The Branches of
Government
By: Rebecca Stultz
ED 639
Unit: Democracy
Grade: 6
Lesson: Branches of Government
Objectives
 Learn the definition of each branch of
government.
 Know the responsibilities of each branch of
government.
 Learn who holds the current offices on
federal, state, and local level.
Materials Needed
 LCD Projector, Screen, and Power Point
Presentation - Branches of Government
 Handout - Scavenger Hunt
 Internet access for students
 Envelopes and stamps
 Copy of Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Government Web Sites
- State of Ohio - www.ohio.gov
- U.S. Courts - www.uscourts.gov
- U.S. House of Representatives
www.house.gov/
- United States Senate
www.Senate.gov
- The White House
www.whitehouse.gov
Student Activities
 Complete an internet scavenger hunt
 Power Point Presentation
 Write a letter to their congressman
requesting them to write a new law.
 Mock Trial - Goldilocks and the Three
Bears
 Parent Questions
Our Feature Presentation:
The Branches of Government
Ever Wonder...
 What is government?
 What are the three branches of
government?
 Why do we have three branches
of government?
 What power do the three
branches have?
 Who are the leaders of the three
branches?
What is a Government?
 People who live in groups or communities
need established rules.
 A government is the organization that
makes the rules, settles disagreements, and
protects the community from those who
break the rules.
 The government is given the power to carry
out their authority over society.
Three Types of Power
 Legislative Power
Has the power to make the laws
 Executive Power
Has the power to carry out the laws
 Judicial Power
Has the power to interpret the laws
Legislative Branch
 The legislative branch is
responsible for making the laws.
 The Federal Government has two parts:
• Senate
• House of Representatives
Powers of Congress:
The Congress makes the laws on matters involving our national
interests, such as controlling trade with other countries, printing
our national money, and declaring wars.
House of Representatives
 Number of Members?
435
 Length of Term?
2 years
 Representation
Based on the size of the state’s population
 Elected By?
Voters from a particular Congressional district
U.S. Senate
 Number of Members?
100
 Length of Term?
George Voinovich
6 years
 Representation
Two from each state
 Elected By?
Voters from the entire state
Mike DeWine
Executive Branch
 The executive branch is responsible for
carrying out the laws passed by Congress.
 The Chief Executive of the Executive
Branch at the federal level is the president.
Powers of the Executive Branch:
The president proposes a budget for the national government, acts
as Commander-in-Chief for our armed forces, appoints leading
federal officials, and guides our nation’s foreign
policy.
President
 Length of Term?
4 years
 Number of Terms
George W. Bush
A maximum of two full terms
 Qualifications
35 years, a resident of the United States for 14 years, and a
natural-born citizen
Judicial Branch
 The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting
the U.S. Constitution. It does this by deciding
specific cases brought before the court.
 The highest court is the U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. Supreme Court
 Number of Justices?
9
 Length of Term?
 HowJustices
are Justices
selected?
serve for
life
Chief Justice:
William Rehnquist
Nominated by the President, but must also be approved by
 Qualifications?
the U.S. Senate
There are no qualifications mentioned in the U.S. Constitution
for being a U.S. justice.
Three Branches of Government
U.S. Government
Executive
carries out the laws
Legislative
makes the laws
Judicial
interprets the laws
Three Levels of
Government
 Not only is the government split into three
branches, but it is also arranged on three
levels.
 The federal government deals with issues
that affect all citizens.
 State and local governments are allowed to
pass laws on matters that pertain just to
their state or city.
Division of Government Powers
Executive Legislative Judicial
Federal
State
Local
President
Congress
Federal
Courts
Governor State
State
Assembly Courts
Mayor
City
Municipal
Council
Courts
Ask your
parents tonight...




Who is the governor of Ohio?
Who is the mayor of Fairborn?
Where are the state courts located? Why?
Where are the municipal courts located?
Why?
 What is one federal law, one state law, and
one local law?
Upcoming Activities
 Discuss Parent Answers
 Write a letter to Congress proposing a new
law.
 Mock trial for Goldilocks and the Three
Bears
 Internet Scavenger Hunt

home.earthlink.net/~schuessler/Class_Projects/
3_Branches_of_Government.html