Social Studies Enduring Themes: Governance & Distribution of Power
Curriculum Map
American Government
Unit 3: Federalism
Enduring Themes: Governance, Rule of Law, Distribution of Power
Time Frame Fall Semester: 9 Days
Time Frame Spring Semester: 9 Days
Unit Resources:
Unit 3 Content Map
Unit 3 Assessment Item Bank
Standards:
SSCG5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the federal system of government described in the United
States Constitution.
a. Explain the relationship of state governments to the national government.
b. Define the difference between enumerated and implied powers.
c. Describe the extent to which power is shared.
d. Identify powers denied to state and national governments.
e. Analyze the ongoing debate that focuses on the balance of power between state and national governments.
f. Analyze the supremacy clause found in Article VI and the role of the U.S. Constitution as the “supreme law
of the land.”
SSCG17 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers
of state and local government described in the Georgia Constitution.
a. Examine the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
b. Examine the structure of local governments with emphasis on county, city, and town.
c. Identify current state and local officials.
d. Analyze the relationship among state and local governments.
e. Evaluate direct democracy by the initiative, referendum, and recall processes.
SSCG18 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the powers of Georgia’s state
and local governments.
a. Examine the powers of state and local government.
b. Examine sources of revenue received by each level of government.
c. Analyze the services provided by state and local government.
Unit 3 Concepts
1. Constitutional Division of Powers
2. Balance of Power
3. Supremacy Clause
4. State and Local Government
Social Studies Enduring Themes: Governance & Distribution of Power
Concept 1: Constitutional Division of Powers
Standard:
SSCG5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the federal system of government described in the
United States Constitution.
a. Explain the relationship of state governments to the national government.
b. Define the difference between enumerated and implied powers.
c. Describe the extent to which powers are shared.
d. Identify powers denied to state and national governments.
SSCG18 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the powers of Georgia’s state
and local governments.
a. Examine the powers of state and local government.
Lesson EQ: How does the U.S. Constitution divide power between national and state governments?
Know
Understand
Be Able To Do (DOK 1)
Powers:
Article 1, Section 8, Clauses 1-17
Recognize which powers are
granted to which level of
 Expressed/Delegated/Enumerat describe the enumerated powers
of the U.S. Congress.
government.
ed
-Coin $, Declare War, Maintain
Reserved Powers: Powers not
Explain the differences
Military, Regulate
delegated to the national
between expressed, reserved,
Interstate/foreign Commerce,
Regulate Immigration, Negotiate government and not prohibited to and concurrent powers.
the states are granted to the
Treaties
states by the 10th Amendment.
Describe why reserved powers
 Reserved
exist according to the 10th
-Guarantee civil liberties, levy
Concurrent powers are granted to Amendment.
taxes, provide for public safety,
both national and state
protect public health, est.
governments.
Explain how Article 1, Section
courts, punish lawbreakers,
8 sets up the expressed
borrow $, construct roads
The
elastic
clause
is
located
in
powers.
 Concurrent
Article 1, Section 2, Clause 18 of
-Conduct elections, est. local
the Constitution.The powers that
Identify the location of the
gov’ts, est. schools, regulate
are
extended
to
Congress
by
the
enumerated powers and the
marriage/divorce/adoption,
elastic clause are called “implied
elastic clause in the
regulate intrastate commerce,
powers”.
Constitution. (DOK 1)
provide fire and police
protection, enact license
The implied powers increase the
Compare the level of authority
requirements
authority of Congress and what
afforded to Congress by the
10th Amendment
powers
are
considered
to
be
enumerated vs. the implied
Article 1, Section 8
“necessary” are highly debated.
powers. (DOK 2)
Article 1, Section 2, Clause 18
Federal denied powers are listed
Relate “necessary and proper”
Implied Powers
in Section 9.
to the implied powers. (DOK
Elastic Clause
2)
“Necessary and Proper”
State denied powers are listed in
Section 10.
Explain that implied powers
Article 1, Sections 9 & 10
increase the power of
Social Studies Enduring Themes: Governance & Distribution of Power
Denied Powers to the State
 No taxing Exports
 No Bills of Attainder
 No Ex Post Facto Laws
 No Titles of Nobility
Denied Powers to the Fed.
 No taxing Exports
 No Bills of Attainder
 No Ex Post Facto Laws
No Titles of Nobility
I Do (Teacher Input)
The Federal System Notes
The Federal System Power Point
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=J0gosGXSgsI
Congress and that what is
“necessary” is highly debated.
(DOK 1)
Recall the location of the state
and federal denied powers in
the Constitution.
Identify the denied powers to
the state and federal
government.
