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Acknowledgements: Ms. Denise Weiner, Private Consultant in collaboration with the University of
Delawares Professional Development Center for Educators
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Student Directions
Task: Branches of Government Opinion Performance Task
Your class has been learning about the three branches of government. Your
teacher has asked you to research more about the powers within each branch of
government.
You have found three sources about this topic in the school library.
After you have looked at these sources, you will answer some questions about
them. Briefly scan the sources and the three questions that follow. Then, go
back and read the sources carefully so you will have the information you will
need to answer the questions and complete your research. You may use scratch
paper to take notes.
In Part 2, you will write an opinion paper using the information you have read.
Research Questions:
After reviewing the research sources, use the rest of the time in Part 1 to answer
three questions about them. Your answers to these questions will be scored.
Also, your answers will help you think about the information you have read, which
should help you write your opinion paper.
You may refer back to your scratch paper to review your notes when you think it
would be helpful. Answer the questions in the spaces below.
Your written notes will be available to you in Part 1 and Part 2 of the performance
task.
Part 1
Sources for Performance Task
Source #1 Branches of the Government (2015) retrieved from
http://video.about.com/usgovinfo/Branches-of-the-Government.htm
Source #1
The Three Branches of Government
The United States has three branches of government: the executive, the
legislative and the judicial. Each of these branches has an important role in the
function of the government, and they were established in Articles 1 (legislative), 2
(executive) and 3 (judicial) of the U.S. Constitution.
The Executive Branch
The executive branch consists of the president, vice president and 15 Cabinetlevel departments. The primary power of the executive branch rests with the
president, who chooses his vice president, and his Cabinet members. The
biggest responsibility of the executive branch is to ensure that laws are carried
out and enforced. Other responsibilities of the federal government are collecting
taxes, managing the military forces that keep us safe, and to take care of global
political and economic issues.
The Legislative Branch
The legislative branch consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives,
collectively known as the Congress. There are 100 senators; each state has two.
Each state has a different number of representatives, with the number
determined by the state's population. The legislative branch, as a whole, is in
charge of passing the nation's laws and providing assistance to the 50 U.S.
states.
The Judicial Branch
The judicial branch consists of the United States Supreme Court and lower
federal courts. Its primary function is to hear cases that challenge legislation or
require interpretation of that legislation. The U.S. Supreme Court has nine
Justices, who are chosen by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and have a
lifetime appointment.
Checks and Balances
Why are there three distinct branches of government, each with a different
function? The framers of the Constitution did not wish to return to the totalitarian*
system of governance imposed on colonial America by the British.
a totalitarian* system of government means that the government tries to uphold total control and
power over its peoples public and private life.
Source #2
Why Three Branches of Government?
written by by Lorenzo M. Vasquez III (2009)retrieved from
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/usconstitution/a/branches.htm
Adapted by Layla Cordwell
Research Questions
Source #1
Source #2
Source #3
Student Directions
Branches of Government Opinion Performance Task
Part 2
You will now review your notes and sources, and plan, draft, revise and edit your
writing. You may use your notes and go back to the sources. Now read your
assignment and the information about how your writing will be scored, then begin
your work.
Your Assignment
As a contribution to the student newspaper you decide to write an opinion essay
that addresses whether or not you feel the three branches of government are
equally balanced or if you feel one branch is more powerful. Your essay will be
featured as the headline article in the schools weekly newspaper.
In your essay, you will take a side as to whether you agree that the three
branches of government are equally balanced. Your paper will be read by your
classmates and their parents. Make sure you clearly state your opinion and write
several paragraphs supporting your opinion with reasons and details from the
sources.
Develop your ideas clearly and use your own words, except when quoting
directly from the sources. Be sure to reference the sources by title or number
when using details or facts directly from the sources.
Now begin work on your opinion paper. Manage your time carefully so that
you can
1. plan your opinion paper
2. write your opinion paper
3. revise and edit the final draft of your opinion paper
[Word-processing tools and spell check are available to you. Might want to
replace with dictionaries and thesauri are available to you.]
For Part 2, you are being asked to write an opinion paper that is several
paragraphs long. Type your response in the box below. The box will get bigger
as you type.
Remember to check your notes and your pre-writing/planning as you write and
then revise and edit your opinion paper.