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9th grade · Social Studies · Unit 5 of 9

How the Nation Governs

Congress, the President, the courts and your rights

What your child practices

The United States government: the three articles that set up Congress, the presidency and the courts, terms and powers, checks and balances, the Bill of Rights and later amendments, landmark cases, and how the US system compares with a parliamentary one.

Alaska content standards learning standard: SS.9-12.8.6; SS.9-12.6.3 · the three branches of government and how they make, carry out and interpret laws

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Separation of powers splits government into three branches: Article I Congress, Article II the president, Article III the courts.
  2. A president serves 4 years. The House impeaches and the Senate holds the trial.
  3. Unlike a parliamentary system, the US elects its president separately from Congress.

Example: Which article of the US Constitution sets up the federal courts? Article I is Congress; Article II the president. Article III sets up the courts. Answer: Article III

How the Nation Governs in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 5 of 9 in 9th grade Social Studies, after Forms of Government and before Rights & Responsibilities.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition?

    • the Fifth Amendment
    • the Tenth Amendment
    • the First Amendment

  2. Question 2

    Who nominates federal judges?

    • the President
    • the voters
    • the Speaker of the House

  3. Question 3

    Which body has the power to declare war?

    • Congress
    • the Supreme Court
    • the President

  4. Question 4

    Which article of the US Constitution sets up the federal courts?

    • Article II
    • Article III
    • Article I

  5. Question 5

    The idea that the people are the source of government's power is…

    • separation of powers
    • popular sovereignty
    • judicial review

  6. Question 6

    Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) ruled that a person accused of a serious crime…

    • cannot appeal
    • must defend themselves
    • has a right to a lawyer even if they cannot pay

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