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9th grade · Social Studies · Unit 5 of 11

Three Branches

Congress, the president and the courts

What your child practices

How Articles I, II and III set up Congress, the presidency and the courts, terms and numbers, independent agencies such as NASA, checks and balances, and how the Constitution is amended.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: GOV.6(E); GOV.7(A); GOV.7(B); GOV.7(C); GOV.7(D); GOV.7(E) · the structure and functions of the three branches, independent agencies, checks and balances, and amending the Constitution

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Article I creates Congress, which holds the “power of the purse” over taxing and spending. Article II the president; Article III the courts.
  2. House seats follow population, so Texas has many more than Wyoming. The House can impeach.
  3. Justices serve for life. Independent agencies, like NASA, sit in the executive branch.

Example: Which article of the Constitution creates Congress? The first article sets up the lawmaking branch. That is Article I. Answer: Article I

Three Branches in Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 5 of 11 in 9th grade Social Studies, after Media & Democracy 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: 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

    Who is commander in chief of the armed forces?

    • The Chief Justice
    • The Speaker of the House
    • The president
    • The secretary of defense

  2. Question 2

    Who is the head of the judicial branch?

    • The attorney general
    • The chief justice of the United States
    • The president
    • The Speaker of the House

  3. Question 3

    Congress can override a president's veto with…

    • A simple majority in the House
    • A two-thirds vote in both houses
    • The Supreme Court's approval
    • A vote of the cabinet

  4. Question 4

    How long is a US senator's term?

    • 4 years
    • 2 years
    • 8 years
    • 6 years

  5. Question 5

    The president's cabinet is made up of…

    • Members of Congress
    • Supreme Court justices
    • State governors
    • The heads of executive departments

  6. Question 6

    Why does Texas have more members in the US House than Wyoming?

    • House seats are based on population
    • Texas is older
    • Texas asked for more
    • seats are based on land area only

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