Institutions of Government Review
About 40% of the AP GoPo exam will cover the institutions of government. With just
a few weeks left before the exam, get the biggest bang for your buck by focusing your
review on the institutions of government. If students have a good understanding of the
details of the powers of the branches they will have a firm foundation for success on the
exam.
While you want your review to be factual and detailed you need to keep the kids
engaged (spring has sprung, after all), so try some of the following review games to get
your kids ready to GoPo.
1-Play the Don’t lose your Check and Balance game
2-Play Last One Standing for each of the branches
3-Play Institutions of Government Jeopardy
4-Play Institutions of Government Password
5-Play Institutions Matching
You’ll find all the directions and materials on the following pages!
© 2016 Jonathan Milner
www.jonathanmilner.org
Don’t lose your Checks & Balance
Directions
To start, have your students fill in the checks and balances chart. Give them five minutes
to complete the chart alone. Allow them five minutes in teams of 3 or 4 to complete a
team checks and balances chart. Then, if they need it, allow the teams to use their notes,
textbooks, or the world wide web to complete their chart. Copy the chart on the board.
Then battle it out. Have student come to the board, one per group, one at a time, and fill
in any Constitutional power until all the powers are listed. All the Powers are listed
below. Continue until all the powers are filled in on the board. Individuals should make
an argument for which branch is the most powerful, which they should try out on their
teammates and then on the class as a whole. Individuals discuss, debate, and fight out
which is the most powerful branch. Then you should tell the students the answer:
Executive!
© 2016 Jonathan Milner
www.jonathanmilner.org
Don’t lose your Checks & Balance Game
Fill in this chart with only powers listed in the Constitution & be prepared to
explain/discuss the ranking with the entire class.
Institution
Powers of this branch
Checks against this
branch
Rank:
1-3
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
© 2016 Jonathan Milner
www.jonathanmilner.org
Last One Standing Directions
Institutions of Government Review: Last One Standing
Divide the class into teams of 4. Give each team a #.
Have teams draw straws or roll a die or pick the high playing card to determine order of
play.
Part 1: Congress
Without using notes, teams list on paper as many enumerated or delegated powers of
Congress (Article I, Section 8) as possible. I’ve attached a list of all 18 enumerated
powers.
Shhhhh! Do this quietly so the other teams don’t steal your knowledge.
In order, ask teams to name one enumerated power of Congress.
If a group lists a power that is enumerated in the Constitution, write it on the board.
The team is still in the game.
If a team lists a power that is NOT in the Constitution, the team is out & exiled to
Canada.
Call on all the groups, in order, until there is only one group that is still naming accurate
express powers. They are the winner.
You may wish to give extra credit points or FOOD to the winners.
Part II: Presidency
Without using notes, teams list on paper as many express powers of the President
(Article II, Section 2 & Section 3) as possible. I’ve attached a list of all expressed
powers.
Repeat play as described above.
Part III: Judiciary
I wouldn’t bother playing this round of the game. It would be rather short.
© 2016 Jonathan Milner
www.jonathanmilner.org
List of all 18 Enumerated Powers
http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2014/02/article-1-the-legislative-branch-theenumerated-powers-sections-8/
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and
provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and
Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies
throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and
Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and
Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of
Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and
Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than
two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel
Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as
may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment
of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by
Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles
square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the
Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent
of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals,
dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers,
and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any
Department or Officer thereof.
List of all Expressed Powers
Section. 2.
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia
of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion,
in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the
Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences
against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two
thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of
the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court,
and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and
which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior
Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by
granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Section. 3.
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to
their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary
Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with
Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall
receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,
and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
List of all Judicial Powers
Section 2
The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this
Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made,
under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and
Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which
the United States shall be a Party;-- to Controversies between two or more States;-between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States;-between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and
between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in
which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the
other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both
as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress
shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment; shall be by Jury; and such Trial
shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not
committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress
may by Law have directed.
Institutions of Government Jeopardy
Congress
100
How many senators are from each state?
200
How many members of the House of Representatives are there?
300
What group reconciles bills from the House and the Senate?
400
List three ways a bill can die in congress?
500
What is the selection of committee chair usually based upon?
President
100
How long can the president serve?
200
How is an executive order different from a law?
300
What constitutional amendment enacted presidential term limits?
400
Name three positions the president can appoint:
500
How can the coattail effect help congressional candidates?
Judiciary
100
How many justices does it take to bring a case to the Supreme Court?
200
What case established judicial review?
300
Who does the Constitution empower to set up the US federal Courts?
400
What is an amicus curiae brief?
500
What are three core beliefs of judicial conservatives?
Bureaucracy
100
List one current US independent agency:
200
What are two examples of government corporations?
300
What is the most recently established department of the US bureaucracy?
400
What are three forms of congressional oversight of the bureaucracy?
500
What is the difference between iron triangles and issue networks?
Officials
100
Who is the vice president?
200
Who is the secretary of state?
300
What are the four departments in the inner cabinet?
400
Who is the Supreme Court Chief Justice?
500
What is the most recently established department of the US bureaucracy?
Double Jeopardy Questions in BOLD
Final jeopardy – Who are the top four individuals in order of presidential
succession?
© 2016 Jonathan Milner
www.jonathanmilner.org
Institutions of Government Password
Directions
This game is similar to TV’s The Pyramid. It will only work if you have Internet access
and a projector in your class. The rules of the game are included on the link below.
http://www.slideshare.net/milnerj/password-institutions-of-government
Divide into teams and play for extra credit.
Institutions of Government Matching
Directions
Divide your board into fourths. At the top of one section of the board write Legislative,
Executive, Judicial, Imaginary.
Give each student a card with one power of the government. See attached.
