---
title: Checks and Balances
description: Students will learn how branches of government play a role in making sure other branches do not become too powerful using a system of checks and balances.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/checks_and_balances-001.png
---

**Subject: Civics; Social Studies**

**Lesson Length: 45 - 60 mins**

**Topic: How the U.S. Government Works**

**Grade Level: 5**

**Standards / Framework: **

- [C3: D2.Civ.1.3-5](https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/2017/Jun/c3-framework-for-social-studies-rev0617.pdf)

**Brief Description:**  Students will learn how each branch of government plays a role in making sure another branch does not become too powerful using a system of checks and balances.

**Know Before You Start:** It helps for students to have an understanding of the function of each of the threee branches of government. Terms to know: **democracy**, **constitution**, **founders**, **legislative**, **executive**, **judicial**.

**Hook:**

- Discuss power and authority in daily life.
  
    - What happens when someone in your family, like a cousin or sibling, tries to tell you what to do?
    - Do you like it when your brother or sister act like your parents?
    - How do you feel when a classmate tries to dictate the rules to you?
- Read and discuss the sample comic pertaining to the three branches of government. Explain how a system of “checks and balances” is in place so that one branch of government doesn’t get too powerful.

**Activity:**

- Have students select two of the three branches of government.
- Using the sample comic as a guide, have them illustrate how the two branches selected use a system of checks and balances to ensure that one branch doesn’t become too powerful.
- The comic should include at least two panels.

**Closure:**

- Have students pair up with a partner to discuss their comics. 
- Comics may also be shared with the class.

**Differentiation:**

- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
- Provide visuals and definitions for key words, e.g., democracy, constitution, founders, legislative, executive, and judicial.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.

**Resources:**

- [Comic](https://share.pixton.com/qi9gfxg) to print or display

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-executive2025.png) U.S. Executive Branch ](https://content.pixton.com/u.s.-executive-branch)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-legislative-rev1.png) U.S. Legislative Branch ](https://content.pixton.com/u.s.-legislative-branch)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-u.s.%20judicial%20branch%202025-1.png) U.S. Judicial Branch ](https://content.pixton.com/u.s.-judicial-branch)

Assign Activity

## Related Ideas

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/the_3_branches-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/the-3-branches)

### [The Three Branches of the U.S. Government](https://ideas.pixton.com/the-3-branches)

Students will learn about the three branches of the U.S. government and be able to differentiate between them.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/p_1_too_many_twos_-001-2.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/too-many-twos)

### [Too Many Twos!](https://ideas.pixton.com/too-many-twos)

Students will correctly use the frequently confused words to, too and two.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/what_s_the_ratio_-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/whats-the-ratio)

### [What’s the Ratio?](https://ideas.pixton.com/whats-the-ratio)

Students will define the meaning of a **ratio** and provide several examples using real-life scenarios.