CIV.8

Pass The Law

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Game Info for Teachers

COMBINED RATING

5.0 Stars

TEACHERS (2)

5.0

STUDENTS (0)

0.0

LENGTH

15 Minutes

GRADES

CAPABILITIES

Spanish Language Support

Text-to-Speech Support

Saves Progress

Description

Pass The Law is an interactive simulation where you assume the role of a young legislator. Draft, negotiate, and pass bills while managing Capitol Points, navigating vetoes, and mastering the checks & balances that keep a democracy healthy, all delivered in a clear, quick, engaging gameplay.

Vocabulary Words

Separation of powers

Legislative branch

Executive branch

Judicial branch

Veto

Instructions

Play through this interactive game to learn about Separation of Powers. Suitable for Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.

Main Concepts

Specific constitutional powers assigned to each branch help define the boundaries of government authority.

The Constitution’s structure requires cooperation among branches even as it prevents one branch from dominating the others.

Separation of powers reflects the framers’ concern that concentrated power threatens liberty.

Tensions among the branches are a built-in feature of constitutional government rather than a sign that the system is failing.

The Constitution does not create completely independent branches, but branches that share and limit power.

The Senate checks presidential appointment and treaty powers through confirmation and ratification powers.

Separation of powers and checks and balances work together to reduce the risk of tyranny.

The judicial branch checks the other branches by reviewing whether laws and government actions are constitutional.

Congress can check executive power through impeachment, oversight, and the power to override vetoes.

The veto power gives the executive branch a check on legislation passed by Congress.

Checks and balances allow each branch to limit the actions of the other branches.

Separation of powers divides government authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The framers used separation of powers to prevent any one branch from gaining too much authority.

The legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws.

Discussion Questions

Before the Game

Why do you think the Framers divided power among the three branches instead of giving it to one person or group? What do you think the separation of powers means? What do you think checks and balances mean? Why is it important to prevent one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

After the Game

Give one example of the legislative branch checking the power of another branch. Give one example of the executive branch checking the power of another branch. Give one example of the judicial branch checking the power of another branch. Why is it important that no single branch has all the power?

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Game Details

Difficulty

Content Integration

Lexile Level

N/A

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Main Concepts