SEPARATION

OF POWERS
Legislative 
Executive
Judicial
TODAY'S Understand how the three branches of
OBJECTIVE government interact, work together,
and work around each other and what
that means for our modern political
climate. 

State Standard 9-12.USH2.4.2.1
Analyze the relationship between the
three federal branches of government.
The Three
Branches
• Congress - (Legislative) 
• President - (Executive)
• Supreme Court - (Judicial)
Video During the video, think about the following
• What powers does the Judicial Branch 

Time! have? 
• What powers does the Legislative Branch
have? 
• What powers does the Executive Branch
have? 
 Group time!

• Get into your pre-assigned groups of 4. Each group is given one of the following situations based on their position. They are
to discuss them and come up with a legal remedy to the conflict between branches. Each group presents their legal remedy.
• Supreme Court -The President has issued an executive order that many feel is unconstitutional, a state effected has sued and
the issue is now before the SC. 

• Congress – The Supreme Court has struck down a law passed with support from every senator.  

• President – Congress has passed a bill that your party finds very unpopular, it is now on your desk waiting for a signature.
Presentation
time!
Swap your remedy worksheets with your pre-
assigned counterpart group. 

You now have 20 additional minutes to come up

with a plan on how to use the branches power to
respond to the other branch. Each group presents
their secondary proposal to the class followed by a
class discussion. 
So... What did we learn? 

• The Executive Branch....

• The Legislative Branch.....
• The Judicial Branch..... 
Exit Ticket • As a group, submit your
written plans outlining
how their legal remedy
solves for the conflict
between branches. 
More Resources

• https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resour
ces/educational-activities/separation-powers-
action-us-v-alvarez
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVrb5m
HFyvg