Three Branches of Government

4th Grade Social StudiesGovernment and Civics3 pages

About this worksheet

Each branch gets a picture in this 4th grade civics sheet: the Capitol for the legislative branch, the White House for the executive, and a gavel for the judicial. A short intro names checks and balances. Students then assign six duties to a branch, from signing or vetoing bills to overriding a veto and serving on the Supreme Court for life. One closing question asks why the country has three branches instead of one leader. It supports C3 Framework D2.Civ.1.3-5 over 3 pages, and an answer page covers all six duties and the closing question.

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Three Branches of Government: Government and Civics - page 1
Three Branches of Government: Government and Civics - page 2
Three Branches of Government: Government and Civics - page 3

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Curriculum objectives covered

D2.Civ.1.3-5

“Distinguish the responsibilities and powers of government officials at various levels and branches of government and in different times and places.”

Who Does What asks students to match six powers, such as vetoing bills and judging laws against the Constitution, to the branch that holds them.

D2.Civ.5.3-5

“Explain the origins, functions, and structure of different systems of government, including those created by the U.S. and state constitutions.”

Meet the Branches and the closing question cover how the government is split into three parts and why that structure stops one group taking too much power.

What's inside this worksheet

Meet the Branches

Three pictures with one-line jobs: Legislative "They make the laws," Executive "They carry out the laws," and Judicial "They evaluate the laws."

Who Does What

Students write Executive, Legislative, or Judicial beside six duties, including "Serves as the Commander in Chief of the military" and "Decides if a law goes against the Constitution."

Think About It

One question on why three branches are better than one leader who makes all the rules. The model answer points to checks and balances and to a leader acting like a king.

How teachers use it

Watch row five

"Can override a President's veto with enough votes" pulls students toward Executive because it names the President. The answer is Legislative, and it is worth a pause.

Anchor chart

Copy the three pictures onto chart paper and add each duty from Who Does What as the class agrees on it.

Constitution Day

It fits September 17 lessons. Pair it with the Constitution fact file from the same unit.

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