Principles of the American Government

Principles of the American Government - Experience Summary

Students analyze seven basic principles reflected in the U.S. Constitution: limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights. They also discover how these principles are reflected in the framework of the U.S. government, as established by the Constitution. Finally, they explain how selected excerpts from the Constitution reflect one or more of these principles.

Objectives:

Identify the framework of government that the Constitution established.
Summarize the seven basic principles of American government.

Scene 1 — Engage

Student Activity

Students read an overview of how the Founders drew on past experiences and ideas to create the Constitution and are introduced to the seven basic principles of American government. They examine an image of the signing of the Constitution and respond to a word cloud prompt by entering synonyms for the term “principle” to build a shared understanding of the concept.

Teacher Moves

Review the lesson objectives and key vocabulary, then generate and display the class word cloud. Ask students to notice which words appear largest and what that reveals about their understanding of “principle.” Use the cloud to connect students’ everyday ideas (such as belief, rule, or foundation) to the notion of principles as core, guiding rules of American government.

Scene 2 — Explore

Student Activity

Students use The Seven Principles of the U.S. Constitution to learn the meaning of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights. As they read, they complete a graphic organizer by summarizing each principle in their own words.

Teacher Moves

After students complete the organizer, prompt them to compare the principles and discuss which they think most affects daily life today and which may have been most important to the framers in 1787. Encourage students to support their ideas with examples from history or current events to emphasize that these principles actively shape American government.

Scene 3 — Explain

Student Activity

Students explore the principle of separation of powers by using the Interactive Constitution to read Article I, II, and III, Section 1, identifying the bodies or positions that make up each branch of the national government. They record this information in a graphic organizer showing the three branches and their key institutions, then read a brief explanation that each branch makes, enforces, or interprets laws. Students complete a drag-and-drop activity matching each branch to its role and post to a class wall explaining why separation of powers was important to the Founders, connecting it to limited government.

Teacher Moves

Guide students as they identify the branches and their institutions, ensuring they correctly connect each branch to its lawmaking, law-enforcing, or law-interpreting role. When reviewing wall responses, highlight ideas about limiting power, preventing tyranny, and avoiding domination by any single branch. Extend the discussion by asking for modern examples of branches checking one another, such as vetoes, judicial review, or congressional oversight, to show separation of powers in action.

Scene 4 — Elaborate

Student Activity

Students apply their understanding of the seven principles by analyzing multiple excerpts from the Constitution. For each excerpt or set of excerpts (the Preamble; Article I, Section 2; Amendment I; Article VI; Article I, Section 7 and Article II, Section 2; Article VI and Amendment 10), they complete tables identifying which principle or principles are reflected and explaining how the wording of the text shows those principles at work.

Teacher Moves

Emphasize that this scene is essential preparation for the quiz. As students work through each excerpt, use the provided explanations to clarify how specific language reflects popular sovereignty, republicanism, individual rights, limited government, checks and balances, and federalism. Briefly point out key ideas such as “We the People,” elections of representatives, protections of freedoms, leaders’ obligation to follow the law, interbranch checks, and the division of powers between national and state governments (including the supremacy clause), reinforcing the link between constitutional text and abstract principles.

Scene 5 — Evaluate

Student Activity

Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.

Teacher Moves

Facilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.