Skip to Main Content
undefined

Which Level of Government Can Solve This Problem?

Download Lesson Plan

Essential Questions 

  • Why are different powers exercised at the national, state, and local levels of government? How does this distribution of power relate to the means and ends of government?  
  • How can citizens ensure that local interests are represented at the state and national levels? 

Objectives 

  • Students will define the founding principle of federalism to assess the dynamic relationship and ongoing dialogue among national, state, and local governments. 
  • Students will evaluate and debate the level of government best equipped to solve different problems. 

 Facilitation Notes 

  • In this launch activity, students will decide which level of government is the most appropriate to address different problems. Students will be introduced to the definition of federalism, which will help prepare them to assess the dynamic relationship and ongoing dialogue among national, state, and local governments. 

Anticipate 

Strategy Suggestion: Before playing the video, set up a backchannel discussion.  

  • A backchannel is a digital conversation that happens alongside another activity, such as viewing a video. While playing the video, students contribute by asking questions, offering commentary, and sharing related ideas without interrupting the flow of the video. Backchannel allows for a silent discussion that can help students who are reluctant to speak or need more time to process their thoughts and questions before contributing to class discussions. 
  • You may use an online program such as YoTeach! to create your own chat room. Padlet creates a wall where students share their ideas as text, images, videos, and links. 
  • After using the backchannel strategy, group student comments and questions. You can start your discussion with student comments and questions or use the video discussion questions provided. 

Video Discussion Questions 

  • Why did some Founders want to reform the Articles of Confederation? Why did some Founders think the structure of government under the Articles was not working well? 
  • What were the Anti-Federalists worried about regarding the proposed U.S. Constitution?  
  • The Federalists defended the proposed Constitution by writing the Federalist. Why did they think the proposed Constitution would work better than the Articles of Confederation?  
  • Present the definition of federalism:  

The national and state governments have a balance of separate and shared powers. The people delegate certain powers to the national government, while the states retain other powers; and the people retain all powers not delegated to the governing bodies.

  • Have students rewrite the definition in their own words, draw a depiction of the definition, or create a Venn diagram showing the roles and powers of federal and state governments.

 

Engage 

  • Transition to the main activity.  
  • Have students write down a problem they have that the local, state, or federal government could address. Students may think of current events or issues that are as local as a stop sign on the street they live on or as national as sending troops to fight in an overseas conflict.  
  • Collect the student-identified concerns and compile them on the board or use technology such as Padlet. 
  • In small groups, students will discuss which concern is linked to which level of government. Have groups share out how they categorized the issues to ensure understanding of the role of each level of government. 

Assess  

  • Ask each small group to select one issue from the class generated list.  
  • Based on the issue and the level of government that would address it, instruct students to find out which local, state, or federal government official who represents them should address that issue. For example, they will research local government officials if they are concerned with a local issue, such as sidewalks or waste management. Students must justify why the chosen level of government is most appropriate to handle the issue. Have them find the name, position, years of service, mailing or email address, and a picture of an official who can help them with this issue. 

Scaffolding note: Due to differences in state and local governments, it may be helpful to prepare a basic understanding of how your locality operates in preparation for assisting students in their research.  

Extend 

  • As an optional activity, allow students to write a letter to their local, state, or federal official. In their letter, students should outline their issue and how the student thinks the official or representative might help solve the problem. Students should explain why they think this official or representative is the appropriate level of government to consider their request. Guidance should be provided to students after they identify an issue regarding which level of government addresses their chosen issue.