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The Constitutional System of Government Graphic Organizer

Students will evaluate their own knowledge of the branches of government, checks and balances, and separation of powers.

The Constitutional System of Government | Graphic Organizer

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?
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 _____________ government. So, they focused on how to ____________ power between different parts of government.

  • The _______________ Branch makes laws. It has two parts: the ______________ and the House of __________________.
  • The _______________ Branch carries out the laws. The ___________________ leads this branch, acts as the country’s top diplomat, and is the commander of the military.
  • The ________________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 __________________ 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 __________________ them.
  • The president can make treaties with other ___________________, but the Senate must agree to them.

The House of Representatives can accuse the ________________ 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: