Understanding Checks and Balances

Worksheet Description

Imagine you’re playing a game with your friends, and everyone has a special role. Now, think about what would happen if one person got too powerful and tried to take over the whole game. It wouldn’t be fair, right? That’s why in some games, there are rules to make sure no one person or team becomes too powerful. The United States government works in a similar way with something called “checks and balances.”

The United States government is like a big team with three main parts: the Executive Branch (the President), the Legislative Branch (Congress), and the Judicial Branch (courts and judges). Each of these parts has its own special job, but they also keep an eye on each other to make sure no one gets too powerful.