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
Federalism Venn Diagram
Elastic Clause Web Quest:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/proj
ects/ftrials/conlaw/nec&proper.ht
ml
You Do (Independent Work)
Federalism Multiple Choice
Practice
Social Studies Enduring Themes: Governance & Distribution of Power
Concept 2: Balance of Power between State and National Governments
Standard:
SSCG5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the federal system of government described in the
United States Constitution.
e. Analyze the ongoing debate that focuses on the balance of power between state and national
governments.
Lesson EQ: Which should have more authority: State or National government?
Know
Understand
Be Able To Do (DOK 3)
th
10 Amendment
There is an ongoing debate on
Develop a logical argument that
Reserved Powers
which level of government
the state or national government
Expressed Powers
should have more power and the should have more authority on
Article I Section 8
authority over certain issues.
one of the listed issues or
another majorly controversial
Examples:
topic.
 Gay Marriage
 Marijuana Use
 Education (Common Core)
I Do (Teacher Input)
Federalism Activator
(Review Reserved Powers and
Expressed Powers)
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
Federalism Current Events
You Do (Independent Work)
Federalism Constructed
Response (Summarizer)
Social Studies Enduring Themes: Governance & Distribution of Power
Concept 3: Supremacy Clause
Standard:
SSCG5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the federal system of government described in the
United States Constitution.
f. Analyze the supremacy clause found in Article VI and the role of the U.S. Constitution as the “supreme
law of the land.”
Lesson EQ: How does the supremacy clause impact the role of the U.S. government?
Know
Understand
Be Able To Do (DOK 4)
Supremacy Clause
The Supremacy Clause in Article VI
Recognize the supremacy clause
Article VI
establishes the Constitution as the
as written in Article IV in the
“supreme law of the land”.
Constitution.
No other government entity (state,
local…) can enact a law that
contradicts federal law.
I Do (Teacher Input)
Article VI Activator
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
Supremacy Clause Web Quest:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/proj
ects/ftrials/conlaw/preemption.ht
m
Cite the supremacy clause as
evidence on a controversial issue
and apply the evidence to why it
must be governed by the U.S.
Constitution.
You Do (Independent Work)
Supremacy Clause Summarizer
(Constructed Response)
Social Studies Enduring Themes: Governance & Distribution of Power
Concept 4: Organization and Powers of State and Local Government
Standard:
SSCG17 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers
of state and local government described in the Georgia Constitution.
a. Examine the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
b. Examine the structure of local governments with emphasis on county, city, and town.
d. Analyze the relationship among state and local governments.
SSCG18 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the powers of Georgia’s state
and local governments.
b. Examine sources of revenue received by each level of government.
d. analyze the services provided by state and local governments
Lesson EQ: How do state and local governments influence our lives?
Know
Understand
Legislature:
Each branch of government
exists at each of the 3 levels of
 U.S. Congress
government.
 State Congress
 City Council
Full faith and credit, as stated in
Executive:
Article IV, forces states to accept
 President
the legal proceedings of other
 Governor
states.
 Mayor
Judicial:
Certain issues are highly
 Federal Court
controversial and difficult to
 State Court
balance state rights and full faith
 Local/Municipal Court
and credit.
Full faith and credit Clause
Reciprocity
Privileges and Immunities Clause
Be Able To Do (DOK 2)
Compare the different versions
of each branch at each of the 3
levels of government.
Analyze the use of full faith and
credit law as it defines the
relationship between states.
(DOK 4)
Compare various issues that
are/are not upheld through
reciprocity among each of the
50 states.
Revenue
Taxes
Privileges and immunities clause
protects fundamental rights of
individual citizens and restrains
state efforts to discriminate
against out-of-state citizens.
Analyze privileges and
immunities that cannot be
discriminatory to out of state
citizens vs. those which can.
(DOK 4)
Local Government Services
State Government Services
All levels of government require
revenue.
Compare and contrast the
different revenue sources at the
3 levels of government.
Federal government major
revenue sources:
Borrowing
Income Tax
Social Security Taxes
State government major
revenue sources:
Government transfer
Compare and contrast the
services provided by both levels
of government.
Social Studies Enduring Themes: Governance & Distribution of Power
Income Tax
Sales Tax
Local government major
revenue sources:
Government transfer
Property Tax
Sales Tax
All levels of government provide
different services.
State government provides:
Education
Public Welfare
Hospitals
I Do (Teacher Input)
Federalism Guided Notes and
Powerpoint (Continued from
Concept 1; hyperlinked above )
Local government provides:
Education
Jail
Police
Fire Department
Resources
We Do (Guided/Differentiated
Instruction)
State Government Scavenger
Hunt
Local Government Trackstar
State Government Review
Powerpoint
You Do (Independent Work)
Letter to State Official