Key Ideas of the Constitution

What does "federalism" mean?

• The government is divided into three branches, each with their own job

• The sharing of power between the federal and local governments

• Each branch of the government can do something to limit the actions of the other branches

What does "separation of powers" mean?

• The government is divided into three branches, each with their own job

• The sharing of power between the federal and local governments

• Each branch of the government can do something to limit the actions of the other branches

What does "checks and balances" mean?

• The government is divided into three branches, each with their own job

• The sharing of power between the federal and local governments

• Each branch of the government can do something to limit the actions of the other branches

The President can nominate justices to the Supreme Court, but the Senate must approve them. This is an example of...

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

• Federalism

The federal government can declare war. State governments can issue licenses. This is an example of...

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

• Federalism

The federal government distributes power among three "branches" with very different jobs. This is an example of...

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

• Federalism

State governments can't impeach the President, but they can make laws about voting rights. This is an example of...

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

• Federalism

The legislative branch can make laws, but the Supreme Court can declare them unconstitutional (going against the constitution). This is an example of...

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

• Federalism

The legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch carries out the laws, and the judicial branch reviews the laws This is an example of...

• Checks and balances

• Separation of powers

• Federalism

Checks and balances is like rock, paper, scissors because...

• Rock, paper, scissors is a game that relies on strategy, just like running a government and balancing all the branches relies on careful strategy.

• Rock, paper, scissors relies entirely on luck. Running a government and balancing all three branches requires luck and nothing else.

• Each branch can affect another and be affected by another, like the rock, paper, and scissors. There is no one single most powerful branch, just like no one sign always wins.

• Each branch can affect each other-- except the executive branch, which is more powerful than all the rest, just like paper is the most powerful in rock, paper, scissors.