Demystifying the Lame Duck: A Reading Passage on the 20th Amendment

Unpack the fascinating history behind the 20th Amendment with this engaging reading comprehension worksheet!
This informative resource explores the problems of the long lame-duck period, the reasoning behind the amendment's ratification, and its lasting impact on American democracy.

What's Included:

• Intriguing Text: Examines the inefficiencies of the pre-20th Amendment system and the solutions implemented by the amendment.
• Primary Source Spotlight: Students analyze an excerpt from a congressional debate, developing critical thinking and historical context.
• Assessment Variety: Multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions assess understanding and encourage analysis.
• Detailed Answer Key: Saves you time and ensures accurate grading.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the historical context that led to the ratification of the 20th Amendment.
• Explain the challenges associated with the long lame-duck period.
• Evaluate the goals and reasoning behind the 20th Amendment.
• Analyze the impact of the 20th Amendment on the transfer of power between administrations.
• Develop critical thinking skills through primary source analysis.

Common Core Standards Addressed:

• RI.6.1 - Cite textual evidence to support analysis of text.
• RI.6.2 - Determine the central idea of a text and analyze its development.
• RI.6.3 - Analyze how a particular sentence contributes to the overall meaning of the paragraph.
• RI.6.6 - Explain how an author uses reason and evidence to support a point of view.

Content:
This worksheet goes beyond memorization by prompting students to grapple with essential questions like:

• Why did the long lame-duck period pose a problem for American democracy?
• How did the 20th Amendment address the inefficiencies of the prior system?
• What are the long-term benefits of a streamlined transfer of power?

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