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American Origins and Branches Standards Based Unit of Study

The unit contains 9 lessons and is organized around the question, "How do American origins and branches of government influence our democracy today”? Students explore why the U.S. Constitution is considered to be a social contract codified by laws between the people of the United States and the government and why the framers of the U.S. Constitution organized the government into three branches with powers that are separated, shared, checked, and balanced. Students will gain a greater understanding of the Constitution by analyzing and comparing the Constitution to an existing organization’s governance document(s). The end of unit assessment will ask students to explain how the selected organization’s governance document reflects: principles of democracy, influences of individuals, political theories, and political documents on the organization, structure and powers within the organization, and how and why the governance polices can/cannot change within the organization.

File American Origins and Branches Unit Overview
 
Folder American Origins and Branches End of Unit Assessment
 
Folder American Origins and Branches of Government Civic Dispositions Tools
 
Folder Lesson 1
AOB unit - Lesson 1 - "Protecting Our Natural Rights" Length - 3 Days
Folder Lesson 2
AOB unit - Lesson 2 - "Classical Republicanism" Length - 2 Days
Folder Lesson 3
AOB unit - Lesson 3 - "Constitutionalism" Length - 2 Days
Folder Lesson 4
AOB unit - Lesson 4 - "Checks and Balances" Length - 2 Days
Folder Lesson 5
AOB unit - Lesson 5 - "Three Branches of US Government" Length - 2 Days
Folder Lesson 6
AOB unit - Lesson 6 - "Amending the Constitution: The Amendment Process" Length - 1 Day
Folder Lesson 7
AOB unit - Lesson 7 - "Amending the Constitution: Change Over Time" Length - 2 Days
Folder Lesson 8
AOB unit -Lesson 8 - "Amending the Constitution: Informal Amendments" Length - 1 Day
Folder Lesson 9
AOB unit - Lesson 9 - "Amending the Constitution: Judicial Review" Length - 2 Days
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