Indiana Social Studies 4.C.3
The Standard
Identify and explain the major responsibilities of the legislative (Article 4), executive (Article 5), and judicial branches (Article 7) of state government as written in the Indiana Constitution.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students read short sections of Indiana’s constitution about the General Assembly, governor, and state courts. They explain each branch’s job using an example of a state law.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a bill, a governor’s veto, and a court challenge, a student identifies the branch involved at each step. They use the relevant constitution article to support each answer.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think the governor can pass a law alone. Others think judges enforce laws or confuse Indiana’s courts with the U.S. Supreme Court.
How to Assess It
- Give students three cards: passes a bill, carries out a law, and decides a lawsuit about a law. Ask them to name the state branch and constitution article for each.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Hand out short excerpts from Articles 4, 5, and 7; students highlight job verbs and sort duty cards under General Assembly, governor, or courts.
Ask pairs: If Indiana passed a school bus safety law, which branch would pass it, carry it out, and hear a lawsuit about it?
Play branch relay: read passes a bill, signs or vetoes it, and decides a legal challenge; teams hold up matching branch cards.
Write 'Indiana bans holding phones while driving' on the board; students name the branch that passed it, enforces it, and hears challenges.
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Printable 4.C.3 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- USG.3.13
Explain the organization of state and local governments in Indiana and analyze how they affect the lives of citizens.
- USG.3.3
Compare and contrast the enumerated, implied, and denied powers of legislatures in both the United States Constitution and the Indiana Constitution.
- USG.3.4
Explain the relationships among branches of the United States government and Indiana government, which involve separation and sharing of powers as a means to li...
- IS.2.3
Analyze and compare the major functions, responsibilities, and relationships of the legislative (Article 4), executive (Article 5), and judicial branches (Artic...
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