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Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Branches of Government Quiz

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Take this twelve question quiz to test your knowledge of the three branches of government.
Interactive
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Games

For Students 4th - 6th
Test your knowledge of U.S. geography and government with these games and printable activities. In one game, see if you can place all 50 states in their correct location. In the second game, see if you can recognize the powers of each...
Website
Ministry of Education and Employment of Spain

Si Spain: Form of Government

For Students 9th - 10th
Have a question about the organization of the Spanish government? This resource offers several selections from which you can choose to learn more about a specific branch of Spanish government or the roles of its many leaders.
Website
US Government Publishing Office

U.s. Government Publishing Office: Congressional Hearings

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Massive directory of the transcripts of all Senate and House committee and subcommittee hearings from the 105th Congress to the 109th Congress. Hearings are typcially open to the public and done for the purpose of attaining information...
Article
Other

Texas Transparency: Texas State Government at a Glance

For Students 9th - 10th
A quick, organized look at the history and organizational structure of the three branches of Texas state government.
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Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility

Jefferson Lab: Reading Passages: The Three Branches of Government

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Read and fill in the blanks of this passage explaining the three branches of government. Each blank has a drop-down menu with choices. When you finish, click CHECK MY ANSWERS. If you pick a wrong answer, the right answer will be...
Website
Northern Illinois University

Tagalog: Philippine Democracy

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an exhaustive look at the government of the Philippines with brief biographies of the presidents, descriptions of the branches of government, and a diagram of the court system.
Activity
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Separation of Powers

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
When do the actions of one branch of the federal government unconstitutionally intrude upon the powers of another branch? This article surveys the history of this question in historic Supreme Court cases.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Separation of Powers: What's for Lunch?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students find out how the three branches of government interact with each other and how decisions about laws are made by several parts of the U.S. government.
Handout
US Department of State

Info Usa: Foreign Trade and Global Economic Policies

For Students 9th - 10th
U.S. foreign trade and global economic policies have changed direction dramatically during the more than two centuries that the United States has been a country. In the early days of the nation's history, government and business mostly...
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Debate and Compromise

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The 18th-century statesmen who met in Philadelphia were adherents of Montesquieu's concept of the balance of power in politics. This principle was supported by colonial experience and strengthened by the writings of John Locke, with...
Activity
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: What Is a Law?

For Students 3rd - 5th
Find out what a law is and who makes them. Learn the step by step process of how laws are made on the national level.
Graphic
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: How Laws Are Implemented

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Students can visualize how a bill becomes a law with this infographic that breaks the process down into 7 steps with pictures and explanations. [PDF]
Activity
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: The Reach of Congressional Power

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Read about the privileges and powers exercised by Congress from a constitutional law perspective. Includes examples of many cases which have tested the limits of Congressional power in the history of the United States. Many links to...
Activity
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Harry S. Truman Library & Museum: Checks and Balances

For Students 3rd - 8th
Descriptions of the separate powers and functions of the three branches of the federal government. Site explains how the powers of one branch check and balance those of another.
Activity
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Little Legislatures

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site from the University of Groningen clearly defines the role of committees in the legislative process, as well as a brief historical perspective on congressional committees. Essays, text and biography links related to American...
Lesson Plan
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress Link: Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Virginia Plan

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Virginia Plan that was based on a national and state government system with a separation of powers consisting of legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also contained a resolution for proportional...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Article 1 of the Us Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Presents a summary and the full text of Artice I of the US Constitution. Article 1 primarily deals with Congress explaining who may become a representative, and who may become a senator, all of the powers that Congress and the individual...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Us Senate Facts

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Detailed facts and information on the United States Senate, a part of Congress that has the power to pass, amend and repeal bills that are made into the law of the land.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Us House of Representatives Facts

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Detailed facts and information provide a quick overview of how the US House of Representatives, a part of Congress, works.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Our Courts: Constitution Day Lesson: Checks and Balances [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn the roles and responsibilities of each branch of government and where the checks and balances are located in this role-playing lesson. Requires Adobe Reader.
Primary
Other

President Gerald Ford's Special Message to Congress

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the working relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government through Ford's address to Congress in 1976 addressing the need for improvements to programs for the elderly.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews the organization of the US Government into executive, legislative and judicial branches. Interactive actions and includes containers, fill in the blanks and matching.