Name: _______________
Due Date: _________
SS.7.C.3.3: Illustrate the structure and function (three of branches of government established in Articles I, II, and III with
corresponding powers) of government in the United States as established in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.3 Benchmark Clarification 1: Students will recognize the structure of the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches.
The U. S. government is made up of three separate branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Each branch
is organized very differently. The legislative branch includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. Together they
are the lawmaking body of the United States called Congress.
Article I of the Constitution discusses the powers and organization of Congress. The main job of the legislative branch is
to make laws. The major items in Article I include:
 The United States will have a two-house legislature.
 There is a list of specific powers given to Congress.
The second branch of the U.S. government is the executive branch. The executive branch includes the President and Vice
President. The main job of the executive branch is to enforce the laws. Article II of the Constitution outlines the powers
of the President.
The third branch of the U.S. government is the judicial branch. The judicial branch includes the U.S. Supreme Court and
all lower courts including federal, state, and local courts. Article III of the Constitution states that there is “one supreme
Court” and “inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.” Article III names only the
Supreme Court and allows Congress to create all other federal, state, and local court systems.
SS.7.C.3.3 Benchmark Clarification 2: Students will compare the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of the
federal government.
Each branch of the U.S. government has its own set of jobs and responsibilities. Also, the Constitution sets up a system
of checks and balances that allows each branch to limit the power of the other branches. Checks and balances prevent
any one branch from becoming too powerful. Below is a chart that describes one of the roles of government and
illustrates the system of checks and balances.
Branch of
Role: Making Laws
Government
Legislative
The legislative branch makes the laws; Congress can override a presidential veto with 2/3rds of
each house voting to do so.
Executive
The executive branch enforces the laws; the president can veto a law if the President does not
want a bill to become law.
Judicial
The judicial branch interprets the laws; the Supreme Court may determine that a law is not legal
under the Constitution and strike down the law.
SS.7.C.3.3 Benchmark Clarification 3: Students will identify the general powers described in
Articles I, II, and III of the U.S. Constitution.
Articles of the
General Powers
Constitution
Article I – Legislative The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, also called
Branch
Congress. Congress makes the laws for the entire nation.
In Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution the powers of Congress are enumerated. These
include:
1. The power to collect taxes
2. The power to coin money
3. The power to make laws on immigration
4. The power to make laws on trade
5. The power to create an army and navy
6. The power to impeach and remove officials from office
7. To approve presidential appointments
Article II – Executive The executive branch is made up of the President and Vice President. The president enforces the
Branch
laws that Congress makes.
Article II of the Constitution describes the powers of the President. These powers include:
Name: _______________
Due Date: _________
Article III – Judicial
Branch
1. The power to enforce the laws (Chief Executive; “he shall take Care that
the Laws be faithfully executed”)
2. The power to send troops into combat (Commander in Chief; “The President shall be
Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several
States”)
3. The power to make treaties with leaders of other nations
4. The power to nominate people to serve in the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, and other high
government positions
5. The power to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment
The judicial branch is made up of the United States Supreme Court and all of the lower courts
including federal, state, and local courts.
Article III of the Constitution describes the powers of the Supreme Court. These
include:
1. The power of original jurisdiction (the power to be the first court to hear a case) for cases that
involve:
a. Ambassadors
b. Maritime (navy) issues
c. Arguments between two or more states
d. Problems that involve the United States government
2. All other cases not listed above come to the Court through their appellate jurisdiction. (The
Supreme Court hears a case that has been heard by a lower court first.)
Vocabulary: define each word/phrase in your own words – complete sentences
Executive branch: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Legislative branch: __________________________________________________________________________________
Judicial branch: _____________________________________________________________________________________
President: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Congress: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Legislature: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Bill: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Checks & balances: __________________________________________________________________________________
Veto: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Original jurisdiction: _________________________________________________________________________________
Appellate jurisdiction: _______________________________________________________________________________
Enumerated powers: ________________________________________________________________________________
Impeach: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Pardon: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Treaty: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: _______________
Due Date: _________
Quiz: For each question, circle the best answer.
Low Complexity Question
Which branch of federal government makes laws?
A. Bureaucracy
B. Executive
C. Judicial
D. Legislative
Moderate Complexity Question
The newspaper headline below describes an event in
U.S. history.
Hint: The correct response should identify the branch of
the national government that makes legislation.
Hint: Evaluate the roles of each branch of government
in the treaty approval process. The correct response
should identify the two branches of government that
share the power to approve, or ratify, treaties.
Which parts of the national government participated in
the process described in the newspaper headline?
A. Senate & President
B. Supreme Court & President
C. House of Representatives and Senate
D. Supreme Court and House of Representatives
High Complexity Question
The statement below is from a congressional document,
July 27, 1974.
“Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner
contrary to his trust as President and subversive
of constitutional government, to the great
prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to
the manifest injury of the people of the United
States.”
Source: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on
the Judiciary
How have similar statements influenced modern
congressional actions?
A. Presidential impeachment
B. Presidential nomination
C. Presidential election
D. Presidential veto
Hint: Read and analyze the statement. Predict how a
statement issued by the House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary could influence Congress to
take action. The correct answer should identify a
congressional action that would most likely be
influenced by critical statements about the President of
the United States.