The Constitution and Three Branches
Aligned to C3.D2.Civ — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
The Constitution divides federal power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each checking the others to prevent abuse.
Worked example
Congress passes a law, the President signs or vetoes it, and the courts can rule it unconstitutional — checks and balances in action.
Practice questions
- Name the three branches and one power of each.
- How does one branch check another?
- Why did the framers separate powers?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La Constitución y los Tres Poderes
La Constitución divide el poder federal entre los poderes legislativo, ejecutivo y judicial, y cada uno supervisa a los demás para evitar abusos.
Ejemplo: El Congreso aprueba una ley, el Presidente la firma o la veta, y los tribunales pueden declararla inconstitucional — así funcionan los frenos y contrapesos.
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