What are the three branches of government?
Asked by: Mrs. Heather Flatley | Last update: August 26, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (7 votes)
To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Government is made up of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. To ensure the government is effective and citizens' rights are protected, each branch has its own powers and responsibilities, including working with the other branches.
What are the 3 branches of government and what does each do?
- Legislative—Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate)
- Executive—Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies)
- Judicial—Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts).
Which branch has more power?
Because each branch has both individual and shared powers, no one branch has more authority than the other two, and each is accountable to the others. This "checks and balances" system means that the balance of power in our government remains steady.
What branch is the president in?
The Executive Branch. The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
What is the judicial branch responsible for?
The judicial branch of government is charged with interpreting the laws of the State of California. It provides for the orderly settlement of disputes between parties in controversy, determines the guilt or innocence of those accused of violating laws, and protects the rights of individuals.
3 Branches of Government | Kids Educational Video | Kids Academy
What is the executive branch responsible for?
The executive branch consists of the President, his or her advisors and various departments and agencies. This branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. The following are executive branch organizations and agencies: Executive Office of the President (White House)
What is the legislative branch responsible for?
The legislative branch's roles include: Drafting proposed laws. Confirming or rejecting presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court. Having the authority to declare war.
Which branch declares war?
The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812.
What are the 7 powers of the executive branch?
The index is an aggregation of seven powers: (1) the power to initiate legislation; (2) the power to issue decrees; (3) the power to initiate constitutional amendments; (4) the power to declare states of emergency; (5) veto power; (6) the power to challenge the constitutionality of legislation; and (7) the power to ...
What branch is the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the land and the only part of the federal judiciary specifically required by the Constitution. The Constitution does not stipulate the number of Supreme Court Justices; the number is set instead by Congress.
What is the difference between the House and the Senate?
The Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments while the House initiates revenue-raising bills. The House initiates and decides impeachment while the Senate votes on conviction and removal of office for impeachment cases.
What branch is more powerful than the president?
Congress is the central law-making body to which the executive and judicial branches respond. Congress writes and debates the laws that govern the United States, and it can override presidential vetoes.
Can the president dissolve Congress?
The United States Constitution does not allow for the dissolution of Congress, instead allowing for prorogation by the President of the United States when Congress is unable to agree on a time of adjournment.
What is one way the President can check the power of the Supreme Court?
Filling Court vacancies is another way in which presidents can impact Court outcomes. Judicial appointments and confirmations also check the Supreme Court's power. The constitutional process on paper seems simple enough. The president of the United States appoints and the Senate confirms.
Who wrote the Constitution?
However, key states including Virginia and New York had not ratified. James Madison, the principal author of the Constitution, knew that grave doubts would be cast on the Constitution if those states (the home states of several of its chief architects, including Madison himself) did not adopt it.
How many years does a senator serve?
Regardless of size or population, each state has two senators, who serve six-year terms. Unlike the House of Representatives, where all members must stand for election every two years, only one-third of the Senate's seats are filled with each general election.
What is the only Court mentioned in the Constitution?
Article III, Section I states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it permits Congress to decide how to organize it.
Do governors get secret service?
Dignitary Protection Section (DPS) operates from both Los Angeles and Sacramento and is responsible for the protection of state constitutional officers including: the Governor, First Lady, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Controller, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the ...
Is the U.S. president the most powerful person?
In modern times, the president is one of the world's most powerful political figures and the leader of the world's only remaining superpower. As the leader of the nation with the largest economy by nominal GDP, the president possesses significant domestic and international hard and soft power.
Is the House or Senate more powerful?
The Senate is to-day the most powerful single chamber in any legislative body in the world, but this power, which is shown daily by the wide attention to all that is said and done in the Senate of the United States, is not the product of selfish and cunning usurpations on the part of an ambitious body.
Can a president go to war without Congress?
These scholars contend that, except for a limited power to repel sudden attacks, the Constitution does not permit the President to commit troops to combat without congressional authorization.
Which branch collects taxes?
The legislative branch has the power to create new taxes and pass laws concerning taxes, but cannot enforce those laws. The collection of taxes is undertaken by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is a department under the executive branch of government.
Which branch punishes pirates?
The biggest job of the House and Senate is to make laws for the entire country. But the Constitution also tasks Congress with everything from printing money to punishing pirates.
What is federalism?
Another basic concept embodied in the Constitution is federalism, which refers to the division and sharing of power between the national and state governments.
Who vetoes bills?
Background information on the veto process for the teacher:
The Framers of the Constitution gave the President the power to veto acts of Congress to prevent the legislative branch from becoming too powerful.