The United States Government

The Three Branches

What has three

branches but no tree?

The branches

of governmen

t

Executive

Legislative

Judicial

The Executive

Branch

The President of The United States is the head of the

Executive Branch

•The Secretary of Agriculture

•The Secretary of the Interior

•The Secretary of Commerce

•The Secretary of Education

•The Secretary of Health and Human Services

•The Secretary of Homeland Security

•The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

•The Secretary of Transportation

•The Secretary of Veterans' Affairs

The Executive Branch also includes the Vice President and other officials, such as members of the cabinet.

•The Secretary of State

•The Secretary of Labor

•The Secretary of the Treasury

•The Secretary of Energy

•The Secretary of Defense

•The Attorney General

•The executive branch enforces the laws.

•This branch makes sure that the laws are being obeyed.

The JudicialBranch

The United States Supreme Court is the head of the Judicial Branch

•The judicial branch is in charge of the court system of the United States. •The judicial branch reviews and explains laws.•Rules on whether something is unconstitutional or constitutional•And who makes up the court systems?

The Legislative

Branch

The legislative branch is made up of the two houses of Congress- the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• The most important duty of the legislative branch is to make laws.

•There are 100 senators in the senate, two from each state.

•There are 435 representatives in the House of Representatives. The number of representatives is based on each state’s population.

Ways to Remember

• Executive– Who is the head of the country, like the executive of a

business? • The President of the United States. So, just remember that

the President is like an executive of a company and that he is in charge of the executive branch.

• Judicial– Who makes up the judicial branch?

• Judges. And judges and judicial both begin with “Jud”

• Legislative– The most important job of this branch is to make laws.

And laws and legislative both start with “L”

Summary

• The three branches of government are:– Executive- President, Vice President, Cabinet

Members– Judicial- Supreme Court System, Judges– Legislative- Senate, House of Representatives

• The branches each have responsibilities:– Executive: enforces laws, makes sure people

obey laws– Judicial: reviews and explains the laws– Legislative: makes laws

Which branch do I work for?

• “I am the President of the United States.”

• “All day long I make laws…more and more laws.”

• “One of my jobs is make sure people obey the laws. In other words, I enforce laws.”

Which branch do I work for?

• “Today, I looked at two laws and reviewed them. I decided they were constitutional.”

• “My name is Debbie Stabenow. I am one of the senators from Michigan.”

• “My job is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”

Three Branches of Government Hanger!!

Your assignment:

House of Representatives

Supreme CourtReviews

LawsSenate

Makes Laws

President andVice President

Enforces Laws

Cabinet Members

Write each of these on your stars. Make your stars look just like these.

Summary

• The three branches of government are:– Executive- President, Vice President, Cabinet

Members– Judicial- Supreme Court System, Judges– Legislative- Senate, House of Representatives

• The branches each have responsibilities:– Executive: enforces laws, makes sure people

obey laws– Judicial: reviews and explains the laws– Legislative: makes laws

Post- Assessment

1. Name the three branches of government.

2. Which branch makes laws? 3. Which branch makes sure people

obey the law?4. Which branch reviews and explains

the law?