Don M. Carlson, Columbia River High School, Vancouver, WA
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION POWER GRAB GAME
Appropriate for grades 10-12.
OVERVIEW: The highest law of the land in the United States is the
Constitution. This is the basic principle we want young people to
understand and support in our social studies classes. Associated
with the knowledge of the Constitution are several fundamental
ideas: checks and balances, separation of powers, Bill of Rights
and amendments.
PURPOSE: To encourage students to comprehend these points of
emphasis and relate them to the study of the three branches of our
federal government. Several activities are described. The
culminating activity is the "Power Grab Game" given before the
final test on the Constitution Unit.
OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to:
1. Identify the three branches of American government.
2. Describe the function of each branch of government.
3. Explain how the "checks and balances" system functions to
protect the individual citizen from illegal power hungary
politicians.
4. Describe how each branch of government is "separate" in its
powers to the other branches of government.
5. Explain how the amendments to the Constitution function
today.
ACTIVITIES: The following ideas will prepare students for their
explanation of the Constitution:
The Power Game -- Checks and Balances in the Constitution:
1. Divide the class into three groups: Executive, Legislative
and Judicial branches of government. Each student should
have a copy of the Constitution with them.
2. In each round the teacher will give each branch of government
an opportunity for an unconstitutional "Power Grab". The
remaining two groups have two minutes to find proof from the
Constitution (amendments included) by Article, section and
clause, why the power grab is unconstitutional.
3. When a person thinks he finds the appropriate check he yells
"check". He must be prepared to respond with the answer
immediately. If wrong, others may try to block the grab for
power with the two minutes, alternating between branches
until the two minutes are gone or the answer is correct.
4. When checked correctly, the branch received 10 points. If no
one gets the correct answer, the branch grabbing power gets 5
points. No penalty for wrong answers.
5. A round is a question for each branch.
Power Grabs:
1. President - A serious economic crisis takes place in the U.S.
The President decides to run for a third term. (Amendment
22)
Congress - Congress passes a law taking 10% on lumber being
exported. (Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 5)
Courts - The Court rules that the government may not issue
patents because of the need for technological advance.
(Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 8)
2. President - The President declares war on China.
(Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 11)
Congress - Congress passes a low that people from Washington
may not drive cars in Oregon because of pollution. (Article
IV, Section 2, Paragraph 1)
Courts - Since Washington D.C. is not in any state, residents
there may not vote in national elections. (Amendment 23)
3. President - The President appoints Dan Evans to Senator
Adams' seat when he resigns due to a personal scandal.
(Article I, Section 3, Paragraph 2)
Congress - Congress impeaches Bush because he pardons North.
The Democratic Congress uses their anger to get him. (Article
II, Section 4)
Courts - The Court rules that because of our large national
debt, the U.S. can no longer borrow money. (Article I,
Section 8, Paragraph 2)
4. President - To fight terrorism, anyone found guilty of
hijacking will be punished by having their fingernails ripped
off. (Amendment 8)
Congress - Congress decides that beards are illegal; anyone
who wore one in the last year must a $100 fine. (Article I,
Section 9, Paragraph 3)
Courts - The Court decides that religion and politics don't
mix, therefore; no government official is required to take an
oath of office. (Article II, Section 1, Paragraph 8 or
Article VI, Section 3)
5. President - The President decides that Congress will meet in
regular session on December 15 of each year. (Amendment 20,
Section 2)
Congress - Congress decides to impeach President Bush with
the President Pro-Temp of the Senate presiding. (Article I,
Section 3, Paragraph 6)
Courts - The ambassador to Spain is brought home and tried in
a New York court for crimes. (Article III, Section 2,
Paragraph 1)
6. President - The President orders that a mass murderer be sent
back to Washington from Oregon. (Article IV, Section 2,
Paragraph 2)
Congress - A House member dies, the House takes four days off
to mourn but the Senate says they can only have two days off.
(Article I, Section 5, Paragraph 4)
Courts - The Court rules that the heads of departments may no
longer make appointments of inferior officers, but only the
President of the U.S. (Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 2)
7. President - Paul Newman comes to town and cuts off the heads
of all parking meter. President Bush pardons him. (Article
II, Section 2, Paragraph 1)
Congress - Congress passes a law naming 15 university
students guilty of crimes against the government - orders
them expelled from school. (Article I, Section 9, Paragraph
3)
Courts - A male teacher sues over sexual discrimination by
taking the case directly to the Supreme Court. (Article III,
Section 2, Paragraph 2)
8. President - Your land is in the way of a federal highway, so
the President takes your land without compensation.
(Amendment 5)
Congress - Congress passes a law that says you can sue your
state in federal court. (Amendment 11)
Courts - The Court rules that income tax is illegal and you
don't have to pay. (Amendment 16)
9. President - The President orders that since all citizens over
18 want to vote for the President, they may do so by popular
vote. (Amendment 26)
Congress - Congress decides because of the contributions of
Pete Rose in baseball, they will honor him with the title,
"Sir Pete Rose". (Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 1)
Courts - The Court rules that because of the difficulty of
finding honest, law abiding they will allow Senator Mark
Hatfield be Secretary of Interior. (Article I, Section 6,
Paragraph 2)
10. President - The President, concerned about drug violations in
the state of Washington, allows the Governor and Attorney
General to suspend democracy for a period of one month.
(Article IV, Section 4)
Congress - Congress decides to change the Constitution to
allow the President to be elected to one term of six years.
(Article IV or Amendment 22)
Courts - The Courts find Poindexter guilty of treason on the
basis of testimony of Ollie North, alone. (Article III,
Section 3, Paragraph 1)
RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED: A copy of the U.S. Constitution for
each student.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: The understanding and study of the
Constitution can be interesting and exciting to students when a
variety of methods and activities are used. Teachers must
constantly be seeking new ways and materials to make their subject
challenging and worthwhile. Continued study and thoughtful
discussion can help teachers to make the Constitution relevant.
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org