American Government - The Branches of Government: A Closer Look

 

  

The Constitution of the United States established three separate branches for our nation’s federal government. This separation was intended to ensure that no one part of the government would ever become too strong. These three branches divide the work of creating, interpreting, and enforcing the laws of the United States. What role does each branch play?

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is Congress. This branch makes the laws. Congress is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Every state elects officials to both chambers. Each state elects two members of the Senate, called senators. However, the number of representatives that a state sends to Congress is based on that state’s population. For example, Wyoming has a small population and only has one representative. New York, which has a larger population, has 27 representatives. Senators serve six-year terms, and representatives serve two-year terms.

Executive Branch

The second branch of government is the executive branch. The executive in charge of this branch is the president. Unlike kings and emperors who inherit their right to run a country from their family, the president is elected by the people of the states. The president cannot make laws. The president’s job is to enforce the laws made by the legislative branch. To do that, the president has the help of executive departments and agencies. They handle the daily work of administering federal laws and programs. The President is also commander in chief of the army. The president is elected to serve a four-year term. The 22nd Amendment limits a president to two terms, so a president cannot be elected more than twice.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is the third branch of government. The judicial branch interprets the laws made by Congress. It is made up of a system of federal courts and judges. The highest court in the nation is the Supreme Court of the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court’s most important role is to judge whether a law is unconstitutional. If a law is unconstitutional, the Court has the power to overturn it. The president appoints justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, but they have to be confirmed by the Senate. They can serve from the time they are approved until they die or retire. Federal judges make important decisions that affect everyone, so it is important that they are trustworthy and dependable.

The United States government is based in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital. Congress meets in the Capitol Building, and the president lives in the White House. The United States Supreme Court justices meet in the Supreme Court Building. These buildings have come to symbolize, or stand for, the government.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the number of representatives a state has in Congress based on? 

1. the number of senators the state has in Congress 
2. the state’s population 
3. the state’s number of square miles 
4. the state’s number of cities 

2. What are the three branches of government described in the passage? 

1. congressional, executive, judicial 
2. congressional, executive, legislative 
3. executive, judicial, legislative 
4. judicial, legislative, professional 

3. Which of the following details is LEAST important to an understanding of the three branches of government? 

1. The highest court in the nation is the United States Supreme Court. 
2. The president is elected to serve for four years. 
3. Each state has two senators. 
4. New York has 27 representatives. 

4. Read the following sentence: "These three branches divide the work of creating, interpreting, and enforcing the laws of the United States."

In this sentence, the word enforcing means 

1. getting rid of laws 
2. make sure laws are followed 
3. creating laws 
4. ruling a country 

5. What is the passage mainly about? 

1. the origins of the three branches of American government 
2. the importance of the separation of powers in government 
3. the roles of the three branches of American government 
4. the tension among the three branches of American government 

6. What is the U.S. Supreme Court’s most important role? 

(written answer)

7. What does it mean for a law to be unconstitutional? Use evidence from the passage to support your answer. 

(written answer)

8. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Senators serve six-year terms, ______ representatives serve two-year terms. 

1. so 
2. while 
3. after 
4. which