When the Founding Fathers designed this country, they created a government with three unique branches that would work together, while also checking each other's power: the legislative branch, the judicial branch, and the executive branch.
Class Discussion Questions:
1) Create a Venn diagram comparing our branches of government.
2) Which branch of government do you feel is the most important. Support your response.
Read the Script:
When the founding fathers designed this country, they had just fought for independence from a king, and they knew they did not want to establish another government ruled by a king. Instead, their main goal was to set up a government that did not allow one person to have too much control. With this in mind, the Framers wrote the Constitution to provide for a separation of powers, or three separate branches of government. Each has its own responsibilities, and at the same time, they work together to make the country run smoothly and to assure that the rights of citizens are not ignored.
The legislative branch is also called Congress. That's the branch that makes laws. Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Many people think this is the most important branch because the founding fathers wrote this branch into the Constitution first.
The judicial branch evaluates laws, and is made up of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court in our country, and they settle disputes that the state courts can't decide, and they determine if laws are constitutional, or allowed by the Constitution.
Finally, the executive branch carries out laws. This is where the president fits in, along with his vice president and his Cabinet. The president is the head of state, head of the US government, and the commander-in-chief of the US military, so he is very powerful.
But the branches of government ensure a system of checks and balances. A branch may use its powers to check the powers of the other two, in order to maintain a balance of power among the three branches of government. For example, the president may veto, or reject, a law passed by Congress, but Congress can override that veto with a vote of two thirds of both houses. It might make it harder to get things done, but our system of checks and balances ensures that many different groups of people have to put their stamp of approval on new laws, appointments, or actions. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work.
Instructional Links
Website Article & Poster: Kids.gov, Three Branches of Government
https://kids.usa.gov/three-branches-of-government/index.shtml
Website Article: Ben's Guide to Government, Checks and Balances
https://bensguide.gpo.gov/j-check-balance
Game: Sheppard Software, Branches of Government Game
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/government/branches_government.htm
Video: PBSLearningMedia, Crash Course Government and Politics, Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances