Download Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

Standard CE.6a - Structure and Powers of National Government
The Constitution of the United States defines the structure and powers of the ______________government.
The powers held by government are divided between the national government in______________________,
D.C. and the governments of the 50 states.
Legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the national government are distributed among three distinct
and independent ____________ of government.
1. Consists of the ____________________, a bicameral legislature consisting of

the House of Representatives (___________ members, based upon populations of the
Legislative
Branch
states)

the Senate (_____________members—two per state.)
2. Makes the ______________ of the nation
3. _____________________ the _________________ budget
4. Confirms ________________________ appointments
5. Raises __________________ through taxes and other levies
6. Regulates ______________________ and
_____________________trade
Executive
Branch
7. Declares ______________________
1. Headed by the _____________________ of the United States, the chief executive officer of
the nation
2. ______________________ the laws of the land
3. ________________________ the ____________________ budget for congressional action
4. Appoints _______________________________, _____________________________, and
_______________________________________
Judicial Branch
5. Administers the ________________________________________________________
1. Consists of the ________________ courts, including the _______________
_________________, the highest court in the land
2. The Supreme Court exercises the power of ___________________________________.
3. The federal courts try cases involving __________________________________ and questions
involving interpretation of the ________________________________________.
Standard CE.6b - Separation of Powers / Checks & Balances
The powers of the national government are separated among three branches of the government in ways that
limit any one branch from ___________________ its power.
Separation of powers
The Constitution of the United States in Articles I, II, and III defines the powers of the
_________________________, __________________________, and ________________________
branches of the national government.
Checks and balances
Each of the three branches of the national government __________________the exercise of power by the
other two branches.
The legislative branch – Article _______
1. The Congress checks the president when legislators
 ________________ presidential _______________

___________________ and _____________________ a president.
2. The Congress checks the courts when legislators
 ____________________ or __________________________________ a federal judge/justice

_____________________ and convict judges/justices.
The executive branch – Article _____
1. The president checks Congress when the president
 proposes _______________________________

____________________ an ________________ budget for Congress to approve

call _____________________________________ of Congress

___________________________________________________ Congress has passed.
2. The president checks the courts when the president ___________________________________________.
The judicial branch – Article _____
1. The courts check Congress when judges/justices declare ________________________________________
to be unconstitutional.
2. The courts check the president when judges/justices declare ____________________________________
to be unconstitutional.
Standard CE.6c – National Lawmaking Process

Officials who are elected to serve in the national _____________________________ make laws.

National laws are made by ______________________.

All citizens can learn the importance of the individual’s participation in the policymaking process through
_________________ ____________________________ and ______________________________.
Legislative powers
1. ________________________: Specifically listed in the Constitution of the United States
2. ______________________: Used to carry out expressed powers
The lawmaking process in Congress
1. Introducing a bill by a _________________ or ______________________
2. Working in _________________________
3. _________________the bill on the floor of each house
4. ________________________ on the _______________________in each house
5. Sending the bill to the ________________________ to sign into _____________

Elected officials in Congress _______________________ and take action in response to ________________ or
issues.

________________________ and ______________________________________ help shape legislation.

The formal powers of Congress are limited by the ___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.

Citizens (including students) learn the importance of the legislative process through ________________
_______________________________and/or simulations.
Standard CE.6d – Powers of the National Executive Branch

The executive branch plays a key role in the _______________________________ process.

Presidential power is broad in both ___________________ and ____________________ affairs, but there are
limits on what the president can and cannot do.
Ways the executive branch influences policymaking
1. Proposing legislation in an annual speech to Congress
(_____________________________________________)
2. Appealing directly to the ____________________
3. Approving or vetoing ____________________________
4. Appointing ___________________ who carry out the laws

_________________________________________, ________________________, and _______________________
__________________________interpret and execute the laws.
The president exercises power as
1. ________________________________: Ceremonial head of the government
2.
_________________________________: Head of the executive branch of government
3.
________________________________________: Proposer of the legislative agenda
4.
__________________________________________: Head of the nation’s armed forces
5.
_________________________________________: Architect of American foreign policy
6.
__________________________________: Leader of the political party that controls the executive branch
7.
_______________________________________: Representative of all of the people.

Presidential power has _______________ in the years since the Constitution was ratified.