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Have you ever wondered why the US has a President and the UK has both, a Queen and a Prime Minister? 

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Have you ever wondered why the US has a President and the UK has both, a Queen and a Prime Minister? 

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Let's find out why the UK has two representatives of their country coming to public events like the G7-summit ... (intro)

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Do the quiz: What do you know about the Royals ? Press here: Kahoot!  (activating prior knowledge)

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You might have heard, that Meghan and Harry have left the Royal Family.

1. Meghan and Harry had an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Write some questions that you would like to ask them in an interview (post some questions underneath in a comment). (pre-task)

2. Now watch the highlights of the interview.  Did you find answers to your questions? (while-task)

3. They named a few reasons for why they left, can you remember which ?  Watch the interview again and try to respond. (post-task, in-class correction)

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The Biggest Moments From Harry and Meghan's Interview with Oprah Winfrey

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Now, what role does the monarchy and the Royal Family play in Great Britain politics? This is the question you will have to tackle in your homework. But firstly, what does the political system of the UK - a constitutional monarchy -  look like. Let's find out ....

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Look at the diagram below and complete your group's element of the political system of the UK in the shared google document. Do some research and try to find out:

1. Who works in this element?

2. What task do they have?

3. Other interesting facts?

Fill in your part ! (if you need any help click here and watch the explainer video)

Group A: House of Lords

Group B: House of Commons

Group C: Prime Minister (Cabinet)

Group D: Supreme Court

Group E: Monarch

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Record and edit your podcast. Then you may upload into the next column.

If you have any questions, comment here. Maybe someone can help.

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What are important features of a podcast ? You have already thought about this in your homework. Now look at the PODCAST WIKI  and compare it with your ideas.

We will then discuss your solutions in class.

Click at the PDF to see what we have discussed in class. Those are all aspects you need include into your podcast.

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The wiki may help you to design a podcast.  For recording you may use this app : Anchor - The easiest way to make a podcast

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Simple Ways to Make a Good Podcast: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

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It’s pretty easy to start up a podcast and make a few episodes—all you need is some basic audio recording and editing equipment. To make a good podcast, though, requires a strong concept, a dedication to quality, and the enthusiasm to…

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Meghan was born in the US. Harry moved there with her after they left the Royal Family. In the US he encounters a different political system. Let's see what similarities or differences between US and UK there are for Harry...Last lesson we spoke about the constitutional monarchy, but the US has a presidential system.

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Hello, and welcome to our Politics Padlet ! 

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Hello, and welcome to our Politics Padlet ! 

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We will discover the British and the American political system. There are blue and green tasks (explained below). All in all, we will work on a shared google document, which you can then use for your podcast with your e-twinning partner. Also, collect interesting facts along the way! You could use them for your interview. If you have any questions feel free to ask in class or write a comment here. In this column you can always find help to vocabularies, grammar, useful phrases and useful websites.

Have fun!

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Watch this explainer video, in order to understand the political system. This video is from 2017 where Barack Obama was President. Who is President now (pre-task)?
Try to answer the following questions. Take notes, we will discuss it at the end of the lesson. (while-task)

what is check and balances?

can you describe the judical, executive, and legislative branch?

Now, can you tell who (which component) is judical, executive, and legislative in the UK's system? Look at the diagram at the end of this column to check your answer  (post-task)

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How is power divided in the United States government? - Belinda Stutzman

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1. Look at the diagramm below. Can you find similarities and differences between the constitutional monarchy and the presidental system

1. Collect some ideas on your own.

2. Compare your findings with a partner.

3. Write your findings into this google document

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How many Presidents do you know? Don't google and comment some names  (pre-task)

So what role does the President play ? Let's listen one more time to a podcast where they speak about the jobs of the US-President. Try to find answers to the following questions. (while-task)

What are the 3 jobs of a president?

What other topics are they talking about ? (in-class correction+homework description)

‎Click here to listen to the podcast. You need to press "what does the president do, constitutionally?".

(Only if you need help, look at the transcript).

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Listen to the podcast one more time, can you identify important features of a podcast ? (e.g. how do they begin and end the podcast, how do they interact/talk ?)
Take notes, we will need them for next lesson.

You can also listen to this podcast to the three branches (legislative, executive and judical) if you need further explanation.

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NOTE: This transcript was generated using an automated transcription service, and may contain typographical errors.
Civics 101 Shorts Episode: The Three Branches
Civics shorts three branches podcast version.wav

Nick Capodice: [00:00:01] Hello dear listeners, Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy here.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:00:04] Welcome to the latest installment of civics shorts, built with middle schoolers in mind they are fun for the whole family, even that one cranky uncle.

