The Three Federal Branches

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil; drawing or spoken answers are welcome.
• Topic notes: Legislative: the branch responsible for making federal laws. Executive: the branch responsible for carrying out federal laws. Judicial: the branch deciding cases under law. Check and balance: one branch using a specified power to limit another.
• Original exercise cards: Congress debates and passes a bill. / A federal agency implements a law. / A federal court hears a dispute about a law. / The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress. / The president directs executive administration. / Judges issue a decision in a case. / Congress considers overriding a presidential veto. / Members of Congress propose legislation.

Learn the idea

The U.S. Constitution divides the federal government among legislative, executive and judicial branches. Congress makes laws; the executive carries them out; courts interpret laws in cases. Checks and balances let one branch limit another through specified powers. No branch is simply the boss of every other branch.

Legislative: the branch responsible for making federal laws. Executive: the branch responsible for carrying out federal laws. Judicial: the branch deciding cases under law. Check and balance: one branch using a specified power to limit another.

Look at the action: making laws, carrying out laws, deciding a court case or using a power to limit another branch. Ask an adult to read the notes and cards aloud. Point, draw or say your answer.

1. Ask an adult to read the four notes. Find the words Legislative, Executive, Judicial, Check and balance.
2. Look at the action: making laws, carrying out laws, deciding a court case or using a power to limit another branch.
3. Read the worked answer. Then try the other cards and explain which words helped you choose.
4. Point to, draw or say two different examples: one for Legislative and one for Executive. Explain how their clues differ.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

New card: “Members of Congress propose legislation.” Match it with a note, then point to or say the words that helped. Check: The card says: “Members of Congress propose legislation.” That matches Legislative. Legislative is the branch responsible for making federal laws.

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