How is power divided in the United States government?

– Belinda Stutzman

1. You are going to listen to a TED Talk about how power is divided in the U.S. government.
Discuss these questions with your partners.

1) What do you know about American politics?

2) How does the government work in your country

2. Look at the photo. How is it connected to the U.S. government? Discuss with your partners.

3. Listening to the beginning of the TED Talk and read the text. What do you think the following
words refer to?

them he

Have you ever wondered who has the authority to make laws or punish people who break them? When we
think of power in the United States, we usually think of the President, but he does not act alone. In fact, he
is only one piece of the power puzzle and for very good reason.

4. Listen to the next part of the TED Talk and answer questions 1 – 5.

1. In the late 1700's, who did the Founding Fathers 2. When was the new constitution adopted?
not want ruling the United States? A. 1776
A. George Washington B. 1787
B. A king C. 1792
C. Benjamin Franklin D. 1801
D. Anyone from the United Kingdom
3. Which branch of government is described in 4. Which branch of the government commands the
Article I of the Constitution? US military?
A. Legislative A. Judicial
B. Judicial B. Legislative
C. Executive C. Executive
D. None of the above D. All of the above

5. Who determines if federal laws are

constitutional?
A. The President of the United States of
America
B. Members of the United States Congress
C. The legislative branch of the United States
government
D. The United States Supreme Court justices (9
of them)

5. Listen to the section about Article 1 and write down what these numbers refer to.

1. first _______________________________________________________________
2. 100 _______________________________________________________________
3. 435 _______________________________________________________________
4. two _______________________________________________________________

6. In the next part, the video talks about Article 2. Listen and write (T) true or (F) false.

1. The heads of the Executive Branch are the President and Vice-President.
2. The group of advisors are known as The Cupboard.
3. The President and his advisors are responsible for areas such as defense and security.
4. The Executive branch gives jobs to just about 4 million Americans.

7. Listen to the final part of the video and answer the following questions.

1. What is the role of the third branch of the U.S. government?

2. What is the role of the Supreme Court?
3. How is a job in the third branch different to other government jobs?
4. Besides voting, in what ways can a citizen participate in his/her government?

8. Discuss these questions with your partners.

1. Do you think voting is important? Why? Why not?

2. Should a country’s citizens play a bigger part in their country’s government?
3. How can we get people, especially younger people, more interested in politics?
4. How can governments do more to help the people and not the businesses?