Unit Plan 12 (Grade 8 Social Studies): The Constitution and Federalism
Explore how the three branches, checks and balances, and federalism distribute power across federal, state, and local governments—and how real issues reveal shared, contested authority and constitutional limits.
Focus: Study the branches of government, checks and balances, and how powers are shared and contested among federal, state, and local governments in real issues.
Grade Level: 8
Subject Area: Social Studies (U.S. Civics • Government)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students examine how the Constitution structures national power across three branches and allocates authority across levels of government. Through close reading, case snapshots, and simulations, they analyze how checks and balances work in practice and how federalism shapes responses to public problems (infrastructure, education, disasters, public health).
Essential Questions
- How do separation of powers and checks and balances prevent the concentration of authority?
- What is federalism, and how do enumerated, reserved, and concurrent powers play out in real policies?
- Who should decide—federal, state, or local—and why? How do funding and courts influence those decisions?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe the structure and powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
- Explain and illustrate checks and balances (e.g., veto/override, advice & consent, judicial review).
- Distinguish enumerated, reserved (10th Amendment), and concurrent powers; apply to policy scenarios.
- Compare how local, state, and federal governments address an issue, including funding and legal constraints.
- Use evidence from constitutional text and brief case summaries to argue which level/branch should act and why.
Standards Alignment — 8th Grade (C3-based custom)
- 8.C3.Civ.2: Describe constitutional structure—branches, checks & balances, federalism; apply to cases.
- 8.C3.Civ.5: Compare levels of government (local/state/federal) and how they address issues (policy, funding, courts).
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can map a government action to the branch and level with the best constitutional justification.
- I can show a check that limits another branch and explain its purpose.
- I can argue which level of government should lead on a problem and support it with text and cases.