1. Congress = Senate + House of Representatives
 LEGISLATIVE
 Congress = Senate + House of Representatives
 Makes Laws
House of Representatives (435 voting members)
(+5 non-voting members from Wash, DC, and US territories)
1. 2 year terms
2. 25 yrs old, 7 yr US citizen, reside in congressional district
3. propose TAX (revenue) laws
4. sole power of impeachment = (accusing a official of a crime)
Senate (100 members)
5. 6 yr terms
6. 30 yrs old, 9 yr US Citizen, live in the state
7. 2/3 must approve presidential appointments to government positions like Supreme Court, cabinet, ambassadors
8. 2/3 must approve treaties made by President
9. hold impeachment trial
*can FILIBUSTER to delay votes*
Both Houses of Congress Together
10. legislative power (law-making) - all laws must pass in both houses + be signed by President
11. declare war
12. can override Presidential veto by 2/3 vote of both houses
13. can propose Constitutional Amendments by 2/3 vote of both houses

2.  EXECUTIVE
President, Vice President, Cabinet, Executive Agencies (FBI, DEA, FAA, EPA)
Enforces Laws 
14. 4 yr term
yrs old, 14 yr US Resident, born a citizen
16. approve or veto legislation
17. make treaties (w/ Senate approval)
18. power of appointment – nominate cabinet members, ambassadors, etc. (w/ Senate approval)
19. appoint justices to Supreme Court (w/ Senate approval)
20. commander-in-chief of US military forces
Power of the President has grown since 1787 – traditions and precedents, has been allowed greater use of powers by Congress in difficult times (Great Depression, World War II, 9/11, etc  

3. Supreme and Federal Courts
JUDICIAL
Supreme and Federal Courts
Interprets Laws and Punishes Lawbreakers
21. life term with good behavior
22. hear cases involving disputes between states
23. hear cases involving disputes with US
24. power to review laws and treaties for constitutionality – JUDICIAL REVIEW – this is the Supreme Court’s most important power and check on Exec and Legis branches
25. Chief Justice presides over President’s impeachment trial