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7th grade · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 18

Building a Government

Articles, Constitution and Bill of Rights

What your child practices

Why the Articles of Confederation were replaced, the compromises of 1787, the three branches, checks and balances, federalism and the Bill of Rights (1791).

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 7.4a; 7.4b; 7.4c · the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the compromises of 1787 and the Constitution's plan of government

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Articles of Confederation made a weak national government, so the Constitution replaced it in 1787. James Madison is called its father.
  2. Three branches: Congress makes laws (and can declare war), the president carries them out, the courts judge them.
  3. Checks and balances stop any one branch from becoming too powerful. The Bill of Rights came in 1791.

Example: Which branch is the Supreme Court part of? Courts decide what laws mean. That is the judicial branch. Answer: judicial

Building a Government in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 4 of 18 in 7th grade Social Studies, after The American Revolution and before Founding Ideals.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which group was not allowed to vote in most states in 1789?

    • Women
    • Wealthy white men who owned land
    • Members of Congress
    • George Washington

  2. Question 2

    The Supreme Court is part of which branch?

    • Judicial
    • None
    • Executive
    • Legislative

  3. Question 3

    What is federalism?

    • The king has all the power
    • Only the national government has power
    • Power is shared between the national and state governments
    • Only states have power

  4. Question 4

    How many senators does each state have?

    • 10
    • Depends on population
    • 2
    • 1

  5. Question 5

    Who leads the executive branch?

    • A governor
    • The Speaker of the House
    • The president
    • The Chief Justice

  6. Question 6

    What is an amendment?

    • A change or addition to the Constitution
    • A colony
    • A type of court
    • A tax

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