POWER PLAY
A Look at Limited and Unlimited Governments
Learning Objectives: Students will
1. Identify and describe limited and unlimited governments
2. Compare characteristics of limited and unlimited governments
3. Identify reasons for limiting the power of government
TEKS: Social Studies 6.11 A, B, C, D
Materials: Power point capabilities set of characteristic cards, pencil or pen
Vocabulary: limited government, unlimited government
Teaching Instructions:
1. Teacher projects power point and begin with agree or disagree slide.
2. Allow students to agree or disagree with each statement (Do not give correct
answers. Teacher will come back to these statements at end of lesson.)
• The president of the United States has complete control of the U.S.
government.
• In a dictatorship, the leader does not have to follow the same laws
as other citizens.
• The governor of Texas must drive the speed limit.
• President Obama does not have to follow the same laws the
citizens.
• The United States has a limited government.
3. Project power-point objective page and tell students they are going to learn
about the two types of government, limited and unlimited government.
4. Slide 4 - Have students draw a T-chart on their paper and write limited on one
side and unlimited on the other.
5. Slide 5 – Project the definition of limited government. Read and discuss.
Allow students to write the definition in their own words on the left side of the
T and then turn to partner and read definition.
6. Slide 6 - Project the definition of unlimited government. Read and discuss.
Allow students to write the definition in their own words on the left side of the
T and then turn to partner and read definition.
7. Once students have an understanding of meanings, project slide 7. Read and
clarify the meaning of listed characteristics for limited government allowing
students to add to T-chart. Allow students to share and add any other
characteristics not listed.
8. Slide 8– Read and clarify the meaning of listed characteristics for unlimited
government allowing students to add to T-chart. Allow students to share and
add any other characteristics not listed.
9. Pass out a set of characteristic cards– students will determine which
statement refers to a limited and unlimited government.
10. Slide 9 – Have students check their card sort - slide 9.
11. Slide 10 – Allow students to answer critical thinking questions on the back or
bottom of T-chart. Share answers with partner/class. Teachers may also
answer as class discussion.
12. Slide 11- Review agree/disagree statements posed at beginning of lesson.
Allow students to answer agree or disagree now that they have completed
lesson. Give correct answer.
13. Slide 12- Assessment: In groups of 3-5, have students create a role-play of a
limited or unlimited government. Students perform and class determines
which type of government is portrayed.
Extensions: Research (6.11D)
Have students choose a Country Card of interest and research the current government.
Students are to create 3-5 questions relating to the government and the rights of its
citizens. Once research is complete, pose the question:
Did you find any abuses of human rights? If so, what were the abuses?
Should the power of government be limited or unlimited? Explain your answer.
Examples of Limited Governments to research: United States, Canada, Mexico, Great
Britain, Japan, Germany
Examples of Unlimited Governments to research: Sudan, Cuba, North Korea, Burma,
Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan
A national
constitution limits
the power of
government.
Democraticrepublic
government
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Citizens or their
elected
representatives
can remove elected
officials from
office.
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LIMITED GOVERNMENT CARDS
The media,
newspaper,
magazines and
television can
freely report news
from around the
world.
Individuals have
basic rights such
as freedom of
speech, press,
assembly, and
religion.
Well-educated
citizens
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Totalitarian
Government
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Citizens have few
individual rights.
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People who
disagree with the
government are
arrested.
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UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT CARDS
The military shuts
down newspapers
and decides who
can run in an
election.
Low literacy rate
Citizens must
have permission
from the
government to
leave the country.