Empowering Global Citizens

Activity 6.6.2.2 (One Week)

The Three Branches of Government and the Modern
Monarchy in the United Kingdom

In small groups, students should complete independent research projects on
the subject of the three branches of government and the modern monarchy
in the United Kingdom. They should be able to answer these key questions
as well as to provide additional details:

1. When was the current system in the United Kingdom formed? For
what purposes was it formed? In what historical context was it formed?
2. What are the powers of each branch of government?

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What are the limits to the power of each branch?
4. What is the role of the monarchy? What is the power of the monar—
chy, and what are the limits to the power of the monarchy?

Students should research a current event in the United Kingdom and exam—
ine how that event is affected by the three branches and the monarchy as
part of their analysis.

The teacher should discuss with the students the lack of a constitution in
the United Kingdom and how the system of common law is similar to and
different from a constitution.

Activity 6.6.2.3
Comparison between the United States and the United
Kingdom

The students should create a chart comparing the powers and the limits
to the powers of the three branches in the United States and the United
Kingdom. They should use this chart to write a one—page essay on the simi-
larities and differences in the branches of government of the two nations.
This essay should be considered a draft, as a more formal essay will be writ—
ten after the next unit is completed.

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