Worksheet on the Checks and Balances System in the U.S. government.
A worksheet titled "The Checks and Balances System" with a table listing powers of the three branches of government and a column asking which branch has the power, with a note at the top left corner.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Checks and Balances Worksheets | Check and balance, Teaching life ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Checks and Balances Worksheets | Check and balance, Teaching life ...
To solve this worksheet, we need to look at how the United States government is divided into three branches: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (Supreme Court). The system of "Checks and Balances" allows each branch to limit the power of the others.
Here is the step-by-step breakdown for each row in your table:
1) Can propose and pass laws
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Congress). They write and vote on bills.
* Check by others: The President can veto (reject) the law. If vetoed, Congress can override it with a 2/3 vote.
2) Veto federal bills as they do not become law
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: Congress can override the veto if 2/3 of both houses agree.
3) Appoints federal judges
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: The Senate (Legislative) must confirm (approve) the appointment.
4) Declares laws passed by Congress as unconstitutional
* Which branch? Judicial Branch (Supreme Court). This is called judicial review.
* Check by others: The President appoints new judges, and Congress can propose constitutional amendments to change the rule.
5) Ratify treaties
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Specifically the Senate).
* Check by others: The President negotiates and signs the treaty first.
6) Confirm presidential appointments
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Specifically the Senate).
* Check by others: The President chooses who to appoint.
7) Can impeach the President
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (House of Representatives starts it; Senate tries it).
* Check by others: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial.
8) Declare the actions of the President as unconstitutional
* Which branch? Judicial Branch (Supreme Court).
* Check by others: The President appoints the judges who make these decisions.
9) Override presidential vetos
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Congress).
* Check by others: The President vetoes the bill initially.
10) Interprets and applies the law
* Which branch? Judicial Branch (Courts).
* Check by others: The President enforces the court's decisions, and Congress writes the laws being interpreted.
11) Can grant pardons to federal criminals
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: None directly (this is a very strong power), but Congress can impeach a President for abuse of power.
12) Appoints federal officials
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: The Senate (Legislative) must confirm major appointments.
13) Can impeach federal judges
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (House brings charges; Senate removes them).
* Check by others: Judges are appointed for life by the President unless impeached.
***
Final Answer:
| Power | Which branch has the power? | Which branch checks or checks the other? (How?) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1) Can propose and pass laws | Legislative (Congress) | Executive: President can veto the law. |
| 2) Veto federal bills as they do not become law | Executive (President) | Legislative: Congress can override veto (2/3 vote). |
| 3) Appoints federal judges | Executive (President) | Legislative: Senate must confirm the judge. |
| 4) Declares laws passed by Congress as unconstitutional | Judicial (Supreme Court) | Legislative: Can pass amendments; Executive: Appoints new judges. |
| 5) Ratify treaties | Legislative (Senate) | Executive: President negotiates/signs the treaty. |
| 6) Confirm presidential appointments | Legislative (Senate) | Executive: President selects the person. |
| 7) Can impeach the President | Legislative (Congress) | Judicial: Chief Justice presides over the trial. |
| 8) Declare the actions of the President as unconstitutional | Judicial (Supreme Court) | Executive: President appoints the judges. |
| 9) Override presidential vetos | Legislative (Congress) | Executive: President issues the veto. |
| 10) Interprets and applies the law | Judicial (Courts) | Executive: Enforces rulings; Legislative: Writes the laws. |
| 11) Can grant pardons to federal criminals | Executive (President) | Legislative: Can impeach for abuse of power. |
| 12) Appoints federal officials | Executive (President) | Legislative: Senate must confirm them. |
| 13) Can impeach federal judges | Legislative (Congress) | Executive: Appoints judges (who serve for life unless impeached). |
Here is the step-by-step breakdown for each row in your table:
1) Can propose and pass laws
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Congress). They write and vote on bills.
* Check by others: The President can veto (reject) the law. If vetoed, Congress can override it with a 2/3 vote.
2) Veto federal bills as they do not become law
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: Congress can override the veto if 2/3 of both houses agree.
3) Appoints federal judges
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: The Senate (Legislative) must confirm (approve) the appointment.
4) Declares laws passed by Congress as unconstitutional
* Which branch? Judicial Branch (Supreme Court). This is called judicial review.
* Check by others: The President appoints new judges, and Congress can propose constitutional amendments to change the rule.
5) Ratify treaties
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Specifically the Senate).
* Check by others: The President negotiates and signs the treaty first.
6) Confirm presidential appointments
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Specifically the Senate).
* Check by others: The President chooses who to appoint.
7) Can impeach the President
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (House of Representatives starts it; Senate tries it).
* Check by others: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial.
8) Declare the actions of the President as unconstitutional
* Which branch? Judicial Branch (Supreme Court).
* Check by others: The President appoints the judges who make these decisions.
9) Override presidential vetos
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (Congress).
* Check by others: The President vetoes the bill initially.
10) Interprets and applies the law
* Which branch? Judicial Branch (Courts).
* Check by others: The President enforces the court's decisions, and Congress writes the laws being interpreted.
11) Can grant pardons to federal criminals
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: None directly (this is a very strong power), but Congress can impeach a President for abuse of power.
12) Appoints federal officials
* Which branch? Executive Branch (The President).
* Check by others: The Senate (Legislative) must confirm major appointments.
13) Can impeach federal judges
* Which branch? Legislative Branch (House brings charges; Senate removes them).
* Check by others: Judges are appointed for life by the President unless impeached.
***
Final Answer:
| Power | Which branch has the power? | Which branch checks or checks the other? (How?) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1) Can propose and pass laws | Legislative (Congress) | Executive: President can veto the law. |
| 2) Veto federal bills as they do not become law | Executive (President) | Legislative: Congress can override veto (2/3 vote). |
| 3) Appoints federal judges | Executive (President) | Legislative: Senate must confirm the judge. |
| 4) Declares laws passed by Congress as unconstitutional | Judicial (Supreme Court) | Legislative: Can pass amendments; Executive: Appoints new judges. |
| 5) Ratify treaties | Legislative (Senate) | Executive: President negotiates/signs the treaty. |
| 6) Confirm presidential appointments | Legislative (Senate) | Executive: President selects the person. |
| 7) Can impeach the President | Legislative (Congress) | Judicial: Chief Justice presides over the trial. |
| 8) Declare the actions of the President as unconstitutional | Judicial (Supreme Court) | Executive: President appoints the judges. |
| 9) Override presidential vetos | Legislative (Congress) | Executive: President issues the veto. |
| 10) Interprets and applies the law | Judicial (Courts) | Executive: Enforces rulings; Legislative: Writes the laws. |
| 11) Can grant pardons to federal criminals | Executive (President) | Legislative: Can impeach for abuse of power. |
| 12) Appoints federal officials | Executive (President) | Legislative: Senate must confirm them. |
| 13) Can impeach federal judges | Legislative (Congress) | Executive: Appoints judges (who serve for life unless impeached). |
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of checks and balances worksheet answer key.
