INFLUENCE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION ON TEXAS
Three Branches of Government
Name: _______________________
Directions: Using your textbook, class discussion and class notes to fill in the chart below.
State vs. National
Government Structure
Who is in charge of this
branch on the state level
and how long do they
serve? Do they have a
limit on their terms?
Who is in charge of this
branch on the national
level and how long do
they serve? Do they
have a limit on their
terms?
What is the
responsibility of this
branch on the state
level?
What is the
responsibility of this
branch on the national
level?
How is this branch alike
on the national and state
levels?
How is this branch
different on the national
and state levels?
Do you think the
national or state
structure makes more
sense? Why?
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
INFLUENCE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION ON TEXAS
Three Branches of Government
KEY: Possible Answers
Note: Answers will vary based on method of teacher presentation. Though this is intended as a discussion
based assignment, an option for a group project modification is below.
State vs. National
Government Structure
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Who is in charge of this
branch on the state level and
how long do they serve? Do
they have a limit on their
terms?
The Congress consisting of the
house of representatives and
the Senate make up this
branch. They have no limits
on their terms.
The governor is at the top of
this branch with the lieutenant
governor also having strong
power. There is no term limit
on Texas governor.
Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals, and the Supreme are
elected to their position by the
people. There are no term
limits on the judges.
Who is in charge of this
branch on the national level
and how long do they serve?
Do they have a limit on their
terms?
The Congress consisting of the
house of representatives and
the Senate make up this
branch. They have no limits
on their terms.
The President is at the top of
this branch with the vice
President having very little
power. The term limit for the
President is two.
All Federal judges, including
the Supreme Court are
appointed by the President and
approved by the Congress.
They have their position for
life.
What is the responsibility of
this branch on the state
level?
This branch makes the laws
that govern the state.
This branch enforces the laws
and upholds the constitution;
also signs bills into law.
What is the responsibility of
this branch on the national
level?
This branch makes the laws
that govern all the states
together.
This branch enforces the laws
and upholds the constitution;
also signs bills into law.
The supreme court interprets
the laws and makes rulings on
the Constitutionality of law.
How is this branch alike on
the national and state levels?
Both the national and state
congresses make the laws and
basically have the same form.
They have no term limits.
Both the governor and the
President have the
responsibility to enforce the
laws.
The Judicial Branch is the final
word on how the law is
interpreted on both levels.
How is this branch different
on the national and state
levels?
The state level makes laws for
only the state and the national
makes laws that cover every
state.
There are no limits on terms of
the governor and the vice
President has very little power
even compared with the
Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
Do you think the national or
state structure makes more
sense? Why?
Opinion – Answers will Vary
with student.
Opinion – Answers will Vary
with student.
The Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals is the final word on all
criminal Cases. The Supreme
Court oversees the legal
actions of the state and can
sometimes review decisions of
the appeals court in noncriminal cases.
Texas has a complicated
system with two high courts
that have different roles and
responsibilities. The United
States Supreme Court is the
final authority on the
interpreting the Constitution
for the entire country.
Opinion – Answers will Vary
with student.
OPTIONAL LESSON PRESENTATION
Cut this section into boxes and have students, in groups, place each peace on the handout rather than
writing in the answers.
The Congress consisting of
the house of representatives
and the Senate make up this
branch. They have no limits
on their terms.
The governor is at the top of
this branch with the
lieutenant governor also
having strong power. There
is no term limit on Texas
governor.
Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals, and the Supreme
are elected to their position
The Congress consisting of
the house of representatives
and the Senate make up this
branch. They have no limits
on their terms.
The President is at the top of
this branch with the vice
President having very little
power. The term limit for
the President is two.
All Federal judges,
including the Supreme
Court are appointed by the
President and approved by
the Congress. They have
their position for life.
This branch makes the laws
that govern the state.
This branch enforces the
laws and upholds the
constitution; also signs bills
into law.
This branch makes the laws
that govern all the states
together.
This branch enforces the
laws and upholds the
constitution; also signs bills
into law.
The supreme court interprets
the laws and makes rulings
on the Constitutionality of
law.
Both the national and state
congresses make the laws
and basically have the same
form. They have no term
limits.
Both the governor and the
President have the
responsibility to enforce the
laws.
The Judicial Branch is the
final word on how the law is
interpreted on both levels.
The state level makes laws
for only the state and the
national makes laws that
cover every state.
There are no limits on terms
of the governor and the vice
President has very little
power even compared with
the Lieutenant Governor of
Texas.
Texas has a complicated
system with two high courts
that have different roles and
responsibilities. The United
States Supreme Court is the
final authority on the
interpreting the Constitution
for the entire country.
Opinion – Answers will
Vary with student.
Opinion – Answers will
Vary with student.
Opinion – Answers will
Vary with student.
by the people. There are no
term limits on the judges.
The Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals is the final word on all
criminal Cases. The Supreme
Court oversees the legal
actions of the state and can
sometimes review decisions of
the appeals court in noncriminal cases.