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The Constitutional System of Government Teacher Key

The Constitutional System of Government | Teacher Key

K- Know

What I know

 W- Want

What I want to know
Directions: Write, sketch, or doodle everything you remember about the following topics:

  1. Branches of Government
  2. Separation of Powers
  3. Checks and Balances
 Directions: Identify gaps in your knowledge. What else do you need to know to understand the branches of government, separation of powers, and checks and balances better?
Student answers will vary. Student answers will vary.
L- Learned What I learned
Directions: Read the Branches and Checks Essay and view the infographic. Fill in the blanks and record key ideas below.
The representatives at the Constitutional Convention knew they needed to limit the power of a stronger federal government. So, they focused on how to balance power between different parts of the government.

  • The Legislative Branch makes laws. It has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
  • The Executive Branch carries out the laws. The president leads this branch, acts as the country’s top diplomat, and is the commander of the military.
  • The Judicial Branch interprets the laws. It includes the Supreme Court, District courts, and Courts of Appeals.
  • Any powers not given to the national government belong to the states.

The Constitution includes several ways to divide power:

  • Congress makes laws, but the president can approve or reject them. If the president rejects a law, Congress can still pass it if two-thirds of its members vote for it.
  • The president picks Supreme Court justices, but the Senate must approve them.
  • The president can make treaties with other countries, but the Senate must agree to them.

The House of Representatives can accuse the president of wrongdoing. The Senate holds the trial and votes on whether or not to remove from office. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court leads the trial proceedings.

My Key Ideas:

Student answers will vary.