Federalism Digital Article & Review | Civics & American Government

This Federalism “How is Power Divided in America?” Digital Article & Review is a digital lesson designed for Google Slides. Suitable for Civics and American History students in middle or high school, this slideshow introduces kids to federalism and the powers and responsibilities of the national, state, and local governments. The review covers key concepts and vocabulary, includes a Venn Diagram of Delegated, Concurrent, and Reserved powers, and two pages of humorous scenarios the students match to either local, state, or federal government. 

This resource is aligned to the Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics, SS.7.CG.3.4 Federalism: “Explain the relationship between state and national governments as written in Article IV of the U.S. Constitution and the 10th Amendment.”

This lesson for Google Slides includes:

✯ How is Power Divided in America? Article

• 5 slides define the concept of federalism (and compare it to unitary and confederal governments), as well as describe specific responsibilities of the federal, state, and local governments. 
• Key vocabulary includes: federalism, foreign policy, judicial review, delegated/enumerated powers, reserved powers, concurrent powers, the 10th Amendment, and the supremacy clause.

✯ How is Power Divided in America? Review: Short Answer & Graphic Organizer

• Four review questions check students’ comprehension of the article. Questions include: “How is federalism different from a unitary government?” and “Define concurrent powers and give two examples.”

✯ Federalism in America: Who has the Power? Venn Diagram

• Students drag-and-drop examples of Delegated, Reserved, and Concurrent powers into the appropriate spaces of a Venn Diagram. 

✯ Which level of Government? Federalism Scenarios

• Students are given 6 humorous scenarios and have to decide whether they fall under the jurisdiction of the national, state, or local governments. 
• Sample Scenario: “A terrible smell is wafting down Main Street from an overflowing dumpster. People are running down the sidewalk gagging! Who can take care of this?!” (Local Government)

You will need access to Google Classroom to download this resource. (If you are uncomfortable with TPT accessing your school email account, use your personal email to download the resource, then go to File > Make a Copy, and share that copied document with your school email.) Also, if your students do not have access to computers or Google Classroom you could easily print out these pages and use this activity as physical worksheets!

The text of the Google Slides document is non-editable, but there are text boxes throughout that students can type into in order to record their responses.

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