Oklahoma Academic Standard 5. The student will describe the structure and responsibilities of the American system of government and the role of the individual citizen.

Objective 5.5.1  Examine the key principles of government established in the Constitution of the United States including:

B.  the system of checks and balances.

In a Nutshell

Students should develop an understanding of the concept and system of checks and balances established by the Constitution’s framers as an additional way to prevent one branch of the government from becoming too powerful. As each branch of government has the authority to exercise checks (or limits) on the actions of another branch, the system was designed to prevent government corruption and protect the rights of citizens from government abuse.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Assist students in identifying the purpose of an historical primary source from within the source itself.

• Provide opportunities for students to create presentations that integrate visual displays of the interactions of the three branches of government.

   

• Explain the structure, responsibilities, and powers exercised by national officials of the United States government, focusing on the interrelationships of branches and the system of checks and balances .

• Explain how laws are made in a democratic society to protect individual freedoms. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• checks on power and authority, balancing the power of the branches of government, intentional prevention of abuse of power

• specific checks, including veto power of the President, appointment power of the President, override power of Congress, "judicial review" by the Supreme Court, appointment approval of the Senate, treaty ratification power of the Senate, impeachment power of Congress

• Many students may not fully understand that all government officials, including the President, are limited in their exercise of power through the Constitution’s system of checks and balances, as developed by the Framers to provide an additional method for preventing abuse of power by one person or a group.

Instructional Resources