The Preamble and the Constitution's big principles

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Separation of powers and checks and balances

   Box Congress (Article I): makes the laws. Box President (Article II): carries out the laws. Box Courts (Article III): judge cases under the laws. Arrows: from President to Congress: can veto a bill; from Congress to President: can override a veto by two-thirds of each house; from Congress to Courts: sets up the lower courts. Line 1 (Constitution (1787), Article I, Section 1; as printed in 1840, p. 5): "All legislative powers herein granted, shall be vested in a congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." Line 2 (Constitution (1787), Article II, Section 1; as printed in 1820, p. 25): "The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America." Line 3 (Constitution (1787), Article III, Section 1; as printed in 1820, p. 27): "The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may, from time to time, ordain and establish." Below the diagram: the National Archives explains that checks and balances keep any one of the separate powers from becoming dominant.

2. 1.

   Which branch makes the laws, by line 1, Jun asks?

   • The states
   • Congress
   • The courts
   • The president
3. 2.

   Which branch holds the executive power, by line 2, Kira asks?

   • The president
   • The Senate alone
   • The Supreme Court
   • Congress
4. 3.

   By line 3, where is the judicial power, Luz asks?

   • One supreme court and lower courts
   • The state governors
   • Congress and the president
   • The House of Representatives
5. 4.

   How can Congress check a veto, Noah asks?

   • A simple majority of one house
   • A vote of the states
   • Two-thirds of each house
   • The president's signature
6. 5.

   Ren reads the words separation of powers. What do they mean?

   • One branch does each job
   • States and nation share power
   • Three branches with separate jobs
   • Rights the government cannot take
7. 6.

   Tala reads the words checks and balances. What do they mean?

   • Banks check people's money
   • Branches do not limit each other
   • Each branch can limit the others
   • The president checks the voters
8. 7.

   Zee reads the word veto. What is a veto?

   • Passing a bill
   • Rejecting a bill
   • Electing a senator
   • Judging a case
9. 8.

   Why split power among three branches, by the note, Ari asks?

   • So no branch becomes too powerful
   • So laws pass faster
   • So states have no power
   • So the president rules alone
10. 9.

    A bill passes Congress, but the president vetoes it. What can happen next, Bo asks?

    • The courts must sign it to pass
    • The states veto it too
    • It becomes law at once
    • Congress can override it
11. 10.

    Which principle does the veto-and-override arrow pair show best, Esme asks?

    • Federalism
    • Individual rights
    • Checks and balances
    • Popular sovereignty