Separation of Powers

Power is divided two ways:

Federalism: Power is divided between the Federal (national) level of government and the states' governments.

Branches of Government: At both the Federal and state levels of government, the power to make, enforce, and interpret laws is broken up into different offices.

Countries usually have a document that explain how the government works.

These are called constitutions.

The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land, meaning that everything the government does, MUST agree with what the Constitution says.

One power in government is to write bills that can become laws.

The Legislative Branch has this power, as explained in Article I of the Constitution

It consists of Congress: The House of Representatives and the Senate.

Another power is to enforce the laws that have been passed.

The Executive branch has this power, as explained in Article II of the Constitution.

It includes the president and vice president as well as the different Cabinet departments that overseas many issues.

The last power that is the ability to interpret laws or explain what they mean.

The Judicial Branch has this power, as explained in Article III of the Constitution

It is composed of the Supreme Court.

In order to keep the three branches from trying to grab too much power or authority, each branch can "check" or stop the others.

Powers are "balanced" or divided evenly so that no branch can easily take more power.

The president can choose to veto or reject bills passed by Congress.

The House can impeach (charge with a crime) presidents or justices and the Senate can convict them.

The Supreme Court can use judicial review, deciding that laws passed by Congress and signed by the President are invalid as they conflict with the Constitution.