What are the three branches of the US government?

#Legislative branch: makes laws

Congress has two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 100 senators, 2 from each state, and the House has 435 voting members, with seats divided among the states by population. A bill must pass both chambers in the same form before it goes to the president. Congress also decides how federal money is spent, and bills to raise revenue must start in the House.

#Executive branch: carries out laws

The president leads the executive branch, along with the vice president and the federal departments and agencies. The Constitution tells the president to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” The president can sign or veto bills, nominates judges and top officials, and sends Congress a budget proposal each year. Governors and many mayors play a similar role for states and cities.

#Judicial branch: decides cases

Federal courts decide cases about the Constitution, federal laws and treaties, plus some other disputes. Courts can strike down laws that violate the Constitution. The president nominates federal judges, and the Senate confirms them. Supreme Court justices and other Article III judges hold office “during good Behaviour,” which U.S. Courts describes as a life term. States choose their own judges in different ways, including elections and appointments.

#How the branches check each other

• The president can veto a bill, and Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.
• The president nominates judges and top officials, and the Senate can confirm or reject them.
• The House can impeach an official, and the Senate then holds the trial, where conviction takes two-thirds of the senators present.
• Courts can rule that a law or government action breaks the Constitution.

USAGov says the Constitution divides power this way so that no individual or group will have too much power.