Nick Capodice: [00:00:13] Today Jacqui Fulton is giving you three for the price of one because this episode is about the three branches of government. Enjoy.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:25] The colonists declared independence from the king.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:27] We declare independence!

Christina Phillips: [00:00:29] Fought a war and became their own nation.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:34] They were finally free and forming their own government. But how could they prevent one person from having all the power again?

Scar: [00:00:42] I am the king. I can do whatever I want.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:45] What to do? What to do? Ah Ha!

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:48] Their answer, separate the powers.

Christina Phillips: [00:00:51] They would create three branches of government, a family.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:00:56] The branches each have their own jobs, but would all have to work together to get stuff done.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:02] But no one said it had to be pretty.

Archive Tape: [00:01:04] The consequence is friction in colorful language sparks.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:09] I'm Jacqui.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:10] I'm Christina.This is civics one on one shorts. And today we are going to civic-splain the three branches of government. The what's what of the executive, judicial and legislative branches.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:26] Fire up the old projector!

Archive Tape: [00:01:33] The national government is necessarily one big family. But the family squabbles have been long and loud, appearing at times to suggest the imminence of divorce.

Archive Tape: [00:01:44] You, sir, may resign your post.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:01:49] It sounds like my family.

Christina Phillips: [00:01:50] The three branches struggle for power and step on each other's toes. It's a system of checks and balances.

Archive Tape: [00:01:59] A check means to stop something. A balance means a way of evening things up.

Christina Phillips: [00:02:04] Each branch of government brings something unique to the relationship, special powers.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:09] ,Let's start with the executive branch.

Christina Phillips: [00:02:12] The executive branch carries out and enforces laws passed by Congress. It's made up of the president, the vice president and cabinet members.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:02:24] The president has many responsibilities.

Archive Tape: [00:02:27] For example, he gives out medals to war heroes. He greets the winners of contest. He's greeted men coming back from the moon.

President Nixon: [00:02:34] I want you to know that I think I'm the luckiest man in the world. I have the privilege of speaking for so many and welcoming you back to earth!

Christina Phillips: [00:02:45] Not only the head of state.The president is the leader of the federal government and commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces.

Archive Tape: [00:02:52] If the president approves the bill, he signs, it then becomes law. The President may veto a bill passed by the Congress.

Christina Phillips: [00:03:01] The president gets help from the vice president. The vice president is also the president of the Senate and takes over for the president if she is no longer able to do the job.

Archive Tape: [00:03:11] In case of the removal of the president from office or his death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office-

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:19] that brings us to the cabinet.

President Obama: [00:03:22] One of the things I'm most proud of is the cabinet we've assembled. You've got extraordinarily talented people.

Christina Phillips: [00:03:27] The cabinet members are 15 high ranking folks.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:29] Who run agencies that are part of the executive branch, like the secretary of state, the attorney general and the secretary of the Treasury.

Christina Phillips: [00:03:39] The executive branch is powerful.

He-Man: [00:03:44] I have the power!

Jacqui Fulton: [00:03:44] But it doesn't hold all the power- on to the legislative branch!

Christina Phillips: [00:03:50] The legislative branch is the one that makes the laws.

Archive Tape: [00:03:53] This branch of the government is made up of two houses. The Senate and the House of Representatives. A law may originate in either House, but must be approved by both of them.When a bill is passed by both houses, it is sent to the president.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:12] Each state has two senators. That's 100 senators altogether.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:17] They have the authority to declare war. Here they are responding to President Roosevelt, asking for war to be declared on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Archive Tape: [00:04:29] And now, ladies and gentlemen, we understand that both houses of Congress now have passed the resolution for a declaration of war.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:36] The House of Representatives has 435 voting representatives and six non-voting members.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:04:43] Each state has a different number of Reps based on population.

Archive Tape: [00:04:48] The first session of the 75th Congress closes before the president's chief bills are passed and a special session threatens.

Christina Phillips: [00:04:54] Lastly, but not leastly the judicial branch.

Archive Tape: [00:05:00] The Constitution set up the president to keep an eye on the Congress, and the Congress to keep an eye on the president, and to keep an eye on both of them something else, a Supreme Court.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:11] The judicial branch decides what laws mean and how to apply them in real life situations.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:16] Or as this guy puts it-.

