Alabama Social Studies SS24.6.15a
The Standard
- SS24.6.15
- Explain how the system of federalism in the United States divides power between national and state governments as well as between state and local governments.
Summarize how federalism balances concerns regarding limiting a powerful national government, securing regional interests, and sharing power across the United States.
2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify decisions made by the national government, by states, and by both. They explain how that split limits national power while letting states respond to local needs.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student identifies printing money as a national power, issuing driver's licenses as a state power, and collecting taxes as a shared power. They explain why states can make different licensing rules while everyone uses the same national currency.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think states can ignore any national law they dislike. Others think the national government makes every rule, or that only one level of government can collect taxes.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Label print money, issue driver's licenses, and collect taxes as national, state, or both. Explain how this split leaves room for state decisions without giving one government every power.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Pairs sort cards labeled print money, issue driver's licenses, and collect taxes into national, state, or both on a paper chart.
Ask, 'Why might Alabama need a different storm plan than Kansas, and when should the national government help both states?'
Give teams four incorrect claims, including 'states cannot collect taxes'; award a point when they rewrite each claim correctly.
Show an image of a state driver's license and a dollar bill; ask who controls each and why the levels differ.
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Printable SS24.6.15a Worksheet
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Related Standards
- SS24.USG.13
Outline how the federal system of the United States divides powers between national and state governments.
- SS24.USG.3a
Summarize and explain the underlying principles of the Constitution, including checks and balances, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, republi...
- SS24.6.15
Explain how the system of federalism in the United States divides power between national and state governments as well as between state and local governments.
- SS24.USG.12a
Explain why maintaining a balance between individual rights and majority rule and between state and national power is important for the functioning of the Unite...
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