Oklahoma Social Studies 5.C.6.3.C
The Standard
- 5.C.6
- Describe the structure and responsibilities of the United States of America’s system of government and the role of the individual citizen, as provided in the Constitution of the United States of America.
- 5.C.6.3
- Analyze the structure and operations of government established in the Constitution of the United States of America.
Examine the system of shared powers (federalism) between the federal and state levels of governments, explaining why the Framers assigned specific powers to each level.
Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · 5.C.6.3
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify powers held by the federal government, powers held by states, and powers they share. They explain why the Framers put nationwide matters with the federal government and left many local decisions to states.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students sort declaring war and making money as federal powers, setting school requirements as a state power, and collecting taxes as a shared power. They explain why a nationwide issue needs one decision and why dividing power limits each level of government.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think states can declare war or make their own money. Others think only the federal government collects taxes. Some see states as branches of the federal government rather than governments with their own powers.
How to Assess It
- On an exit ticket, have students label who can declare war, set school requirements, and collect taxes: federal, state, or both. Ask them to explain why one power belongs where they placed it.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs power cards and three labeled folders: federal, state, and both. Have them sort each card and defend one choice.
Ask, “Why did the Framers leave school decisions to states but give war decisions to the federal government?” Have pairs write two sentences.
Play a three-corner quiz: read powers aloud, then have students move to federal, state, or both and explain their choice.
Show a driver's license and a dollar bill. Ask who controls each and why people across states use the same money.
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Related Standards
- 8.C.4.2.D
Analyze the system of checks and balances, explaining the Framers’ rationale for establishing such a system and describing how each branch of government can lim...
- 8.C.4.2.E
Describe the concept of federalism (shared power) and identify specific types of powers (e.g., express, concurrent, reserved) exercised by the state versus nati...
- USG.C.3.3
Analyze how the Framers designed a system of separated powers to prevent the concentration and potential abuse of power.
- OKH.C.5.4
Describe the American system of federalism as it relates to the division, function, and sharing of powers among levels of government, using historical examples ...
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