The Branches of Government and Their Powers

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The Branches of Government and Their Powers

• 8th Grade Lesson
• Michael B. Hand

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Objectives

• The students will gain a knowledge of the powers
  of each branch of government
• The students will gain an understanding of
  bicameral legislature
• The students will understand checks and balances

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Materials Needed

• Notebooks
• Checks and Balances Worksheet
• Branches of Government Worksheet

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The Constitution divides the powers of government
into three branches

• The purpose is to prevent power from being
  assumed by one person or a small group.

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The branches are
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The Executive Branch

• This Branch is headed by the President of the
  U.S.
• This Branch Carries out the laws or enforces them.

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The Judicial Branch

• This is the branch that interprets our laws
• This branch establishes our federal court system

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The Legislative Branch

• This is the branch that makes the laws
• This branch is divided into two houses

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The First House is

• The house or Representatives
• This house is considered the lower house and is
  based on population
• Currently has 435 members

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The Second House is

• The Senate
• This house is considered the higher house and is
  based on equal representation for all sates.
• 100 total
• 2 from each state

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Congress

• The official name for our bicameral legislature
• The purpose of this design was to settle a
  dispute between the smaller and larger states
  over the issue of representation

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Who is the Current President of the U.S.?
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George W.Bush
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Each branch has powers over the other

• They are certain checks and balances

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Executive over Judicial

• President Appoints federal judges

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Judicial over Executive

• Declares actions of President unconstitutional

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Judicial Over Legislative

• The power to declare laws unconstitutional

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Executive over Legislative

• The power to veto laws passed in both houses

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Legislative over Judicial

• All judicial appointments must be approved by the
  Senate

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Legislative over Executive

• Treaties must be approved by the Legislature

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Activities

• Students will complete Branches of Government
  Worksheet
• Students will complete Checks and Balances
  Worksheet
• Students will engage in a discussion about the
  powers of government
• Students will chose one branch of government and
  provide a recent event that branch used its power

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Activities (continued)

• The students will present their topics to the
  class in a presentation

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Web Sites

• White House Web Site
• www.whitehouse.gov
• The U.S. Supreme Court Site
• www.supremecourtus.gov
• Congress Site
• www.congress.org
• Library of Congress Site
• www.loc.gov
• House of Representatives Site
• www.house.gov

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Web Sites (continued)

• Senate Web Site
• www.senate.gov

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The End