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The House of Representatives plays an important role in the United States Government. Its job was given by the Founding Fathers of the United States during the Philadelphia Convention in May of 1787 when our current Government was created.

The Three Branches of Government

The signing of the Constitution Oil on Canvas, Howard Chandler Christy, 1940, Architect of the Capitol

During the Philadelphia Convention, it was decided that the United States Government should have three branches. The three branches would keep each other balanced so that one branch did not become too powerful. All Americans have equal and fair representation through the three branches:

1. Legislative: The Congress
The legislative branch makes the laws of the United States, controls all of the money, and has the power to declare war.

2. Executive: The President and Vice President
The executive branch enforces the laws of the United States, spends money as allowed by Congress, declares states of emergency, appoints Judges to the Supreme Court, and grants pardons for crimes.

3. Judicial: The Supreme Court
The judicial branch interprets laws, judges when a law is unconstitutional, and makes arrangements for prisoners.

To be sure that one branch does not become more powerful than the others, the Government has a system called checks and balances. Through this system, each branch is given power to check on the other two branches. The President has the power to veto a bill sent from Congress, which would stop it from becoming a law. Congress has the power to impeach Supreme Court Judges or Presidents. The Supreme Court has the power to overturn a law that they believe is unconstitutional.

The Legislative Branch

Congress meets at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress have offices in buildings that are attached to the Capitol and visit the Capitol for meetings and legislative sessions. See if you can help A.Bill get from his office to the Capitol to vote on a law by trying the Capitol Maze!

During the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, participants from large states wanted the number of representatives in Congress based on the number of citizens in the state-so the more citizens the more representatives. Participants from small states were worried they would have no power and wanted an equal number of representatives from each state. To be sure everyone had equal representation and power it was decided that the Congress would have two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The two houses work together to pass laws.

The Senate

The Senate has 100 members-2 Senators from each state, regardless of its size. Senators serve 6 year terms and there is no limit to the number of terms they can serve.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives has 435 voting Members, five Delegates, and one Resident Commissioner. Members and Delegates each serve a two year term while Resident Commissioners serve for four years. The number of Representatives from each state is based on the state's population. Each state has at least one Representative.

By separating the two branches of Congress, Americans are guaranteed equal representation. The houses work together to pass laws that are then enforced by the Executive Branch and overseen by the Judicial Branch.

The House of Representatives is full of traditions and artifacts. You can see what the oldest artifact-the coin silver inkstand-looks like by printing out the Relic Connect the Dots!

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Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives

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Kids in the House, Grade School - The Role of the House, Learn how the House works with the Senate, President, and Supreme Court to run the United States.

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The United States Constitution divided the nation's government into three separate branches.

These three branches are known as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Each branch has its own important role.

The legislative branch (Congress-House + Senate) makes laws, the executive branch (president, vice president, and cabinet) enforces and administers laws; and the judicial branch (Supreme Court) interprets laws.

The Constitution also created a system called "checks and balances" to make sure that no branch could become too powerful or controlling. Every branch can limit the power of the other branches as needed.

Let's look at the "checks" that can be used on each of the branches.

Legislative Branch Checks

The legislative branch is made up of the House and Senate, which are collectively called Congress. Congress proposes and passes laws.

But this doesn't mean that Congress has the power to pass any law they want.

The president, who is part of the executive branch, can check the legislative branch by vetoing a bill. Vetoing a bill basically means saying "no" in response to a bill that Congress is trying to pass.

If the president vetoes a bill, it returns to Congress. There, it must be passed by a two-thirds majority to become an official law.

In addition, the vice president is considered the president of the Senate. If a vote is tied in the Senate, the vice president gets to be the tiebreaker and cast the deciding vote.

The Supreme Court, who represents the judicial branch, can also check Congress. They may declare that a law passed by Congress is unconstitutional.

Executive Branch Checks

The executive branch enforces laws and consists of the president, vice president, and the president's cabinet.

Although the president is seen as extremely powerful, even he or she can't do whatever they want.

One way Congress (the legislative branch) can check the president is through "advice and consent." The president may appoint government officials, but Congress must approve or disapprove.

Congress also has the power to impeach the president, voting to have the president removed from office if he or she is not doing the job fairly and effectively.

If the House votes for the president to be impeached, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over a trial in the Senate to see whether the president should be removed from office.

The president can make Executive Orders. These are declarations that carry the power of law.

To prevent the president from abusing this power, the judicial branch (Supreme Court) can declare these orders unconstitutional.

Judicial Branch Checks

The judicial branch, which consists of the Supreme Court, interprets laws according to the United States Constitution.

