Texas TEKS 5.15

5.15 is a TEKS knowledge and skills statement. These are the student expectations under it.

• 5.15.A

  identify and explain the basic functions of the three branches of government

• 5.15.B

  identify the reasons for and describe the system of checks and balances outlined in the U.S. Constitution

• 5.15.C

  distinguish between national and state governments and compare their responsibilities in the U.S. federal system.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students identify what the legislative, executive, and judicial branches do. They explain how the branches limit one another so no branch controls government. They sort responsibilities as national, state, or shared.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given a government action, students can name the branch, describe its function, and identify a valid check. They can compare national, state, and shared responsibilities using accurate examples.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think the president makes laws or that courts enforce laws. They may confuse checks and balances with branches having identical powers. They may miss shared powers, such as taxation.

04

How to Assess It

On an exit ticket, students sort these actions: pass a law, veto a bill, review a law, coin money, issue driver licenses, and collect taxes. They then explain how a veto can be checked and why that check exists.

1. 01

   Build a three-branch paper mobile with action cards and yarn links showing how each branch checks another.

2. 02

   Write a response to this prompt: Why should one branch be able to limit the power of another branch?

3. 03

   Play a sorting relay with cards for branch powers, checks, national responsibilities, state responsibilities, and shared responsibilities.

4. 04

   Compare a Texas driver license and a U.S. passport to determine which government level issues each document and why.

• 5.13

  Government. The student understands the organization of governments in colonial America. The student is expected to:

• 7.14

  Government. The student understands the structure and functions of government created by the Texas Constitution. The student is expected to:

• 8.16

  Government. The student understands the purpose of changing the U.S. Constitution and the impact of amendments on American society. The student is expected to:

• 5.14

  Government. The student understands important ideas in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The student is expected t...