The Three Branches of Government: A WebQuest for 9th Grade Social Studies. Designed by Micah D. Little-- micah.little@lindsey.edu

Introduction

     Today, you will learn about the three branches of government. This is important information for you, living in the United States, as you grow and become an active, informed citizen. The three branches of the US government were put in place by the US Constitution. But why? What does each branch do? Is one branch more powerful? If so, which one? How do they interact with each other? These are questions that you will discover by looking at governmental sites, as well as learning the intent of the Founding Fathers in creating these branches. Let's start exploring!

Task

  • You will learn what the three branches of government are.
  • You will learn the function of each branch.
  • You will learn what the checks and balances on each branch are.
  • You will then analyze, in a short essay, how each branch functions, as well as examining how the Constitution prevents any single branch from gaining too much power.

Process

Take notes of important information as you go from webpage to webpage.

This is a general introduction to the three branches of the US government

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0774837.html

This page tells about the legislative branch. 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/legislative-branch

This page tells about the executive branch.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/executive-branch

This page tells about the judicial branch.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/judicial-branch

This is a good list of the functions of each branch.

http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/ushisgov/themes/government/3branches.htm

This will introduce checks and balances. Please watch the video, but USING YOUR HEADPHONES

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/a/checks_balances.htm

Read the first part of this page with quotes from the Founding Fathers. The last part, at the bottom, is unecessary since we are not currently discussing the relations between the federal government and the states.

http://www.renewamerica.com/article/090313

Using the above resources, you will create an essay describing the basic functions of the three branches and analyzing the checks and balances between each branch and why the Founders designed it the way they did.

Evaluation

Novice Apprentice Proficient Distinguished

Student demonstrates

poor knowledge and

lack of understanding

of the three branches

of the US govenment

and of the checks and balances that exist between each one.

 Student demonstrates

fair knowledge, and 

average understanding

of the three branches 

of the US government,

and the checks and balances between each one.

Student demonstrates

good knowledge and

involved understanding

of the three branches of the US government,

and the processes

involved in the checks

and balances system. 

Student demonstrates

excellent knowledge

and complex

understanding of the

three branches of the US

government, and how the 

checks and balances work to

maintain freedom.

Conclusion

    Thank you for joining as we explored our government! Today, you learned about how the government's power is divided three ways in order to ensure that no one person, or group, becomes too powerful. The Founding Fathers, after experiencing a king who was far too powerful, wanted to make sure that that would never happen again. If you want to learn more, read the Constitution, or visit the school library for books on the Constitution and the organization of our government.