• Context
• Lesson-Specific Standards
• Teaching the Lesson
• Assessment
• Lesson Materials
• Resources

Activity 1: Constitutional Creation: Executive Branch

During the same class period, distribute the Basic Data Sheet: Permistan and the Executive Branch Worksheet and have the groups begin their deliberations. This sheet will serve as a framework for committee work. It directs students to decide on numerous constitutional issues (specific election rules, suffrage requirements, length of term and term limits, line of succession, shared duties, exclusive duties, cabinet positions, and cabinet duties), identify the country from which their structure or processes are taken, and provide a rationale for their choice.

Circulate among the groups to make sure they understand the assignment, are on task and including ideas of all members of the group, and to redirect any discussions that seem to have become immersed in tangential issues. To stretch students’ thinking, pose some hypothetical issues by changing some of the socioeconomic data given about Permistan and ask whether different circumstances might lead them to different solutions to the problem. If groups cannot complete this assignment within the class period, it may be completed for homework.

Overview, Goals, and Planning     |     Introduction     |     Activity 1
Activity 2     |     Activity 3     |     Activity 4     |     Scheduling and Adaptations