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Talia's Oakview Branch Guide worksheet preview

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Talia's Oakview Branch Guide

Read Talia's neighborhood letter and explain how the state legislature, governor and state courts have different jobs.

Grade 4Social StudiesInteractive · Printable

Aligned toCIV.4.2

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What’s included

  • Single worksheet
  • Auto-graded online
  • 1 C3 Framework standard
  • Printable answer key
  • 15 questions
  • Classroom-ready

Details

Format
Interactive · Printable
Grade
Grade 4
Subject
Social Studies
Question types
Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

  • Students describe how the state legislature makes statewide laws.
  • Students describe how the governor signs or vetoes laws and directs agencies.
  • Students describe how state courts interpret laws and state constitutions.

How to use

Read the letter together, then have students use its details to identify branch roles and correct common misunderstandings.

Curriculum

C3 Framework standard covered

CIV.4.2

Describe the three branches of state government: the legislature, the governor and the state courts.

Preview

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Name Date

Talia's Oakview Branch Guide

Read a neighborhood letter about the three branches of state government.

Read Talia's letter

Read the letter from Talia. Then answer the questions using details from the letter.

A Note in the Oakview Bulletin

Dear Oakview neighbors, Last week at our community center, we made a poster about state government. I learned that a state has three important parts of government with different jobs. The jobs can connect, but one part does not do all the work of the others.

The state legislature is made up of elected lawmakers. These lawmakers discuss and vote on statewide laws. They can also approve a state budget. For example, lawmakers might pass a law about training for people who work in child-care centers. The idea becomes a law only after it follows the state's lawmaking process and receives the governor's decision.

The governor is the state's elected leader. When a bill reaches the governor, the governor may sign it or veto it. After a law takes effect, the governor can direct state agencies as they carry out the law. An agency might write instructions or provide services that help put the law into practice. The governor does not write every law alone.

State courts have a different job. Judges hear legal disputes and interpret state laws. They also interpret the state constitution when people disagree about what a law means or whether it follows the constitution. A court may decide how a law applies in a particular case. Courts do not write new laws, and they do not run state agencies.

Think about a question from our poster: A person in Oakview says that a state law conflicts with the state constitution. The state courts would consider that legal question. If lawmakers later want different wording in the law, the legislature would work on the law. These examples show why the three parts of state government need different jobs. Sincerely, Talia Nguyen

1.
What is the main idea of Talia's letter?
  • A. The governor makes decisions for every part of state government.
  • B. State courts mainly provide services through state agencies.
  • C. The legislature, governor and state courts have different roles.
  • D. Neighborhood community centers create statewide laws.
2.
Which task belongs to the state legislature?
  • A. Discussing and voting on statewide laws
  • B. Directing state agencies after a law takes effect
  • C. Deciding whether a law follows the state constitution
  • D. Signing or vetoing a bill from lawmakers
3.
Word bank: legislature · governor · state courts · agency

The part of state government made up of elected lawmakers is the  .

4.
A state agency receives directions about how to put a new law into practice. What does this show about the governor's role?
  • A. The governor is hearing a dispute about the law.
  • B. The governor is interpreting the state constitution.
  • C. The governor is writing the law without lawmakers.
  • D. The governor is helping carry out the law.
5.
Circle the two details from the letter that show what state courts do.

Judges hear legal disputes.Lawmakers discuss and vote on statewide laws.Courts interpret state laws and the state constitution.The governor directs state agencies.

6.
Use details from Talia's letter to explain how the state legislature, governor and state courts have different jobs.

Use the branch guide

Apply the ideas from Talia's letter to new situations. Read each choice carefully.

7.
A group asks the state to create one rule for school buses across the state. Which part of state government would discuss and vote on that rule?
  • A. A state court, because judges decide legal disputes
  • B. The state legislature, because lawmakers vote on laws
  • C. A state agency, because agencies run daily services
  • D. The governor, because the governor interprets laws
8.
Which action is part of the governor's role described in the letter?
  • A. Hearing a case about a state law
  • B. Writing every statewide law alone
  • C. Signing or vetoing a bill
  • D. Deciding what the state constitution means in court
9.
A state court has explained how a law applies in a case. Lawmakers then want to change the law's wording. Which part of state government should work on that change?
  • A. The state legislature, because it works on laws
  • B. The governor, because the governor hears court cases
  • C. A state agency, because agencies decide legal disputes
  • D. The state courts, because courts vote on new laws
10.
Circle the two actions that state courts would not take according to the letter.

Write a new statewide lawInterpret a law in a legal caseConsider whether a law follows the constitutionRun a state agency's daily work

11.
Which row correctly matches each part of state government with its main job?
  • A. Legislature—makes laws; governor—carries out laws; courts—interpret laws
  • B. Legislature—hears cases; governor—writes laws; courts—direct agencies
  • C. Legislature—runs agencies; governor—decides court cases; courts—approve budgets
  • D. Legislature—signs bills; governor—votes in the legislature; courts—write laws
12.
Word bank: carry out · interpret · debate · veto

When a governor directs an agency to put a law that has taken effect into practice, the agency helps   the law.

13.
Which question is mainly for a state court rather than the governor?
  • A. How can an agency provide a service under the law?
  • B. Should the governor sign or veto the bill?
  • C. Does the law conflict with the state constitution?
  • D. What wording should lawmakers use in a new law?
14.
Which sentence would best complete Talia's poster?
  • A. One part of state government handles every government job.
  • B. Different parts of state government make, carry out and interpret laws.
  • C. State courts and agencies vote together on every law.
  • D. The governor replaces lawmakers when a law needs changes.
15.
A neighbor says, “The governor makes all state laws, and state courts carry them out.” Use two details from the letter to correct this idea.

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