U. S. Government: Democracy In Action

Chapter 4: The Federal System

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
Students have studied the division of powers between the state and national governments, the evolution of American federalism, and how federalism impacts politics. In this lesson they will take a closer look at the formation of the United States system of government and how it has been able to adapt to the changing needs of society.

Lesson Description
Students will visit the Limits and Liberty Web site hosted by PBS to explore ideas related to the rise and evolution of federalism in the United States. They will then answer four questions pertaining to the material they have read and write a biographical sketch.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will be able to summarize the primary goals of the Framers of the Constitution.
2. Students will be able to recognize how government has been able to adapt to the changing needs of the country.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. Madison said that the great difficulty was that "you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself."
2. To satisfy the need of having a government that could control the governed, the Framers granted the government far more extensive powers than it had enjoyed under the Articles of Confederation. To ensure that the government controlled itself, the Framers divided the national government into three branches. This separation of powers and system of checks and balances kept the power of each branch under control.
3. The Framers would be surprised by the broad scope of the government's activities, its role in social policies, and its many regulatory policies.
4. Wars, economic upheavals, technological change, and various social issues are some of the factors that have contributed to the expanded role of the federal government.
5. Students' sketches will vary.