1. Write: Why did Ben Franklin use the term
commonwealth to describe PA?
2. Identify the set up of PA’s Constitution from
1776.
Identify the three structures of government
Explain who has the power in each structure
Identify our nation’s first government:
Articles of Confederation
Describe the weaknesses and strengthens of
the Articles of Confederation
3. Review warm-up
Have students share notes from yesterday with each
other for two minutes.
Finish reading PA’s Constitution 86-87.
◦ T-chart for characteristics of PA 1776 government.
Review reading.
Handout Structures of Government worksheets and
introduce the three main structures of government.
Lecture on the 3 structures remind students they
should be writing down from the lecture.
2 minute student review
Closure: Which structure of government does the U.S.
have today?
4. “Structure” explains level of government has
the power.
1. National level
2. State level
3. Local level
“Structure” explains how the government is
set up.
◦ Levels are independent
◦ Levels share power
5. 1. Unitary-national level has the most power
2. Confederate-state level has the most
power
Federal-National and state (and local) levels
share power.
REMEMBER GOVERNMENT IS LIKE A WHEEL! IT
DOES NOT WORK EFFICIENTLY UNLESS ALL
THE PARTS ARE THERE!
6. National level has most of
the power (wheel rim)
Examples:
◦ Historically
Great Britain (Constitutional
Monarchy)
France (Absolute Monarchy)
◦ Today
Great Britain, Japan, France
◦ Works in small geographic
areas with homogenously
grouped people
7. States have most of the
power and they work
independently. (spokes)
Examples
◦ Historically
Articles of Confederation (1st
Government of the United
States)
Southern Confederacy (During
the Civil War)
8. All levels of government
SHARE power (whole
wheel)
◦ National level is the most
powerful
Examples
◦ United States TODAY!
◦ Germany
Local, State, National
