1. Three Branches of government

2. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

3. FILL IN THE BLANKS IN THE SENTENCES BELOW 1. What are the 3 branches of our government?_______________, _____________, _______________. 2. The ______________ Branch of our government makes the laws. 3. The ______________ Branch of our government enforces our laws. 4. What are the two parts of our Congress? ____________ and _____________. 5. There are _____ senators. 6. The ______________ is elected by eligible United States citizens who vote and by the Electoral College system. 7. ___________ and _______________ are elected by voters in their states. 8. ________________ study laws to see if they are correct according to the Constitution. 9. Where do the major branches of our federal government meet and work? ____________________________________________________ 10. The_______________ is the leader of the Executive Branch of our government.

4. 1) How many branches of the United States government are there? a) 0 b) 1 c) 2 d) 3 2) Congress includes two parts. What are they? a) Legislative and Executive b) Supreme Court and court system c) Senate and House of Representatives 3) The Executive branch of government is headed by whom? a) the President b) Senators c) Representatives d) judges 4) Congress is part of which branch of government? a) Executive b) Legislative c) Judicial 5) What does the Supreme Court do? a) tell other courts what they must do b) make sure laws follow the Constitution c) decide on the punishment for those convicted 6) How many Senators are elected from each state? a) 0 b) 1 c) 2 d) 3 e) depends on the state's population 7) How many Representatives are there from each state? a) 0 b) 1 c) 2 d) 3 e) depends on the state's population

5. 8) How is the President chosen? a) people from the smallest states election b) people from the largest states decide c) people from all fifty states election d) the current President decides 9) What does Congress do? a) leads the army, navy, and air force b) passes laws c) decides on the punishment of those convicted of crimes d) decides if laws follow the Constitution 10) What is one of the duties of the President? a) to boss other people around b) to pass laws c) to decide how people should be punished d) to see that the laws passed by Congress are carried out 11) What is another duty of the President? a) leads the army, navy, and air force b) decides if laws follow the Constitution c) passes laws d) decides on the punishment of those convicted of crimes 12) What is another duty of the President? a) makes the laws b) decides if laws follow the Constitution c) decides on the punishment of those convicted of crimes d) meets with heads of other countries 13) The Judicial branch of government involves which of the following? a) the President b) the courts c) Congress 14) What level of government is this quiz about? a) Local b) State c) National

6. Federalism is a political system in which at least two “separate governments “share the responsibility for governing the same people and the same territory. In effect, federalism draws lines to separate the powers of different levels of government. National / State / Local / Ask: What is separation of powers?

7. The principle of separation of powers draws lines that divide the powers held by distinct branches at a single level of government. Ask: What are the three branches of the national government called? And what do they do? Each branch has its own powers, though some powers are shared among them. The system of separation of powers is designed to reduce the risk that a single branch might act independently and abuse its power.

8. A system of checks and balances is a government structure that gives each branch some control of the actions of the others and requires cooperation among the branches. A system of balances minimizes the risk that one branch might completely take over the government or stray too far politically from the other branches. The system of checks and balances design has been a key factor in the Constitution's survival, assuring evolution in government rather than revolution. Due to a system of checks and balances, the legislative, executive, and judicial branches' powers overlap, and each branch exerts some power over the others.

9. The Legislative Branch (House and Senate) checks on the president; can override a presidential veto; can impeach and remove the president; ratifies presidential appointments; authorizes/appropriates funds for legislation; checks on the judiciary; can impeach and remove judges; confirms federal judges.

10. The Executive Branch (President) checks on Congress; proposes legislation; vetoes legislation; makes treaties; checks on the judiciary; appoints federal judges; enforces court decisions.

11. The Judicial Branch (Supreme Court and lower courts) checks on the president; reviews executive acts; checks on Congress; reviews congressional laws.

12. Sharing of power can cause tension and lead to conflict. The wording of the U.S. Constitution is ambiguous in some ways because many situations are not dealt with specifically. Each branch of government has at one time or another has attempted to expand its power by reinterpreting these ambiguities, leading to conflict over power and control of policy. Overall, separation of powers and the system of checks and balances has been both a source of tension and a basis for stability.