Unit
Unit 2: Federalism
Guiding question
How does the division of power and shared responsibilities between federal and state governments affect the authority and purpose of government at each level?
Guiding Question:
- How does the division of power and shared responsibilities between federal and state governments affect the authority and purpose of government at each level?
Objectives:
- Students will examine the dynamic relationship and ongoing dialogue among national, state, and local governments.
- Students will explain the challenges of maintaining a republic across a geographically large and diverse nation and how federalism seeks to solve the challenges of a large republic.
- Students will explore how the structure of the Constitution allows federalism to function.
- Students will apply constitutional principles to historical and contemporary examples of federalism and explore examples of cooperation and tension among the different levels of government.
Teacher resource
Unit 2: Federalism Inquiry Organizer
How does the division of power and shared responsibilities between federal and state governments affect the authority and purpose of government at each level?
Lessons
Why are different powers exercised at the national, state, and local levels of government?
How does federalism enable local self-government to balance the needs of the common good, address viewpoint diversity, and promote civic virtues within a community?
Is American federalism an outdated principle that is ineffective in solving twenty-first century problems?
What are past and contemporary (modern) examples of federalism? How does federalism create tension across the levels of government?
How does this case study illuminate key concepts and processes in government and politics?
Unit resources
An interactive representation that highlights separate and shared responsibilities of local, state, and national government.
An interactive, device-based game that gives students an opportunity to internalize the nuances of the federalism system.
A prognostication opinion game that surfaces the dynamic between The Federalists, who drafted the Constitution as the highest law of the land, and the Anti-Federalists who wanted to ensure that the people had an individual Bill of Rights.
An annotated version of Federalist 39 with key terms defined and comprehension questions.
Annotated versions of these sources with key terms defined and comprehension questions.
An activity to help student explore how the U.S. Constitution grants or limits power.
Is American federalism an outdated principle that is ineffective in solving twenty-first century problems?
Is American federalism an outdated principle that is ineffective in solving twenty-first century problems?
How does the division of power and shared responsibilities between federal and state governments affect the authority and purpose of government at each level?
Multiple Choice Questions that can be given at the end of the unit to assess students learning.
Standards
Related content
How does federalism shape the way our government works and impacts our daily lives? From differences in road signs to how schools are run, the structure of the U.S. Constitution ensures that power is shared between national, state, and local governments. But why does this system matter, and how does it address the challenges of governing a geographically large and diverse nation? In this video, explore the principle of federalism, its role in balancing powers, and real-world examples of cooperation and tension among different levels of government. Whether it’s defending the country, managing public health, or ensuring local communities thrive, federalism allows us to tackle big issues together while staying responsive to local needs. This video ties into the Bill of Rights Institute's Government and Politics: Civics for the American Experiment curriculum, specifically Unit 2, which dives into the dynamic dialogue between government levels and the constitutional principles that make it all work.