1. The Three Branches of Government The three branches were established by the ____________________________________. Articles I, II, and III establishes the three branches of government: Article I_________________________________, Article II_______________________________, Article III_____________________________________________. Dividing power between these three branches is called ____________________________________________________________. It is one way to limit the power of each branch. Another way to limit and balance the power of the three branches is by using a system called_______________________________________________________, which not only limits power but gives each branch the ability to ______________________ the other two. ______________________________________ _____________________

2. Article I ___________________________________________ The head of this branch is _________________________. It is a ________________________legislature which means_________________________________. One house, the ___________________________________, chooses its members based on ___________________ _________________________. The other house the __________________________, chooses its members by giving each state ___________________________. The major power/job of this branch is to_________________ ____________________________________. What are the other 5 legislative powers? ______________________

3. The Legislative Branch makes _________________. The President checks the Legislative Branch when he ________________________ legislation in his annual Speech called the _____________________________. The President also checks Congress when he ______________ a bill. He can call Congress into ___________________ _____________________. The President also must prepare an annual ___________________ for Congress to approve. The ________________ Branch checks Congress when it declares laws or acts of Congress ___________________.

4. Article II- The ________________________ Branch _____________________ laws. The head of this branch is the ____________________________. The cabinet, agencies, and departments that work as part of the Executive Branch are called the ____________________________________ The President is the head of this and has many jobs/roles that he must carry out. The roles are: _________________________________ ______________________________________ _____________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________. Put a star beside the role where the President acts as the architect of foreign policy. Circle the role that makes the President the leader of the armed forces.

5. The _________________________ Branch carries out the laws. The Legislative Branch checks the Executive Branch when it _____________________ a presidential veto. They must have a vote of ___________________ in _________ Houses. The Legislative Branch also checks the Executive Branch when it _____________________ presidential appointments and when it _______________the annual budget. Another check the Legislative Branch has on the Executive Branch is the power to _________________ the President if he is accused of an unlawful act. The _____________________ Branch checks the Executive Branch when it declares a presidential act ___________________________.

6. Article III- The _______________________ Branch ____________________ the laws. The Judicial Branch has the power to declare laws ___________________________. This is called ____________________ _____________________. This power was granted by the Supreme Court case of ____________________________________. Federal judges/justices are ___________________________ by the President and ______________________________by Congress. Supreme Court Justices serve for _____________________.

7. The _________________________ Branch interprets laws. The Legislative Branch checks the Judicial Branch when it ____________________ or refuses to confirm federal __________________________________. The Legislative Branch also checks the Judicial Branch when it ________________ and convicts judges/justices. The Executive Branch checks the Judicial Branch when the ____________________ _____________________ judges/justices. ___________________ & ___________________

8. Step 1- ________________________________________ Step 2-_____________________________________ Step 3-____________________________________________ Step 4-_____________________________________________ Step 5-____________________________________________ The Lawmaking Process