What Are the 3 Branches of the United States Government?
The U.S. federal government is deliberately organized to ensure that no one office can hold too much power over the others. The Constitution outlines the three main branches of government: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The office of the president makes up the executive branch, the Supreme Court heads up the federal judiciary and the legislature is split into the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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The President
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The office of the president operates out of the White House in Washington D.C. The executive branch of the government is in many ways the most powerful of the three. The president is the leader of the nation and commander in chief of the armed forces, and the vice president is the president of the Senate.
The Constitution clearly states that the president shall hold executive power, but does not define what this executive power actually is. The powers granted to the president are ill-defined and while they are limited specifically by the checks and balances of the legislature and the judiciary, how they are interpreted often depends wholly on the state of the nation. In times of crisis or war, for example, the interpretations of presidential power become quite broad, enabling the president to lead effectively alone.
Each president has sought to widen the constitutional definition of presidential power to achieve his particular policy goals, be they domestic or foreign.
There is an election for the presidency every four years, and each president can serve no more than two terms.
The House of Representatives
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The House and Senate can hold joint meetings on big issues Legislative power is vested in Congress, and this is divided into two houses. The larger of these is the "lower house," the House of Representatives, which brings together 435 regional representatives. The main job of the House is to pass legislation that pertains to all 50 states, but this legislation must also gain approval from the Senate and the president. The president can veto legislation passed by Congress, but if a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate backs a bill, it is passed regardless of presidential veto. This is one way the powers of the executive and legislature balance out. Elections to the House of Representatives take place every even-numbered year, so there are two to each presidential term, and there is no limit to how many terms a representative can serve.
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The Senate
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The Senate is seen as more prestigious than the House of Representatives The Senate is much smaller than the House, with just 100 members, two from each state. The Senate is known as the "upper house" of Congress, as senators effectively take over legislation after the House has finished with it. The Senate can also deliberate on matters that the House cannot, such as approving the president's choice of a Supreme Court justice.
Because there are only two senators per state, they do not have as close a working relationship with their constituents as representatives have. There is, however, more opportunity for senators to express personal convictions and take principled stands on major issues. While senators still work broadly along Democratic or Republican party lines, historically the Senate is not as partisan as the House.
Senators also serve much longer terms than representatives, as they only need to be re-elected every six years. One-third of them go up for re-election every two years, to keep the cycle in sync with the House and presidency, and there is no limit to how many terms a senator can serve.
The Supreme Court
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The United States Supreme Court is based in Washington D.C. The Supreme Court leads the judicial branch of government, which exists both as the highest court in the land and to ensure that the legislative and executive branches adhere to the Constitution. It is as much a political institution as a legal one. Once the Supreme Court reaches a decision on an issue, that becomes the law of the land, which even the Congress and the president must adhere to.
There are nine positions on the Supreme Court, all of indefinite length. A Supreme Court Justice is usually only removed by death or retirement. In this event, the president gets to nominate a replacement justice, but this must be ratified by the Senate.
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