Have the students go to the board, one at a time, and place their power on the side of the
board with the correct corresponding branch of government. You could time your classes
to see which can do it fastest – with a point deduction for mistakes, and extra credit for
speed. Be sure to severely humiliate or punish any student who makes any mistake! As a
bonus round have students translate their power into emoticons/emojis. Award points for
creativity and accuracy.
© 2016 Jonathan Milner
www.jonathanmilner.org
Section. 1.
To lay and collect Taxes,
Duties, Imposts and Excises,
to pay the Debts and provide
for the common Defence and
general Welfare of the United
States; but all Duties, Imposts
and Excises shall be uniform
throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the
credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with
foreign Nations, and among
the several States, and with
the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule
of Naturalization, and
uniform Laws on the subject
of Bankruptcies throughout
the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the
Value thereof, and of foreign
Coin, and fix the Standard of
Weights and Measures;
To provide for the
Punishment of counterfeiting
the Securities and current
Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and
post Roads;
To promote the Progress of
Science and useful Arts, by
securing for limited Times to
Authors and Inventors the
exclusive Right to their
respective Writings and
Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals
inferior to the supreme
Court;
To define and punish Piracies
and Felonies committed on
the high Seas, and Offences
against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters
of Marque and Reprisal, and
make Rules concerning
Captures on Land and
Water;
To raise and support Armies,
but no Appropriation of
Money to that Use shall be
for a longer Term than two
Years;
To provide and maintain a
Navy;
To make Rules for the
Government and Regulation
of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth
the Militia to execute the
Laws of the Union, suppress
Insurrections and repel
Invasions;
To provide for organizing,
arming, and disciplining, the
Militia, and for governing
such Part of them as may be
employed in the Service of
the United States, reserving
to the States respectively, the
Appointment of the Officers,
and the Authority of training
the Militia according to the
discipline prescribed by
________;
To exercise exclusive
Legislation in all Cases
whatsoever, over such District
(not exceeding ten Miles
square) as may, by Cession of
particular States, and the
Acceptance of Congress,
become the Seat of the
Government of the United
States, and to exercise like
Authority over all Places
purchased by the Consent of
the Legislature of the State in
which the Same shall be,
for the Erection of Forts,
Magazines, Arsenals, dockYards, and other needful
Buildings;
To make all Laws which
shall be necessary and proper
for carrying into Execution
the foregoing Powers, and all
other Powers vested by this
Constitution in the
Government of the United
States, or in any Department
or Officer thereof.
Section. 2.
shall be Commander in Chief
of the Army and Navy of the
United States, and of the
Militia of the several States,
when called into the actual
Service of the United States;
may require the Opinion, in
writing, of the principal
Officer in each of the
executive Departments, upon
any Subject relating to the
Duties of their respective
Offices, and he shall have
Power to grant Reprieves and
Pardons for Offences against
the United States, except in
Cases of Impeachment.
shall have Power, by and
with the Advice and Consent
of the Senate, to make
Treaties, provided two thirds
of the Senators present
concur;
shall nominate, and by and with
the Advice and Consent of the
Senate, shall appoint
Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls, Judges
of the supreme Court, and all
other Officers of the United
States, whose Appointments are
not herein otherwise provided
for, and which shall be
established by Law: but the
Congress may by Law vest the
Appointment of such inferior
Officers, as they think proper, in
the President alone, in the
Courts of Law, or in the Heads
of Departments.
shall have Power to fill up all
Vacancies that may happen
during the Recess of the
Senate, by granting
Commissions which shall
expire at the End of their next
Session.
shall from time to time give
to the Congress Information
of the State of the Union, and
recommend to their
Consideration such Measures
as he shall judge necessary
and expedient; he may, on
extraordinary Occasions,
convene both Houses, or
either of them, and in Case of
Disagreement between them,
with Respect to the Time of
Adjournment, he may
adjourn them to such Time as
he shall think proper;
shall receive Ambassadors
and other public Ministers; he
shall take Care that the Laws
be faithfully executed, and
shall Commission all the
Officers of the United States.
Article. 3.
The ________ Power shall extend to
all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising
under this Constitution, the Laws of
the United States, and Treaties made,
or which shall be made, under their
Authority;--to all Cases affecting
Ambassadors, other public Ministers
and Consuls;--to all Cases of
admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;-to Controversies to which the United
States shall be a Party;-- to
Controversies between two or more
States;--between a State and Citizens
of another State;--between Citizens of
different States;--between Citizens of
the same State claiming Lands under
Grants of different States, and
between a State, or the Citizens
thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or
Subjects.
In all Cases affecting
Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls, and
those in which a State shall
be Party, the _________ shall
have original Jurisdiction. In
all the other Cases before
mentioned, the ___________
shall have appellate
Jurisdiction, both as to Law
and Fact, with such
Exceptions, and under such
Regulations as the Congress
shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes,
except in Cases of
Impeachment; shall be by
Jury; and such Trial shall be
held in the State where the
said Crimes shall have been
committed; but when not
committed within any State,
the Trial shall be at such
Place or Places as the
Congress may by Law have
directed.
Article. X.
To party like it’s 1999.
To shake it like a Polaroid
picture.
To show stupid Canada who
their daddy is!
To stand by your man.
To not get caught.
To play dress up with the
cabinet and not feel bad
about it.
To create and market the best
darned vacuum cleaner the
world has known.
shall be Commander in Chief
of an army of dwarfs and
elves who shall crush the
trolls and dragons of the
smoggy valley of Endor
when called into the actual
Service of the United States;
Shall stop toying with the
feelings of Congress, who
knows that he’s just playing
with their emotions and that
he’s going to leave them
again when they are feeling
vulnerable, and shack up with
the stupid judiciary.