What is a unitary system of government, and why did the founders of the U.S. want to avoid it?

A unitary system has one central government with all the authority. The founders wanted to avoid it because they had just broken away from the British government, which they viewed as overly centralized and oppressive.

Explain the difference between a confederation and a federation, and which one the U.S. adopted after the Articles of Confederation.

A confederation has a weak central government with most power residing in the states, while a federation involves a trade-off between national and state governments. The U.S. adopted a federation after the failure of the Articles of Confederation.

Give an example of an issue where state government policies differ significantly, and explain how this illustrates the challenges of federalism.

Abortion laws vary significantly between states, ranging from total bans to unrestricted access. This illustrates how federalism can create very different realities for people living in different states and highlights the ongoing debate about the balance of power between the federal government and the states.

What is 'devolution' in the context of federalism, and how does the issue of abortion demonstrate this concept?

Devolution is when power shifts from the central government to state or local governments. The Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, is an example of devolution because it gave states the authority to regulate abortion.

Exploring Federalism

9th GradeSocial Studies60 min

Learning Objective

I can define federalism and explain how power is divided between national and state governments.

Lesson Flow

Watch Video

12 min

Pros and Cons of Federalism | Power and Politics in US Government 6 of 30 | Study Hall

Study Hall

Guided Notes

12 min

Key concepts students will learn:

•
In a federalist system, power is divided between the national government and the states.
•
The U.S. shifted from a unitary system to a confederation under the Articles of Confederation, and finally to a federation with the Constitution.
•
Policy diffusion occurs when states copy policies that have been successful in other states.

Practice

18 min

12 questions • Multiple choice & Short answer

Exit Ticket

5 min

“Define federalism in your own words. Give one example from the video of how power is divided between the national government and state governments.”

Teacher Guide

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Exploring Federalism

Learning Objective

Lesson Flow

Watch Video

Guided Notes

Practice

Exit Ticket

Teacher Guide

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