Civics: government, rights, and responsibilities (grade 4) · lesson

Three branches

💡 Colorado splits power among three branches so no one person or group gets too much power.

The legislative branch makes laws. In Colorado it is called the General Assembly.

The executive branch carries out the laws. The governor leads it.

The judicial branch is the courts. Judges decide what laws mean in real cases. Splitting the jobs means each branch can watch the others.

🧠 Let's work it out

What do you think comes next?

💡 A bill must pass both parts of the General Assembly and then go to the governor, who can sign it or veto it.

The General Assembly has two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is set up like the U.S. Congress.

A lawmaker writes a bill. The Senate and the House both vote yes. Then the governor signs it, and it becomes law.

The governor can also say no. This is a veto. A veto shows that one branch can stop a plan made by another branch.

🧠 Let's work it out

What do you think comes next?

💡 Each level of government has its own jobs, so take a problem to the level that handles it.

Denver is Colorado's capital. The governor works there, and the General Assembly meets there.

The state government runs state parks and takes care of state highways.

A town or city handles its own streets, like a crosswalk by a school. The national government does jobs for the whole country, like making money.

🧠 Let's work it out

What do you think comes next?

💡 Citizens can share their views with leaders and can even vote on laws themselves.

Laws affect different people in different ways. A new park might help hikers but change things for ranchers. Good leaders listen to every group.

In Colorado, citizens can gather names on a petition. Then a new law goes on the ballot, and voters decide. This lets people make laws directly.

🧠 How to think about it

Ask who decides at the end. If the voters say yes or no to a law, then the people are making the law themselves.