Is it Time to Reset the System of Checks and Balances?

by Mary Ellen Daneels, Civics Instructional Specialist
The system of checks and balances has been an enduring concept for deliberation throughout United States history. Essential questions around the separation of powers and the use of tools such as executive orders to blur the lines between the branches are opportunities for #CivicsInTheMiddle classrooms to engage in current and societal issue discussions that promote a deep understanding of our constitutional republic.

Last week, Dr. Steven D. Schwinn, professor of law at the John Marshall Law School at the University of Illinois at Chicago, joined IllinoisCivics.org for a webinar to explore the question, “Is it time to reset the system of checks and balances?” Participants received a preview of Dr. Schwinn’s upcoming book on the same topic and had a chance to reflect on issues involving power, justice, and representation as the nation prepares for a presidential inauguration and a new congress in 2021. If you missed the webinar, you can access a recording on our IllinoisCivics.org Webinar Archive.

We asked the IllinoisCivics.org Instructional Coaches to share the resources they use to teach students about the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances. Here are their suggestions.
  • Jason Artman from Mendota recommends C-SPAN’s Cable in the Classroom lesson on Checks and Balances for Middle Schools as well as the iCivics Branches of Power game.
  • Chris Johnson from Oneida says, “Crash Course does a great job introducing government concepts including checks and balances. (The video is a) good refresher or an introduction for younger students.”
Heather Monson from East Moline has a plethora of resources to share:
  • The New York Times - Teaching and Learning about Checks and Balances during the Trump Administration: “(This) has you covered on teaching checks and balances with this nice collection of background information, activities, videos, political cartoons, and resources.”
  • United States Courts - Separation of Powers in Action: “The court has ruled on the issue of separation of powers in the landmark case, US v. Alvarez.”
  • Real Clear Politics - When Checks and Balances Fail: “This is a topic we generally don’t discuss in class because we believe and understand that checks and balances can’t fail by their very nature. But there are times that they do appear to not work as well as they should.”
  • Your Dictionary: “Need a quick reference to find examples of checks and balances in the Constitution? This is your website”.
  • Khan Academy - Principles of American Government: “Khan Academy does an excellent job with civics. This link includes a nicely organized graphic organizer that can help students understand how the powers are distributed in the federal government. It also includes checks for understanding as the students work through the readings”.
  • Scholastic Upfront - What You Need to Know about Checks and Balances: “This gives some excellent background information at two different appropriate reading levels. It includes teacher resources as well.”
For more resources on the separation of powers and other constitutional concepts, please visit the IllinoisCivics.org Webinar Archive and the Curriculum Design Toolkit. You can also find opportunities to learn and collaborate on the Professional Development Calendar.

What are you doing to help students examine essential questions around the separation of powers? Please comment below. Together, we can prepare ALL students for college, career, and civic life in remote, hybrid and traditional classrooms.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let's Talk About the "Required" Constitution Test

Image
by Mary Ellen Daneels, Lead Teacher Mentor As I have traveled around the state of Illinois to support implementation of the high school civics requirement and pending middle school civics legislation , one of the biggest concerns I have heard is, “How will we have time to prepare students for the required Constitution test? I will never have time to cover all 200 questions on the test if I have to make time for student-centered inquiry, discussions, simulations, and service learning!” The Illinois State Board of Education states: American patriotism and the principles of representative government, as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag, shall be taught in all public schools and other educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds. No student shall receive a certificate
Read more

Resources to Respond to Tragedy and Violence

Image
by Mary Ellen Daneels, Civics Instructional Specialist All educators are civics teachers. Teachers send messages to students about power, justice, and representation by the content we select, the way we engage student voice, the norms we employ, and the stories included in our classroom. We have a responsibility to prioritize our students’ lived experiences, putting Maslow before Bloom , to inform the essential questions we address in our curriculum. When violence or tragedy occurs, classrooms provide a safe venue for students to process, ask questions and be given context to understand current events as they happen. While current events unfold, it is not the time to debate policy. Educators will not have all of the answers to the questions students pose. Teachers can create a classroom space where we can be present, listen, and create a safe environment for our students to do the same. Start with Reflection Your students may be wrestling with a range of emotions. We cannot assum
Read more

Where Do We Go from Here? Resources to Help Classrooms Process the 2020 Election

Image
by Mary Ellen Daneels, Civics Instructional Specialist While the 2020 election season draws to a close, IllinoisCivics.org is committed to helping classrooms prepare for what comes next after a contentious and polarized election season. Students will need help processing the election results and their impact on current and societal issues their communities face around justice, power, equity, and safety. As all educators are civics teachers, we have a responsibility to prioritize our students’ lived experiences, putting Maslow before Bloom , to inform the essential questions we address in our curriculum. Educators will not have all of the answers to the questions students pose, but we can create a classroom space where we can be present, listen, and create a safe environment for our students to do the same. Here are a number of ideas and resources to support this work beyond the 2020 election. Start with Reflection Your students may be wrestling with a range of emotions post-electio
Read more