1. Three Branches of Government

2. The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch carries out laws.

3. The Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch interprets laws.

4. The Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch makes laws.

5. The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch is made up of:
The President
The Vice President
The Cabinet

6. The Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch is made up of:
The Supreme Court
Other Federal Courts

7. The Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch is made up of:
Congress
Congress is divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate

8. Checks and Balances
Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches (remember we don’t want any branch to have too much power):
The president can veto legislation created by Congress and nominates heads of federal agencies.
Congress confirms or rejects the president's nominees and can remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.
The Justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
This ability of each branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is called the system of checks and balances.

10. Separation of Powers
Separation of powers refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the powers/functions of another. The goal is to prevent the concentration of power and provide for checks and balances.

11. So what are their powers?

12. The Executive Branch - Powers
The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. American citizens have the right to vote for the president and vice president through free, confidential ballots.

13. The Judicial Branch - Powers
The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. It's comprised of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

14. The Legislative Branch - Powers
The legislative branch drafts proposed laws, confirms or rejects presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court, and has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress. American citizens have the right to vote for Senators and Representatives through free, confidential ballots.