Checks and Balances (NYT Upfront Article)

What was the Framers’ intention with the system of checks and balances?

• to keep political parties from becoming too powerful

• to prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful

• to ensure that the president would be the only official who could agree to treaties

• to create a way for the federal government to provide more services to citizens

Which is NOT an example of the system of checks and balances at work?

• The president vetoes a bill.

• Supreme Court justice retires.

• The Senate refuses to approve a treaty.

• The federal courts block an executive order.

The Framers feared that political parties would ___.

• prevent people from voting

• lead to too many impeachments

• create divisions in the government

• take over the job of congressional committees

What is impeachment?

• the way a congressional investigation begins

• the process Congress can use to remove a president or other federal official from office

• the steps the president follows when appointing a federal judge

• the report the Supreme Court issues when ruling that a law is unconstitutional

What is the main purpose of the first five paragraphs of the article?

• to tell why the United States has a constitution

• to convince readers that the Constitution is flawed

• to suggest that many forms of government face challenges that test their strength

• to explain why understanding the system of checks and balances is particularly important now

The author says, “But lurking in the back of their minds was the experience of being ruled by a tyrant, Britain’s King George III.” Which word best conveys that the author is telling about a concern the Framers had?

• But

• lurking

• back

• experience

The author says, “The other big change is how powerful the government has become.” You can reasonably infer that with “powerful,” she is referring to an increase in ___.

• gold reserves

• military strength

• responsibilities and functions

• the number of federal judges

John Fortier says, “The people can speak.” He means: The people can settle the matter ___.

• with speeches

• by writing letters

• by voting

• in the court system