Checks and balances, and powers shared between the nation and the states

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Checks and balances in the Constitution

   Box Congress (legislative branch): the House can impeach (charge) officials; the Senate tries impeachments; the Senate approves treaties by two-thirds. Box President (executive branch): can veto a bill; makes treaties, with the Senate's consent. Box Courts (judicial branch): judges are chosen by the president with the Senate's consent. Arrows: from President to Congress: vetoes bills; from Congress to President: overrides vetoes; approves treaties; from President to Courts: chooses judges. Line 1 (Constitution (1787), Article I, Section 7, clause 2; as printed in 1840, p. 7): "If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall become a law." Line 2 (Constitution (1787), Article II, Section 2, clause 2; as printed in 1840, p. 11): "He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present, concur…" Line 3 (Constitution (1787), Article I, Section 3, clause 6; as printed in 1840, p. 6): "The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments."

2. 1.

   Who can impeach, or charge, officials, Milo asks?

   • The states
   • The Senate
   • The House
   • The president
3. 2.

   Who chooses federal judges, Noah asks?

   • The president, with the Senate
   • The states' voters
   • The judges themselves, by a vote
   • The House alone
4. 3.

   By line 1, what vote does each house need to pass a bill over a veto, Pia asks?

   • Two-thirds of each house
   • Three-fourths of the states
   • One vote in each house
   • A simple majority
5. 4.

   Which line gives the Senate the sole power to try impeachments, Tala asks?

   • Line 3
   • No line
   • Line 2
   • Line 1
6. 5.

   Which check does Congress have on the president, by the arrows, Zee asks?

   • Run the army
   • Veto Congress's bills
   • Override vetoes; approve treaties
   • Choose the judges
7. 6.

   Which check does the president have on Congress, Ari asks?

   • Approving treaties
   • The veto
   • Trying impeachments
   • The override
8. 7.

   Which check does the president have on the courts, Bo asks?

   • Trying impeachments
   • Vetoing court rulings
   • Choosing the judges
   • Firing judges at will
9. 8.

   The president vetoes a bill. Then two-thirds of each house votes for it. What happens, Esme asks?

   • The courts must sign it
   • It goes to the states
   • It can not pass after that
   • It becomes law
10. 9.

    A treaty gets the votes of half the senators present. Is it approved, Jun asks?

    • No; two-thirds is needed
    • Yes; half is enough
    • No; the courts decide
    • Yes; the House decides
11. 10.

    Why do impeachment powers sit in two different houses, Kira asks?

    • So it can not happen
    • So the courts are skipped
    • So the president can try himself
    • One house charges; the other tries