Gov't Basics: Checks and Balances

Starter 6
Sort the following terms in order of their importance to you.   Justify why you ranked the top two and the last two where you did.

1. Justice
2. ​Liberty
3. Life
4. Common Good
5. Pursuit of Happiness
6. Truth
7. Equality
8. Diversity.

When done, form a group of between 4 and 5 people.  See if you can agree on the order these terms should come in.   When you’re done, add to your starter:  How hard was it to rank these terms in order of importance in your group?  Where were the sticking points?

The CONSTITUTION!  (40 min)
Youtube video, Key Constitutional Concepts, parts 1 and 2 (See docs page for video links)

1. ​Watch
2. Answer prompts (see handout linked on docs page of dp)
3. Discuss/Questions

RPSLS tournament!
Ready to get rowdy?  We're gonna drill down on a full bracket-style tournament – Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock!  Best of 5 – winner moves on, loser becomes the winner's biggest fan.  Cheer your hearts out.

After the game, the winner will map out a 'power diagram' on the board for us and discuss his/her winning strategy.
 
Checks and Balances.
Brief discussion: Our branches of government work just like a complex version of RPSLS.  The system is based on the idea that any person with the opportunity to seize more power will do it (we're coming out of tyranny, remember?), so each branch must have significant 'checks' on the others.

1. Legislative branch.  Primary function: to make new laws.
2. Executive branch.  Primary function: to “execute,” or carry out, laws that Congress writes.
3. Judicial branch.  Primary function: to interpret the Constitution by ruling on difficult cases (to interpret the law through the lens of the Constitution).

Checks and Balances Diagram
Using colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc, create a “power diagram” similar to RPSLS.  Use your “Checks and Balances Cheat Sheet” to help you (see docs page).  Also, google image search the phrase “checks and balances” and you will get a lot of handy ideas. Beautiful work, people.

HOMEWORK:

1. DP Update and Writing Goals:  Email Lori DP link when complete.  DUE:  Friday, 9/16, start of class.
2. Checks and Balances Diagram:  See above for details.  DUE:  Thursday, 9/15, start of class.