Teaching Branches of Power - Checks and Balances Game | iCivics (2024)

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Teaching Branches of Power - Checks and Balances Game | iCivics (8)

Teaching Branches of Power - Checks and Balances Game | iCivics (9) Teaching Branches of Power - Checks and Balances Game | iCivics (10)

Do your students like running things? The new version of Branches of Power allows them to do something that no one else can: control all three branches of the U.S. government.

In Branches of Power your students will:

  • Pick leaders for each branch of government
  • Create a presidential agenda and learn about the executive branch powers
  • Introduce bills and pass laws out of Congress
  • Apply judicial review to passed laws

For English and Multilingual Learners: Use the support tool, Spanish translation, voiceover and glossary.

Branches of Power Extension Pack Activities and teaching tools to reinforce key game concepts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Simulate the way separation of powers and checks and balances limit government
  • Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
  • Illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels

Resources

  • Guide_BranchesofPower2020_1.pdf
  • Game Extension Pack_ELL Guide.pdf
  • BoP Extension Pack_fillable.pdf
  • BoP Extension Pack.pdf

This Game is included in the following units:

The Constitution

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

The Judicial Branch

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Teaching Branches of Power - Checks and Balances Game | iCivics (2024)

FAQs

How to play branches of power game? ›

In Branches of Power you:
  1. Pick leaders for each branch of government.
  2. Create a presidential agenda.
  3. Introduce bills and pass laws out of Congress.
  4. Apply judicial review to passed laws.

What are the branches of power answer? ›

To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Government is made up of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

How do the 3 branches check and balance power? ›

The ability of each branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is the system of checks and balances. Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches: The president can veto legislation created by Congress. He or she also nominates heads of federal agencies and high court appointees.

How does power play into the concept of checks and balances? ›

While it is the legislative branch that makes law, the president may check Congress by vetoing bills Congress has passed, preventing them from being enacted. In turn, Congress may enact a law over the president's objection by overriding his veto with a vote of two-thirds of both the House and Senate.

What are examples of checks and balances? ›

The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes. The legislative branch has the power to approve Presidential nominations, control the budget, and can impeach the President and remove him or her from office.

What are the three branches of government activity? ›

The executive branch sees that laws are carried out. The legislative branch makes new laws. The judicial branch makes sure that the laws and actions of the other branches agree with the Constitution of the United States of America.

Which branch can override a veto? ›

The President may veto bills Congress passes, but Congress may also override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Which branch declares war? ›

The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812. Congress approved its last formal declaration of war during World War II.

What are the three main parts of checks and balances? ›

The U.S. government exercises checks and balances through its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It operates as a constitutionally limited government and is bound to the principles and actions that are authorized by the federal—and corresponding state—constitution.

Which branch signs bills into law? ›

As the head of the executive branch, the president can sign a bill into law, veto a bill, or do nothing, in which case the bill becomes law after ten days. In this sense, the executive branch checks the power of the legislative branch.

What branch is the President in? ›

The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Which branch makes laws? ›

The legislative branch makes new laws and modifies existing laws.

How do you play couch of power? ›

The game is played a number of rounds until the Couch of Power consists entirely of players from one team. Every round, the person sitting to the left of the empty seat is the caller. They get to call out a name. The person holding the slip of paper with that name on it moves from their current spot to the empty seat.

What game to play when the power goes out? ›

Similar to board games, card games are a great way to pass the time and have fun. Teach each other new games or play old favorites like Go Fish or Poker. Other games outside of board games and card games, like Charades or Hide-and-Seek can also make great past times, and may even be more fun in the dark!

How do you play Tower of power? ›

How to Play. First, groups will have 2 minutes to brainstorm how they will build the tower. During this time the supplies will be in front of them but they are not allowed to touch them – only talk and plan. When time begins, the group will have 10 minutes to build the tallest tower possible.

References

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