Virginia SOL CE.3.d
The Standard
explaining the relationship between state governments and the national government in the federal system, referencing Federalist No.10 and Federalist No. 51
Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science · The student will apply history and social science skills to analyze how constitutional government functions at the state level by
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain how power is divided and shared between state and national governments. They use ideas from Federalist No. 10 and No. 51 to explain how divided power controls factions and limits government.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can classify government powers as national, state, or shared and explain each choice. They can cite both Federalist essays to show how federalism protects rights and prevents concentrated power.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think federal means only the national government or that states can ignore federal law. They may confuse federalism with separation of powers or claim Federalist No. 10 sought to eliminate all disagreement.
How to Assess It
- Give students three government actions to label national, state, or shared. Ask them to explain one label using an idea from either Federalist essay.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Have groups sort power cards into national, state, and shared columns, then match each column to short excerpts from Federalist No. 51.
Ask students to write: How can dividing power between state and national governments limit factions and protect liberty? Cite both Federalist essays.
Play a federalism relay where teams classify scenario cards, justify each choice, and earn a point for accurate evidence.
Compare state driver licensing with federal passport rules, then have students identify which government acts and why.
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Related Standards
- 3.9.b
explaining how the Constitution supports the structure of the United States government
- CE.3.e
explaining the principle of separation of powers and the operation of checks and balances at the state level.
- CE.1.a
explaining the fundamental principles of limited government, republicanism, federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty;
- CE.1.e
explaining the fundamental concepts of the U.S. government, including but not limited to due process, equal justice under the law, equal protection, elections a...
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