Texas TEKS 7.13.A
The Standard
identify how the Texas Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students connect parts of the Texas Constitution to seven principles of government. They name each principle and explain how a specific provision shows it.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly classify constitutional examples, such as elected representatives, separate branches, vetoes, protected rights, and limits on official power. They support each choice with evidence from the provision.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may confuse republicanism with the Republican Party, or federalism with separation of powers. They may also think individual rights are unlimited or that checks and balances simply means having three branches.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Label each example with a principle: protected speech, elected legislators, a governor's veto, three branches, federal and state powers, limits on officials, and power from voters.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs principle cards and Texas Constitution excerpt cards, then have them match each pair and write a one-sentence justification.
Ask students to explain which principle best protects Texans from government abuse, using one constitutional example as evidence.
Play a clue relay where teams identify the principle shown by each posted government example and explain their choice.
Read a short news report about Texas government, then identify one constitutional principle shaping the event and cite evidence.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 4.13.B
identify and explain the basic functions of the three branches of government according to the Texas Constitution; and
- 7.13
Government. The student understands the basic principles reflected in the Texas Constitution. The student is expected to:
- 7.13.B
compare the principles and concepts of the Texas Constitution to the U.S. Constitution, including the Texas and U.S. Bill of Rights.
- 8.15.D
analyze how the U.S. Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular s...
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