Practicing Citizenship

Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to

1. Identify the key principles of the U.S. government

2. Categorize the powers of the three branches of government
3. Analyze the importance of checks and balances among the
branches of government.
 What do you know?

Activity 1 Pair Work

list the jobs/departments of our school that make the

school run effeciently.
What is the most common type of
government in the world?
 Guiding Question:
What are the key principles of the
government?

1. Representative government
2. Three branches of government
3. Checks and balances
 Representative government
The United States has a representative
government. This means that citizens elect, or
choose, people who will serve in government.
These people must act in the interests of the
citizens who voted for them.
The United States has a federal system. The federal, or
central, government is the highest authority. It shares
some power with the state governments.
The Branches of
Government
 Separation of powers

1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial
Group work- Activity 2
Read the handout and tick the statements given
to you according to your assigned branch.
1. List the duties/power
2. List the people
3. Where do they run their office?
4. Draw a symbol at the top to represent the branch.

After completing this activity, students will move to the

other groups and read information about other branches
and if needed, take notes.
 Activity 3
Fill in the branches of the
government in the worksheets.
Term Civics Government
Q1 Rights and responsibilities Purpose of the government

Q2 Government decisions The constitution

Q3 Levels and branches Actions of citizens

Q4 Our government How government is organized


impeach
To charge a public official with
a crime done while in office.
Definitions
override veto
Use one’s authority Veto is the right of one
to reject or cancel
branch of government to
reject or prohibit a decision
of another branch.
 Let’s think
1. Why is it 2. How do the 3. What would
important for different branches happen if there were
a of government work no checks and
government together to make balances in a
to have a sure that laws are government? How
system of fair and just? might that impact
checks and the rights and
balances? freedoms of the
citizens?

Do you think it's important for the media to play a role in holding the
government accountable? How does this relate to checks and balances?
1.Whatresponsibility do citizens have in a
representative government?

2. Why is voting an important responsibility for

citizens in a democracy?
 Wrap up

1. write the name of a branch of the government.

2. Include the people who make up that branch
underneath the name of the branch.
3. write two jobs of that branch on the back of the
card.
What Is Citizenship?
Guiding Question:
What are the civic rights, duties, and
responsibilities of U.S. citizens?
What is the difference between responsibility
and duty?
A responsibility is something a citizen should do but
cannot be punished for not doing. A duty is an
obligation that is legally required; the government can
penalize someone for not fulfilling a legal duty.
Good Citizenship Slide Show

Write three examples of good

citizenship.
Group work:

Make a graphic organizer and list the

Rights, Duties and Responsibilities
of citizens
Page 23, Reading Essentials
 Group work
1. What is a jury?
2. Why do citizens need to obey the law?
3. How does paying taxes improve the quality of life and ensure the freedom
of Americans?
4. Why is it important for citizens to stay informed?
1. A jury is a group of people who listen to both sides in a court case.
2.Our government is based on rule of law. Everyone must follow the laws to
keep order and to ensure that the rights of everyone are protected.
3. Taxes pay for government services, such as roads and schools; they pay for our
military, which protects our freedom.
4. Only by being informed can citizens vote wisely and support actions to improve
the common good or oppose actions that will harm it.
Being a Global Citizen

Guiding Question:

What does it mean to be a global citizen?

 Pair work
Discuss the
problems the
world face
today and list
them in your
notebook.
What are some of the ways in which you could
become a better global citizen?
Complete the Matching:

Well Done Class!