Delegation Resource Manual: Month by Month Implementation Guide
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YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Activity (Separation of Powers): Baron de Montesquieu
University of Virginia Center for Politics
Purpose: The student will understand the principles of government and law developed by the
Baron de Montesquieu including separation of powers, republican government, and
equality under the law.
Objectives:
1.
Students will interpret the ideas of Baron de Montesquieu as they relate to separation of
powers, republican government, and equality under the law.
2.
Students will apply their interpretations of specific quotations from Montesquieu to the
political cartoons, King Andrew the First and I Want My Seat Back.
Key Words:
separation of powers
republican government
equality under the law
Materials:
1.
Overhead (included below) with copy of Wietenkampf’s King Andrew the First.
2.
Overhead (included below) with copy of Bill Mauldin’s I Want My Seat Back.
3.
Student (included below) handout: Baron de Montesquieu Biography
4.
Student (included below) handout: Study Guide: Baron de Montesquieu’s On Spirit of Laws.
Procedures:
1.
Warm-up: Display the overhead of King Andrew the First and ask the following questions:
What is the cartoonist trying to illustrate in this picture?
Why is Andrew Jackson standing on the U.S. Constitution?
2.
Introduce students to the second political cartoon and ask the following questions:
What is the cartoonist trying to illustrate in this picture?
Why is it important that the bald eagle is trying to regain his position?
3.
Pass out copies of the Baron de Montesquieu Biography and read with the class.
4.
Pass out copies of Study Guide: Baron de Montesquieu’s On the Spirit of Laws and direct
students to complete it individually or in groups. Discuss their interpretations of
Montesquieu’s writings as a class.
5.
Using the concepts separation of powers, republican government, and equality under the
law, ask students to discuss or write a journal entry responding to the following
questions:
How do you think Montesquieu would respond to the political cartoon King Andrew
the First? What problems would he see with this picture?
Would Montesquieu agree with Bill Mauldin in the I Want My Seat Back cartoon?
What is the importance of laws and whom do they protect in this illustration?
Do you agree with Montesquieu’s thoughts about a republican government? What
advantages does he believe this form of government has over a democracy?
