Name
INTERACTIVE SUMMARY
Date
CHAPTER 9, LESSON 1
Branches of Government
The State Constitution
Like the United States Constitution, New York’s
constitution divides the government into three branches.
The legislative branch makes state laws. It includes the
Senate and the Assembly. The governor heads New
York’s executive branch. This branch carries out the laws.
The judicial branch includes courts headed by judges. The
judges make decisions about the meaning of laws and
whether laws have been followed. A system of checks and
balances keeps any one branch from gaining too much
power.
Local Governments
Local governments provide services such as police and
fire protection to New York’s communities. Most city
governments have an elected mayor who heads the
executive branch. The city council acts as the legislative
branch. Counties also have governments. A board of
supervisors often makes decisions that affect a county.
Another type of local government is a special district, such
as a school district, which provides services to one or more
counties.
Members of the
Senate and the
Assembly make
state laws.
Executive
Branch
Under the
governor, the
executive branch
enforces state
laws.
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Judicial
Branch
Judges lead the
judicial branch in
making decisions
about the meaning
of laws.
63
legislative branch noun,
the part of government
that is responsible for
making laws
executive branch noun,
the part of government
that is responsible for
enforcing laws
judicial branch noun, the
part of government that
makes decisions about
the meaning of laws and
whether laws have been
followed
checks and balances
noun, a system that
keeps any one branch
of government from
becoming too powerful
mayor noun, an elected
official that leads a city
What two groups make up
the legislative branch of
New York’s government?
Circle the sentence that tells
the answer.
New York’s Three Branches of Government
Legislative
Branch
Find and underline each
vocabulary word or term.
What group acts as the
legislative branch of a city?
Highlight the sentence that
tells the answer.
SKILL
Reading Diagrams
Which branch of
government would be
responsible for making a
law about highway speed
limits? Circle the branch.
Use with New York History and Government