The Executive Branch

• The main job is to carry out the laws

• Made up of the president, vice-president, and the president's Cabinet

• The president is elected by the citizens of the United States

• Leader of the government and all branches of the military

• Chooses federal judges

• Can sign or veto a bill

Judicial Branch

• Evaluates laws (Supreme Court, Federal and other courts)

• The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate

• Can overturn unconstitutional laws

Legislative Branch

• Confirms or rejects presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court

• Has the authority to declare war

• The branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives)

• Senate—There are two elected Senators per state, totaling 100 Senators

Legislative Branch cont.

• A Senate term is six years, and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.

• House of Representatives—There are 435 elected Representatives

• A Representative serves a two-year term, and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.

• Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate)

Checks and Balances

• The point of checks and balances was to make sure no one branch would be able to control too much power, and it created a separation of powers

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto.

Checks and Balances cont.

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.

• The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes.

• The legislative branch has the power to approve Presidential nominations, control the budget, and can impeach the President, and remove him or her from office

• The judicial branch interprets laws, but the President nominates Supreme Court justices, the court of appeals judges, and district court judges who make the evaluations.