Branches of Government
3 Branches of the U.S.A Government
How the U.S. Government Is Organized
The Constitution of the United
States divides the federal government into three
branches to ensure a central government in which no individual or group gains
too much control:
- Legislative – Makes laws (Congress)
- Executive – Carries out laws (President, Vice President, Cabinet)
- Judicial – Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and Other Courts)
Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches as follows:
- The president can veto laws passed by Congress.
- Congress confirms or rejects the president's appointments and can
remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.
- The justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn
unconstitutional laws, are appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate.
The U.S. federal government seeks to act in the best interests of its citizens through this system of checks and balances.
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to Congress. American citizens have the right to vote for senators and representatives through free, confidential ballots.
- Senate - There are two
elected senators per state, totaling 100 senators. A senate term is six
years and there's no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.
- House
of Representatives - There are 435 elected representatives, which are divided among
the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are
additional non-voting delegates who represent the District of Columbia and
the territories. A representative serves a two-year term, and there's no
limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.
Executive Branch
The executive branch carries out
and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet,
executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and
committees. American citizens have the right to vote for
the president and vice president through free, confidential ballots.
Key roles of the executive branch include:
- President - The president leads
the country. He/she is the head of state, leader of the federal
government, and commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. The
president serves a four-year term and can be elected no more than two
times.
- Vice President - The vice president
supports the president. If the president is unable to serve, the vice
president becomes president. He/she can serve an unlimited number of
four-year terms.
- The Cabinet - Cabinet members
serve as advisors to the president. They include the vice president and
the heads of executive departments. Cabinet members are
nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at
least 51 votes).
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch interprets
the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws
violate the Constitution. The judicial branch is comprised of the
Supreme Court and other federal courts.
- Supreme Court - The Supreme Court is
the highest court in the United States. The justices of the Supreme Court
are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at
least 51 votes). Congress decides the number of justices. Currently, there
are nine. There is no fixed term for justices. They serve until their
death, retirement, or removal in exceptional circumstances.
- Other Federal Courts - The Constitution
grants Congress the authority to establish other federal courts.
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