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The United States (our Federal Government), each state government, and each local government has three branches of government jobs elected by the people.
The founders of this country wrote a document called The United States Constitution. This document set down important laws and described how American government would work. The Founding Fathers wanted to make a government that did not allow one person to have too much power. While under the rule of the British king, they had seen how this could be unfair. To solve the problem of giving one leader too much power, the authors of the Constitution decided to set up three separate branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial. Each would have its own responsibilities, and all would work together to make the country run smoothly. Power is shared between these three branches in a system of checks and balances . (These checks and balances have nothing to do with your parent’s bank account!) Each branch of the government checks the power of the other two in order to maintain a balance of power. Standards Link: Civics: Understand how the U.S. Constitution serves to limit the powers of government (e.g., separation and sharing of powers, checks and balances, Bill of Rights). Why are there three branches of government?
Sunshine Week is a special time in March when people celebrate the importance of sharing information. It’s like having a flashlight that helps everyone see what’s going on. During this week, Americans celebrate why it is important for governments to share information about what they do, so people can understand how decisions are made and make sure everything is fair. It teaches that asking questions and getting answers helps people make good decisions!
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© Vicki Whiting March 2025
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