in Texas.
• President Obama does not have the to follow the
same laws as you and me.
• In a dictatorship, the leader does not have to follow
the same laws as its citizens.
• The United States has a limited government.
6-3-2013
106
Role Play - Assessment
• In groups of 3-5, create a role play of a limited
or unlimited government.
• Have your classmates determine which type of
government your perform?
6-3-2013
107
Build a Citizen
• Students will be able to
– understand government structure and
the nature of citizenship in various
countries and societies.
• Materials needed:
– Country Cards for unity of study,
– copy paper and
– markers.
Build a Citizen
Teaching Strategy
• Teacher hands out Country Cards of
study to each student or student
group.
• Students will read and study the
government structure and role of
citizens within that government.
• Students will create and draw a
“citizen” that represents that
government:
Example: Build a Citizen
• Head(s) – Executive Branch
Organization
• Body – Constitution and
Rights/Responsibilities
• Arms(s)- Legislative Branch
Organization
• Leg(s) – Judicial Branch Organization
• Belt or Bow Tie- Suffrage
• Kim Boen
– Round Rock ISD
– kim_boen@roundrockisd.org
• Liz De La Garza
– Round Rock ISD
– liz_delagarza@roundrockisd.org