Three Branches of Government – 4th Grade Social Studies Worksheet (Free Printable)

This free 4th grade social studies worksheet explains the three branches of the U.S. government and the system of checks and balances.

Reading Passage

The United States government is divided into three branches. The legislative branch, or Congress, makes the laws. It is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The executive branch carries out the laws. The President leads the executive branch. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets the laws and decides if they follow the Constitution. This system of three branches creates checks and balances so that no one branch becomes too powerful.

Questions

  1. Which branch of government makes the laws? (Legislative / Executive / Judicial / Presidential)
  2. The President leads the ___ branch.
  3. The Supreme Court is part of the judicial branch.
  4. Why does the U.S. government have three branches? (So no one branch becomes too powerful / To make laws faster / To save money / Because the Constitution required exactly three people)
  5. Congress is part of the executive branch.

About This Worksheet

The structure of the U.S. government is a key civics topic for 4th grade. This worksheet introduces the three branches — legislative, executive, judicial — and explains why the founders created a system of checks and balances.

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