| Have your parents ever
talked about balancing their checkbook or bank account? The check and balance
system of the United States government is similar. The federal government
is made up of three branches of government. They are the Executive, the
Legislative, and the Judicial.
The 
of government is represented by the President of the United States. The 
of government is divided into two groups of people, collectively they are
called the Congress. They are the House of Representatives (House for short)
and the Senate. The 
of government is made up of twelve members of the Supreme Court.
All three branches work
together to balance the government and make sure that any one branch does
not become too powerful. Look at the diagram on page 243 in your textbook.
Copy
a similar diagram into your notebook. The diagram gives job description
and the powers of office each branch has.
Did you know the President
cannot make a law? Only the Congress can. Only the Supreme Court can rule
a law unconstitutional. Unlike what has happened in the past here in Peru,
the Constitution cannot be thrown out, it can only be changed or amended.
The diagram on page 248 in your textbook explains how an amendment occurs.
The first ten amendments
to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were
added later in order to insure the protection of individual liberties.
Citizens have certain rights and responsibilities that must be carried
out for representative democracy to work. Read about these rights in section
2, pages 244 - 247.
Understanding What You Read
After you have finished
reading the selection, answer the following questions. |