Students will go through this page and they will learn about the U.S. constitution, the three branches of government for Federal and State powers, and they will learn about their local government.Students should answer the questions provided at the end of each topic and at the end, they will be given a project to complete as a whole.

In 1781, after the Revolutionary War, the thirteen American colonies came together under a document called the Articles of Confederation.  This document gave each of the states the right to govern itself. This first kind of government was not a very strong form of central government.  Shortly thereafter, Americans realized this type of government was weak because it did not allow the national government any kind of power to unify the states, make any decisions concerning the states or collect money.  As a result, the Founding Fathers, or political leaders who helped establish our country had to draft, or write, another document called the Constitution which was adopted in 1787 and ratified in 1788.  First, the Constitution created a national government.  The Constitution also defined the power given to the national government and the power given to the states as well as guaranteeing the rights of individual citizens.   When the Founding Fathers signed the Constitution, the national government and state governments shared the power to rule our nation. This became known as federalism. By going to the following website, students can expore how the constitution came to be by learning about the first convention, how it began, writing the constitution, comprises that were made, the signing of the constitution, and the ratification of this important document by clicking through the links and reading about each topic, and then testing their knowledge as they go through the pages. Please answer the following questions after your visit to this site. http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_ratifyingconstitution.htm
1. Where did the Constitutional convention take place?

2. How do you think the country would have been impacted then and now if the constitution would have never been enacted?

Presently in the United States, there are three levels of government.  As Americans, we live under the jurisdiction, or rule, of all three of these governments.  These three types of government are known as the federal government, the state government and the local government.  The federal government, whose seat is in Washington, D.C., has three branches:  the executive, the legislative and the
Judicial. Each of the three branches has different responsibilities.  In other words, the national Constitution separates power between the three branches.  First, the executive branch executes or carries out the laws. The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch. The legislative branch refers to Congress which is the branch that makes our nation’s laws and revises existing laws.  It is made up of two parts, or houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state has the right to representation in the House of Representatives depending on its population.  These members are known as representatives.  However, each of the states also has the right to two representatives known as senators, regardless of population.  The judicial branch refers to the courts.  This is the branch where judges and justices interpret the laws.   The Founding Fathers who wrote the national Constitution made sure to include a system of checks and balances so that none of the three branches would become more powerful than the others.  Click on the following link where it will take you to a website where you will read more about each branch of government and to gain a better understanding. http://kids.clerk.house.gov/grade-school/lesson.html?intID=1 , once you are done reading, answering the following questions:
1. Explain why the government created the checks and balance's system.

2. Think of being in middle school and running for class president and class representatives. Name some disadvantages of giving all the power to your student body president instead of sharing it with the class representatives.

State governments are governed by state constitutions but, individual states cannot create any laws that conflict with national laws because the national Constitution is “the supreme law of our country.” This means that it is the highest law of the land.  State constitutions provide for the separation of power into three branches of government as well.  They are also referred to the executive, legislative and judicial branches.  It should be noted that states elect a governors the head of the executive branch just as a president is elected at the national level.   Please click on the following link and read through the pages about the differences between national and state government and learn about the legislative, judicial, executive branches of government within states, then please respond to the following questions http://www.usconsulate.org.hk/pas/kids/national_govt.htm
1. List the responsibilities of the state government and how they differ from responsibilities from national government

2. If you could be part of any branch of government, what part would you want to be and why? What responsibility will you have towards your state or country by being a part of that branch?

At the local level, which refers to a city or county, government is also very important.  Local government must raise money by taxing its citizens and their property as well as charging fees for services such as water and garbage collection, and issue licenses for businesses, construction or marriages. The money the government raises is used to pay for expenses such as the police and fire departments, courts, public schools, libraries, road repairs and parks.  Local governments have leaders such as a mayor and commissioners. These leaders are elected by the citizens. Citizens give leaders power to make decisions concerning the city or county as well as how best to spend the money raised by taxes. Please click on the following link and watch the video about local government to gain a better understanding of the role of local government.http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-local-government-definition-responsibilities-challenges.html

1. If you had the opportunity to work for the local government, which department would you work for and why?

2. Why do you think it is important for the local government employees to enforce laws such as speeding tickets?

In the Youngstown area, our local government follows the rules and laws of the Charter of the City of Youngstown. This is our local constitution. Under this charter, Youngstown is governed by the executive mayor, who can serve a maximum of two terms or years. The legislative power of the city is reserved for seven members who can serve two terms or four years. The president of the council is elected by the people and serves two complete terms or four years. The president of the council is the first one to step up when the mayor is unable to perform his/her duties.  If you click on the following link, it will take you a reading of the charter of Youngstown where you can learn about the local government, the meetings, and how it functions. http://www.cityofyoungstownoh.com/include/20049912484_Home%20Rule%20Charter.pdf
Answer the following questions to see if you understand the levels of government and their powers.
1. Who are the executive leaders for federal, state, and local governments? Are there any alternative leaders if the executive cannot fulfil his/her duties?

2. As a citizen of another country, if I want to trade with the U.S., which level of government would I have to contact?

3. Organize the government from highest power to lowest power between federal, state, and local.

Once, all questions have been completed and students have a better understanding of how the government works and why it is important to have a checks and balance system, the class will be split up into groups. Within each group they will be either is part of the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of government. Within their groups, students will discuss their responsibilites and write down 3 things that their branch is responsible for whether it is on federal or state levels, and discuss why with the class. Once all groups are done, Students will come up with a certain "Law" that has to be followed for the remainder of the school year; the students will also come up with an appropriate consequence for the breaking of said law. The law will start in the appropiate branch of government and will be passed along accordingly through the branches of government. Once the law is up to the executive branch, if the branch decides to veto it, the class will have to come to figure out as a group on why the executive vetoed it and what they can do to make it pass. Once the law has been passed, the class will then together make a class constitution which will be hung up and followed at all times in and outside the classroom while on school grounds. Students will then write in their own words why the system of checks and balances is important when it comes to passing a law through the government.