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4th grade · Social Studies · Unit 12 of 14

Government & Citizens

Branches, rights and taking part

What your child practices

The three branches of Texas government, the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution and Bill of Rights, voting and civic participation, leaders at each level, and Texans who modeled public service, such as Barbara Jordan, Ann Richards and Henry B. González.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 4.13(B); 4.13(C); 4.15(A); 4.15(B); 4.15(C); 4.15(D); 4.15(E); 4.15(F); 4.16(A); 4.16(B); 4.22(B) · the branches of Texas government, founding documents, civic participation and leadership

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Texas government has three branches. The Legislature meets in the Capitol in Austin.
  2. The US Constitution sets up the plan for the US government. The Bill of Rights protects freedoms.
  3. Citizens take part by voting and serving the public.

Example: Where does the Texas Legislature meet? It meets in the state capital. The capital is Austin. Answer: the Capitol in Austin

Government & Citizens in Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 12 of 14 in 4th grade Social Studies, after The Texas Economy and before Symbols & Celebrations.

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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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

    A class votes on a field trip: 14 choose the museum, 9 choose the zoo. Which trip wins?

    • both
    • neither
    • the zoo
    • the museum

  2. Question 2

    The US Constitution is important because it…

    • ended the Civil War
    • sets up the plan for the US government
    • made Texas a republic
    • named the state flower

  3. Question 3

    Historic preservation means…

    • building new highways
    • tearing down old buildings
    • protecting old buildings and places
    • drilling wells

  4. Question 4

    Which Texan served as president of the United States?

    • Stephen F. Austin
    • Lyndon B. Johnson
    • Sam Houston
    • Anson Jones

  5. Question 5

    How many US senators does Texas have?

    • ten
    • one
    • fifty
    • two

  6. Question 6

    Ann Richards served as…

    • governor of Texas
    • president of the Republic
    • mayor of El Paso
    • a US general

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