Structure and Function of the Federal Government

Who does what? To develop an understanding of the balance of power between the US federal and state governments, class members research responsibilities in terms of legal systems, security issues, economic activities, lawmaking, and...

Students study the concept of "Question Time" as it relates to the ministers and the federal Parliament. In this accountability activity, students investigate accountability in the federal Parliament. Students role-play to arrive at...

The divide between federal and state government is responsible for much of tension that continues to this day, partly because of the US Constitution. The activities in the 14th lesson in a series of 20 are designed to help learners...

What is the difference between the CIA, FBI, and the Department of Defense? Scholars investigate the different bureaucracies that exist in United States government and politics. They analyze the roles of different agencies while forming...

The office of president of the United States is the most powerful single office in the world, but the president can't govern alone. Using a short video clip, the 14th installment of a 50-part series examines how the chief executive of...

The Supreme Court gets all the glory, but very few federal cases make it to the highest court. An interesting lesson explores the structure of the lower levels of the federal court system. In addition to outlining the organization of...

Federalism divides power to protect individual rights while giving the government enough power to be effective. The concept comes from a balance the Founding Fathers struck between authority and freedom. Scholars explore the relationship...

How can a federal debt accumulate over time? The Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) dashboard allows scholars to actively research each aspect of the federal budget. In pairs, they analyze economic data to determine the best way to...

An outline on the structure of Canadian Federalism. The article discusses the history of Canadian federalism, how political power is distributed, and federalism's relationship with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The site...

Students describe the relationships between state and federal parliaments in Australia. They identify responsibilities shared between federal and state and territory governments. Students explore an alternative federal structure by...