Some American government lessons are easier to teach than others. The three branches of government, with its system of checks and balances can be tricky to explain. So here are free printable American government lessons with objects lessons to help kids understand. To understand checks and balances and three branches of government, imagine a table or stool resting on three equal legs. The three legs are the three branches. Each of the three legs has equal strength and equal responsibility for holding the table straight. Each of the three branches of government (three legs) has its own functions and all three have equal power--each checks and balances the other. Each checks the other two make sure neither becomes to powerful and balances the others in carrying its fair share.
Use these free printable American government lesson plans to explain that the three branches of
government are-- the Judicial, Legislative and the Executive Branches. Each of the three branches of
government has its own functions and all three have equal power. The Executive Branch includes the
President of the United States, Vice-President and the Presidential Cabinet, which has 15
departments. The Executive Branch carries out laws. The president can veto laws also and appoints
judges. The head of each department is called a Secretary, except for the Department of Justice
whose head is called the Attorney General.
These are the Presidential Cabinet departments. Department of State- international relations with other countries, Treasury, Defense, Justice,
Department of the Interior - wildlife and natural resources, Agriculture, Health and Human Services,
Labor, Urban Development, Commerce, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans' Affairs,
Homeland Security
The Legislative Branch: This branch, also called Congress checks and balances by making laws.
The Legislative Branch has two branches--the Senate has 100 senators, two from each state. The House of Representatives has 435 members. Each state gets a certain number of representatives
depending upon state population. For a bill (suggested law) to become a law it must be approved by
both houses.
The Judicial Branch: This branch includes judges and the court system.
The Judicial Branch checks
and balances the others by interpreting or examining and explaining the laws and Constitution. The
courts decide how laws should applied in different cases. The Supreme Court decides the most important cases