The president and Congress (executive and legislative branches) "check" the judicial branch through appointments.

The president nominates individuals to serve on the Supreme Court, and Congress must approve these nominations.

Congress also has the power to impeach judges and remove them from office. Judges are impeached much more frequently than presidents.

This carefully structured balance of power ensures that no individual or branch has too much power within the United States government.

Fun Facts About Checks and Balances

Two presidents have been impeached in U.S. history: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. However, neither were removed from office. Richard Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment.

The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution says that the United States government only has the powers that are stated in the Constitution.

Any powers that aren't mentioned belong to the states and the people. In this way, the Constitution allows states and individuals to keep the federal government in check.

President George Washington used the first veto on April 5, 1792.

Congress first successfully overrode a presidential veto (in this case, President John Tyler 's) on March 3, 1845.

As of July 2019, there have been 2579 presidential vetoes in U.S. history. Only 111 of these have been overridden by Congress.
US Government

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Checks and Balances Facts The United States Constitution divided the nation's government into three separate branches. These three branches are known as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each branch has its own important role. The legislative branch (Congress-House + Senate) makes laws, the executive ... Read more

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Kids learn about the First Amendment of the United States Constitution including freedom of religion, speech, the press, the right to assemble, the right to petition the government, and fun facts.

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Separation of powers Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com

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Separation of Powers helps to make sure people are safe. The executive branch carries out the laws but cannot make laws to make themselves powerful. Also the judiciary is responsible for making sure that criminals are punished so that members of the government or legislature cannot ignore the law as the judiciary can check on them.

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Describe the principles embedded in the Constitution, including:
• Purposes of government (listed in the Preamble)
• Separation of powers
• Branches of government
• Checks and balances
• Recognition and protection of individual rights (in the 1st Amendment)

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In today's virtual activity we will be using online resources to learn more about our U.S. Constitution. You will need to use your reading skills to gather information that will help you answer the provided questions. By the end of this assignment, you should have a better understanding of the purpose of our government, the separation of powers, the branches of government, checks and balances, and the 1st amendment. Take your time and enjoy yourself! This assignment is only as fun as you allow it to be :)

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If a section is extra-long, like this one, you simply need to scroll down on the section like you would for a normal webpage
To see the rest of the questions, scroll to the right of the webpage

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1) Please read through ALL of the directions before beginning
2) Take out a sheet of paper and any color pencil you would like, you have creative freedom (please choose a color that is easy to read)
3) Number your sheet of paper 1-10 (You will use these lines to write down the answers to each question that is provided)
4) At the beginning of each segment of questions there will be a link or video provided you will have to read or watch
5) Read through the questions BEFORE following the link so that you are aware of what you are looking for
6) Once you have read the questions, follow the link or watch the video
7) After you have COMPLETELY read the article or watched the video, write down on your sheet of paper the answers you discovered
8) Once you have answered all of the questions you may have silent play time at your desk

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"We the People of the ____________ __________, in Order to form a more perfect _________, establish _________, insure domestic _____________, provide for the common __________, promote the general ___________, and secure the Blessings of ____________ to ourselves and our __________, do ordain and establish this _______________ for the United States of ____________."

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Memorize "The Preamble" Song ... With Style!

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"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

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According to the Preamble, what are the five purposes of government?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

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1) establish Justice
2) insure domestic Tranquility
3) provide for the common defense
4) promote the general Welfare
5) secure the Blessings of Liberty

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What are the three branches of government?
1)
2)
3)

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1) Legislative
2) Executive
3) Judicial

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Who are in each branch of government?
1)
2)
3)

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The legislative branch _________ the laws
The executive branch __________ the laws
The judicial branch _____________ the laws

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1) The Congress
2) The President and Vice President
3) The Supreme Court

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The legislative branch makes the laws
The executive branch enforces the laws
The judicial branch interprets the laws

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Separation of power means that the government is ____________ into three branches rather than one

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seperated

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Separation of power helps protect ___________

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freedom

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Checks and balances help stop one branch of government from becoming too ________________

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Example of how the legislative branch can be "checked"

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Example how executive branch can be "checked"

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Example of how judicial branch can be "checked"

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powerful

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the executive branch (President) vetoing a bill

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Congress can impeach the President

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The President must approve nominations

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The 1st Amendment protects our basic ______________

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freedoms

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What 5 freedoms does it protect?
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

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1) freedom of religion
2) freedom of speech
3) freedom of the press
4) the right to assemble
5) the right to petition the government

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Congratulations my dear friends, you completed the online assignment! I am so proud of each and every one of you for the hard work and researching skills you used to find the answers. Give yourself a pat on the back and a round of applause.