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

   How can the president check Congress, Milo asks?

   • By overriding a veto
   • By writing the Preamble
   • By judging cases
   • By vetoing a bill
5. 4.

   Which arrow shows Congress's power over the courts, Pia asks?

   • Congress sets up the lower courts
   • The courts veto bills
   • The president vetoes the courts
   • The courts set up Congress
6. 5.

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

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

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

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

   Zee reads the word veto. What is a veto?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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