The document provides information about the branches of the U.S. government and how they are structured. It discusses that there are three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. It also provides details on the presidency, Supreme Court, Congress, and checks and balances between the branches. Key facts include that there are 9 Supreme Court justices, 435 members of the House of Representatives, and 100 Senators.
1. Daniel Cherry
Topic: U.S. Government and Civics
Grade Level: 9-12
Objective: To Understand the Branches of the U.S. government, how the individuals are elected,
and who is in each branch.
1. http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/usconstitution/a/branches.htm
Read intro paragraph, skim sections looking for key information.
a. What are the branches of government?
_________________________________________
b. How many Cabinet level departments are there? _________
c. How many justices in the Supreme Court? __________
2. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/national/president3.html
Read first 3 sections of text
a. How old must one be to be president? ___________
b. How long must you have lived in the country? _______________
c. In what year were term limits put into place? _____________
3. http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/electoral-college1.htm
Read text on page there is no need to click to other pages.
a. Is the president decided by popular vote? __________
b. How is the amount of votes per state decided in the Electoral College?
______________________________
c. How many votes does Washington D.C have? __________
4. http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/briefoverview.aspx
See members section and constitutional origins section
a. Who is the chief Justice? __________________________
b. Name two associate Judges. __________________________________
c. Find constitutional origins and list the date that the Supreme Court was organized.
________________________________
5. http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/nominations/Nominations.htm
Read intro paragraph, then see Nominees under President Obama
a. How are Supreme Court justices appointed? ______________________________
b. Who has been appointed by President Obama to the Supreme Court?
________________________________
6. http://www.whitehouse.gov/our-government/legislative-branch
Read 2nd paragraph, 5th paragraph, and 6th paragraph
a. How many people are in the House of Representatives? ______________
b. How many people are in the Senate? _____________
c. Who is President of the Senate? _____________________________
2. 7. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=UT
Look for names and phone numbers
a. Who are the Senators for the state of Utah?
__________________________________
b. How would you contact them? _______________________________
8. http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_ut
Under the Utah heading find names and committee Assignments
a. How many house members does the state of Utah have?
_____________________
b. What are their names and what committees are they assigned to?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
9. http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2008/January/20071116173344eaifas0.9917719.html
3rd and 5th paragraphs
a. What is the purpose of checks and balances?
__________________________________________________________________
b. What may the Supreme Court do with laws passed by congress to balance power?
__________________________________________________________________
10. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch10I.html
Read First Paragraph
a. Does the Constitution discuss checks and balances/separation of powers?
_______________
3. Answer Sheet
1.
a. Executive, Legislative, Judicial
b. 15
c. 9
2.
a. 35
b. 14
c. 1951
3.
a. No
b. U.S Senators + U.S house members
c. 3
4.
a. John G. Roberts, Jr.
b. Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stepehn
G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan
c. September 24, 1789
5.
a. Presidential appointment with consent from the Senate
b. Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor
6.
a. 435
b. 50
c. Vice President, currently Joe Biden
7.
a. Orrin Hatch, and Mike Lee
b. (202)224-5251, and (201)224-5444
8.
a. 3
b. Rob Bishop Natural Resources, and Rules, Jim Matheson Energy and Commerce, Jason
Chaffetz Budget, Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform
9.
a. Distribution of power
b. Remove them due to being unconstitutional