Archive Tape: [00:05:18] They sit most days of the year and they look into the Constitution and they decide if something that somebody has done, anybody is legal. Whether you can, for instance, a stage play of naked men and women running around shouting four letter words is constitutional.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:35] I'd watch that play.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:05:38] The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and it's part of the judicial branch.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:43] It's made up of nine justices who are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate.

Archive Tape: [00:05:49] We'll hear argument first this morning in case 189526, Mcgerk Versus Oklahoma. Mr. Gershengorn.

Christina Phillips: [00:05:58] They also decide cases that differ from what our Constitution says. There are lower federal courts that help handle things like appeals, tax, and bankruptcy, lawsuits involving U.S. and state governments, or the Constitution and more.

Archive Tape: [00:06:12] There's much, much more. We also want you to have this six in one...

Christina Phillips: [00:06:17] There you have it. The three branches of government. Executive, legislative and judicial.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:24] Each has a different job to do.

Archive Tape: [00:06:26] If the Congress and the president get to a point where there's a serious dispute on who has the authority to act, then the final judge becomes the third branch of the government. The Supreme Court.

Jacqui Fulton: [00:06:36] The most important thing is that they work together even if they don't want to.

Archive Tape: [00:06:40] Should we be disturbed by such tension within our government? The fact is that the Constitution permits squabbling but it also permits agreement.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:03] All right, Nick, what are the three branches of government

Nick Capodice: [00:07:05] Executive, legislative, judicial. The legislative branch makes laws.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:09] The executive branch enforces laws.

Nick Capodice: [00:07:11] And the judicial branch interprets the laws.You branches better get along with each other now.

Hannah McCarthy: [00:07:16] Don't make me pull this car over.

Will : [00:07:19] This episode was produced by Jacqui Fulton. With help by Nick Capodice. Hannah McCarthy and Christina Phillips. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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The Three Branches - Civics 101: A Podcast

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The United States government spreads power across three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Why three branches? What does each branch do that the others cannot? And how do they work together? Today's Civics Short takes a closer look at the who, what,

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Hand in a recorded response (30s-1min) to the following question:

What role does the monarchy/the Queen play in Great Britain politics?

You may use Anchor or another recording tool for this. If you need help with registering or recording, you can comment underneath here.

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Get to know Spotify for Podcasters, the free, all-in-one podcast platform for every creator.

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You will do these tasks in class, in your group or solitary, by using your phone or school tablets.

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You will do these tasks at home, either alone, in groups or with you e-twinning partner. Here you need to upload a solution into the padlet.

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...that you need for the tasks and the discussion with your e-twinning partner

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Here you can find our vocabulary list, feel free to enter any word that is unclear to you:
US and UK politics-Karteikarten | Quizlet

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Look up grammar in your school book or grammar book and you can also check out the following website:
Englische Grammatik - Regeln (englisch-hilfen.de)

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Step 1: Inform yourself (by looking for podcasts, explainer videos, websites) about the German political system or if you and your family have grown up in another country, you may also present this political system.

Step 2: Collect similarities and differences ? e.g Chancellor vs. Prime Minister, different buildings, what parties are there etc. and do some brainstorming in a mind map of what you would like to say.

Step 3: Write the script (look at Step 5 of the WIKI!). Put in questions for your e-twinning partner, a nice introduction, an ending etc.  (rest of lesson 20/25min)

Step 4: Record your podcast, which should be 8-10min, and upload it into the podcast column.

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How to Start Podcasting with Students using Soundtrap - YouTube

How the German Government Works - YouTubeHow the German Government Works - YouTube

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Listen to one podcast of your choice that has not got any feedback yet and tell them whether they have ticked all the boxes from our guideline sheet. Say what you like about it and what they could have improved.

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your podcast with your e-twinning partner 

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your podcast with your e-twinning partner 

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Conduct an interview/podcast (8-10min) with your British e-twinning partner to the topic. You can work in groups of 2, but remember: you also need to interact with your  e-twinning partner as a guest to your podcast:

1. How do the political systems of the UK and the US work ? What role does politics play for your partner ?

You may include:

which system do you find the best ?

what are differences/similarities, advantages/disadvantages ?

why do we need three branches and what is check and balances ?

what role does a monarch, a president, a chancellor have ?

And
2. Ask your E-twinning partner some political questions:

to the Queen, to the President -> what do they know/think about their jobs ?

to the Prime Minister

current issues (Megxit, Brexit, Corona)