3 Branches of Government

Legislative Branch

*CREATES or MAKES laws *Article I of the Constitution * power to DECLARE WAR *power to override a VETO with a 2/3 VOTE *power to approve of federal appointments - like Supreme Court Justices * power to create a FEDERAL BUDGET $ *435 members

Executive Branch

*ENFORCES or carries out laws *Article II of the Constitution *power to VETO a bill sent to it by CONGRESS *power to APPOINT federal JUDGES *power to LEAD the Armed Forces during a WAR *represents our nation in the world - they meet with leaders from other countries *35 years old *Natural Born Citizen *Serves a 4 year term

Judicial Branch

*INTERPRETS laws *power to declare laws or actions by the government UNCONSTITUTIONAL *Article III of the Constitution *Serve for life *9 Justices *power to SENTENCE or decide the punishment for lawbreakers *power to SETTLE DISPUTES between STATES

Congress

*Main group within the LEGISLATIVE Branch *Collect taxes *Borrow Money *Declare War *Regulate Trade *Raise an Army *Impeach the president *Propose amendments

Senate

*Part of CONGRESS that each state is guaranteed TWO representatives *Must be 30 * Serves for 6 years *100 members total

House of Representatives

*Part of CONGRESS that has representation based on POPULATION * Must be 25 * Serves for 2 years *435 members

President

Head of the EXECUTIVE Branch

Separation of Powers

Idea that PREVENTS one person or group from having too much CONTROL over the government

Checks and Balances

Idea that allows different branches of government to LIMIT the POWER of other branches of government

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the US, consisting of nine justices