Indiana Social Studies USG.3.4
The Standard
Explain the relationships among branches of the United States government and Indiana government, which involve separation and sharing of powers as a means to limited government.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies · Students understand the nature of citizenship, politics, and governments, understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens and how these are part of local, state, and national government. Students examine how the United States Constitution protects rights and provides the structure and functions of various levels of government. Students examine how the United States interacts with other nations as well as the government's role in world affairs will be examined.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students trace how Congress, the president, and federal courts check one another. They do the same for Indiana's General Assembly, governor, and courts. They explain how those checks limit each branch's power.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a federal or Indiana bill, a student can name who passes it, who can veto it, and who can override the veto. They can explain what courts may do if the law is challenged.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the president can veto an Indiana bill or the governor can veto a bill from Congress. Some think a veto ends a bill permanently. Others think separate branches never act on the same law.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Congress and Indiana's General Assembly each pass a bill. For each bill, name who can veto it, who can override the veto, and what courts can do if the law is challenged.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Hand out branch role cards and two paper bills; have groups route each bill through passage, veto, override, and court review.
Ask: Why can the governor veto an Indiana bill but not a bill from Congress? Have partners explain who checks each veto.
Play a federal-or-Indiana card sort using actions such as Congress overriding a veto and the governor vetoing a bill.
Read a printed Indiana governor's veto message; have students underline the reason for the veto and write how lawmakers could respond.
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