Florida Constitution and Local Government
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Learning Goal:
Students will be able to compare the structure of the Federal and State governments (Constitutions, lawmaking process, obligations and services.) 
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Benchmarks:
SS.7.C.3.4 Content Complexity: Level 2/Skills and Concepts Identify the relationship and division of powers between the federal government and state governments. SS.7.C.3.13 Content Complexity::Level 2/Skills and Concepts Compare the constitutions of the United States and Florida. SS.7.C.3.14 Content Complexity: Level 1/Recall and Reproduction Differentiate between local, state, and federal governments' obligations and services. SS.7.C.3.9 Content Complexity: Level 1: Recall and Reproduction. Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels. | ||
Federalism Preview
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What civics topics connect to this video that we’ve learned about? (amendments, branches of government and their powers, types of law, other SC cases about modern issues, Federalism-division of powers between federal and state governments, etc...?) |
Task 1: Federalism Venn Diagram
Article VI in the Constitution, along with Amendment 10, establishes a system where the Federal government and the states have their own powers as well as powers they share.
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Watch the video to the right and fill in the Venn Diagram below with examples of powers in each category. 
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Task 2: Types of Powers Graphic Organizer
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Read the file to the right titled "Federalism Reading" and fill out the graphic organizer below in your study guides.
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Task 3: Marijuana and The Supremacy Clause of Federalism
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Marijuana currently is illegal under Federal Law.
In 2012, Colorado's citizens voted to add Amendment 64 to their state constitution which legalized recreational marijuana use in the state. CLICK HERE to read about the most recent court decision on Colorado's Amendment 64 and answer the questions below: 1. What arguments are found in the article to argue against Colorado's "Amendment 64" and who made them? 2. How do these arguments connect to the issue of "Federalism?" 3. CLICK HERE to read about current Attorney General (head of the Department of Justice) Jeff Sessions' new policy on marijuana enforcement and then follow the directions below: |
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Pick one of the following tasks to complete:(Remember to consider the Supremacy Clause, expressed and implied powers, and any other evidence from the videos or your prior knowledge).
1. Write a minimum 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "Do you think the Federal government should be able to ban Marijuana? Explain why or why not. Do you think that states that make marijuana legal are breaking the law? Explain why or why not."
2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on whether or not the government should be able to ban marijuana and if states legalizing it are breaking the law or not.
3. Create a pros and cons chart on the issue of the federal ban of marijuana use.
4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the federal ban of marijuana use.
1. Write a minimum 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "Do you think the Federal government should be able to ban Marijuana? Explain why or why not. Do you think that states that make marijuana legal are breaking the law? Explain why or why not."
2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on whether or not the government should be able to ban marijuana and if states legalizing it are breaking the law or not.
3. Create a pros and cons chart on the issue of the federal ban of marijuana use.
4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on the federal ban of marijuana use.
Task 4: U.S. vs Florida Constitution
Part 1:
The U.S. Constitution governs federal laws that apply to all of the states, but every state has its own Constitution as well.
Directions: Compare and Contrast the structure of the U.S. Constitution and the Florida Constitution by filling out the graphic organizer below in your study guides.
The U.S. Constitution governs federal laws that apply to all of the states, but every state has its own Constitution as well.
Directions: Compare and Contrast the structure of the U.S. Constitution and the Florida Constitution by filling out the graphic organizer below in your study guides.
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Part 2:
Read the text below comparing the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches (and the law making process) in the U.S. and Florida Constitutions. Use this information to complete your study guide.
Read the text below comparing the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches (and the law making process) in the U.S. and Florida Constitutions. Use this information to complete your study guide.
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Part 3:
Look at the summary comparing and contrasting the Amendment Process for the United States and Florida Constitutions and follow the directions below. Complete in your study guide.
Task 5: Comparing Supreme Courts
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What we already know...
The levels of the Federal Court System 
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What we're learning in this unit...
The levels of the Florida State Court System (mentioned in the Florida Constitution in Task 4 above) 
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We should already know that U.S. Supreme Court Justices serve for life once nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. (checks and balances) However, they may retire if they wish. They can also be impeached and removed from the court if they do not maintain “good behavior.” There is one Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices, for a total of 9 Supreme Court Justices.
DIRECTIONS: Click on the picture below to read about Florida’s Supreme Court Justices and then Fill out the T-chart below that shows the similarities and differences between the Florida Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.
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U.S. Supreme Court Justices
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Florida Supreme Court Justices
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Task 6: Counties Work
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Step 1:
Imagine you just woke up in the morning to get ready to go to school. From your bed to school, think of all of the ways that you might interact with local government and its responsibilities or services. (example: school buses and their drivers are paid for by property taxes and operated by Seminole County Public Schools.) Step 2: Do you want to make your community a better place to live? In Counties Work, you decide about the programs and services that affect everyone! (CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO THE LEFT TO PLAY) Your choices shape the community, and your citizens’ satisfaction determines whether you’ll get re-elected for a second term. Choose wisely. WRITE A SHORT REFLECTION: WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM PLAYING COUNTIES WORK? STEP 3: Pick ONE article from the links below about issues with local government. (some links have multiple articles...you don't have to read all of them) For the article you choose to read, consider and respond to the following:
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Task 7: Should you have a "Duty to Rescue?"
CLICK HERE to read an article pertaining to federalism and answer the following questions:
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Task 8: Texting and Driving :(
CLICK HERE to read an article about texting while driving in Florida. Then, pick one of the options below to show your understanding:
1. Write a minimum 2 paragraph response using evidence to address the following prompt: "Do you think Florida should make texting while driving a primary offense? Explain why or why not." 2. Create a political cartoon that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on whether or not Florida should make texting while driving a primary offense. 3. Create a pros and cons chart on the issue of making texting while driving in Florida a primary offense. 4. Create a poem/rap that incorporates evidence and expresses your opinion on making texting while driving in Florida a primary offense. |
Task 9: Comparing State Constitutions
Click on the image below to read about different state constitutions around the country. Answer the questions below the picture in your spiral.
- What is the average length of a state constitution? How does this compare to the U.S. Constitution and why do you think this is?
- Which state constitution is the longest?
- How many times has the average state constitution been amended? How does this compare to the U.S. Constitution? Why do you think there is such a big difference?
- What is the oldest state constitution in the United States? The newest?
- Pick any two state constitutions of your choice and compare and contrast them. Find at least three ways they are similar and at least three ways they are different. Why do you think this is?
Task 10: Oklahoma City and Federalism
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After watching the video in class and reading the letter below, answer the following questions:
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iCivics Practice: Power Play
Click on the image to the left to play Power Play." Summarize what you learned from playing the game in a minimum one paragraph response.