Name ______________________________ Core _________ Date ________________________
The Branches of Government
must answer to the citizens or risk losing the next
election.
The legislative branch is responsible for setting
tax rates, approving government spending, and printing
and borrowing money. This branch is the only
government body that can declare war. This means that
WASHINGTON, D.C. On September 17,
1787, the Founding Fathers signed the U.S.
Constitution. Its framers wanted the document to be
the foundation of a different kind of government. It
would be one that rejected absolute rule and supported
democracy.
The framers decided that the U.S. government
would consist of three distinct branches—the
executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Each branch
would ensure that the other branches did not become
too powerful. This occurs through systems called
"separation of powers" and "checks and balances."
The Legislative Branch
The legislature is made up of the two houses of
Congress—the Senate and the House of
Representatives. Residents of each state elect a certain
number of lawmakers to each house. That way, every
state is represented in Congress, and every lawmaker
the president cannot decide to go to war without
receiving approval from Congress.
The Constitution grants the legislative branch
the sole power to make laws, but it also requires that
each bill undergoes a series of steps. After lawmakers
vote to pass a law, they hand the bill over to the
president. The president then decides whether to sign
the bill into law or veto it. Congress can override a
veto by voting on the bill again, but this time, it needs
"yes" votes from two-thirds of its members instead of
just a majority. This lengthy process ensures that bills
are careful examined before they can become laws.
The Executive Branch
The president is the head of the executive
branch, which also includes departments and agencies
such as the Treasury and the FBI.
The framers of the Constitution granted the
president a range of duties. Many of these duties are
performed with the legislative branch. Only Congress
can declare war, but as the commander in chief of the
not fair. From then on, the court had the authority to
military, it is the president who tells the military what
strike down laws created by the legislative branch that
to do. Some presidents have sent troops overseas
it thought were unconstitutional. This authority is
without declaring war. The president is also the chief
called "judicial review." It gave the judicial branch as
diplomat of the United States. What does this mean?
much power as the other two branches of government.
With the permission of the Senate, presidents can
appoint ambassadors and work out treaties.
Once Congress and the president have passed a
Using judicial review, the Supreme Court has
struck down many laws. In a 1954 case called Brown
v. Board of Education, for example, the court ruled
law, the executive branch is responsible for putting it
that it was unconstitutional to segregate schools on the
into practice. For example, if Congress passes a law to
basis of race. The ruling forced schools to integrate.
protect the environment, the president directs an
A Government of Many
environmental agency to follow through.
The Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court and lower federal courts
The Constitution clearly defines the duties of
each of the three branches, but it rarely allows a branch
to work on its own. The three branches often "check"
make up the judicial branch of the government. The
one another's powers. Laws made by the legislative
Supreme Court is made up of nine justices. Each is
branch, for example, must be approved by the
appointed by the president and approved by Congress.
president. Laws can also be struck down by the
Justices keep their seats for life or until they choose to
Supreme Court. Similarly, the president's Supreme
retire. They can be removed from power only if the
Court nominees must be approved by Congress.
Senate convicts them of impeachable offenses.
The Constitution defines the Supreme Court as
When the framers wrote the Constitution and
created this system of "checks and balances," they
the highest judicial power in the United States. The
aimed to create a democratic government, run by the
Supreme Court hears cases that are still in dispute after
people instead of by just one individual or small group.
being heard in the less powerful federal courts. One of
They divided power among three branches. They
these cases, Marbury v. Madison (1803), increased the
ensured that each branch would be checked by the
power of the Supreme Court. How? In the case, the
other two. This grand experiment has been a success
justices used the Constitution to decide that a law was
for over 200 years.
Dictionary
convict (verb) declare guilty
diplomat (noun) a member of the government who deals with foreign countries
segregate (verb) to separate one person or group from another
unconstitutional (adjective) not following what is laid out in the Constitution
veto (verb) to refuse to allow something to be done
Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the choice the best completes the statement. (2 points each)
1. What is this article mainly about?
A. The U.S. Constitution defines the Supreme
Court as the highest judicial power in the
United States.
B. The U.S. Constitution provided for an
executive branch, headed by the president of
the United States.
C. The U.S. Constitution grants the legislative
branch the power to make laws and set tax
rates.
D. The U.S. Constitution divides the government
3. Which best summarizes the eleventh paragraph of
the article?
A. Brown v. Board of Education was a court case
heard by the Supreme Court in 1954.
B. Brown v. Board of Education is an example of
the Supreme Court's use of judicial review.
C. The Supreme Court ruled that it was
unconstitutional to segregate students on the
basis of race.
D. The Supreme Court forced schools to integrate
their student populations.
into three branches that have distinct
4. The article states: Each branch would ensure that
responsibilities.
the other branches did not become too powerful.
2. According to the article, why did the framers of the
This occurs through systems called "separation of
Constitution create a system of "checks and balances"?
powers" and "checks and balances." Which would
A. To make sure that the Supreme Court was the
nation's highest judicial power
B. To make sure that power was centered in only
one branch of the government
C. To make sure that no single branch of the
government became too powerful
D. To make sure that the executive branch could
declare war, when necessary
be the closest synonym for the word occurs?
A. Elects
B. Decides
C. Appoints
D. Happens
5. The reader can infer from the article that ________.
A. The president is responsible for deciding how
long Supreme Court justices will serve.
B. The president has a great deal of influence over
who becomes a Supreme Court justice.
C. Every Supreme Court justice who is appointed
was previously a member of Congress.
D. Every justice who is appointed has been
approved by existing Supreme Court justices.
C. The court had the authority to rule in all court
cases involving U.S. citizens.
D. The court had the authority to send cases to be
heard in less powerful courts.
7. Which is the closest antonym for the word veto?
A. Annoy
B. Associate
C. Apologize
D. Approve
6. In what way did the Supreme Court's authority
8. The legislative branch has the authority to do all of
change after Marbury v. Madison?
the following except _________.
A. The court had the authority to strike down laws
that it considered unconstitutional.
B. The court had the authority to remove any of its
own justices from their positions.
Opinion Question:
A. Declare laws unconstitutional
B. Set tax rates
C. Print and borrow money
D. Approve government spending
Now that you have read the article, indicate in the space below whether you agree or
disagree with this statement. How much should people know about the Constitution? (5 points)
Thought Question:
Imagine that your school is planning to celebrate Constitution Day and that you’re in
charge of explaining the branches of government to the entire school. How do you plan to do this? What information
about the branches will you be teaching? Some example of things you could do include putting on a play, creating a
game, or pretending to interview a writer of the Constitution. Refer to the article for ideas. You can use your own
ideas, too.
(5 points)