Our Government

A System of Checks and Balances

Our Government

The Executive Branch includes the

President, Vice President, Departments,
and Agencies.
The Legislative Branch includes the
Senate and the House of
Representatives.
The Judicial Branch includes the
Supreme Court.

The Executive Branch

The President is the leader of the
country and the Commander-In-Chief of
the military.
The Vice President is the President of
the Senate and becomes the President if
the President can no longer do his job.
The Departments advise the President
on issues and help carry out policies.
The Independent Agencies carry out
policies or provide special services to
the people.

The Legislative Branch

The U.S. Congress is made up of two
parts; the House of Representatives and
the Senate.
The primary duty of Congress is to
write, debate, and pass bills, which are
then passed on to the president for
approval.
Other powers of Congress include
making laws about trade, taxes, money,
and war.

The Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch includes the federal
court system with the Supreme Court as
the highest court.
Once the Supreme Court makes a
decision, it can only be changed by
another Supreme Court decision or by
amending the constitution.
The Supreme Court is made up of nine
Justices appointed by the President and
approved by the Senate.