The United States Government
The Three Branches
Executive
What has
three branches
but no tree?
The branches
of government
Judicial
Legislative
The Executive
Branch
The President of The United States is
the head of the Executive Branch
The Executive Branch also includes the Vice President and other
officials, such as members of the cabinet.
•The Secretary of Agriculture
•The Secretary of State
•The Secretary of the Interior
•The Secretary of Labor
•The Secretary of Commerce
•The Secretary of the Treasury
•The Secretary of Education
•The Secretary of Energy
•The Secretary of Health and Human Services •The Secretary of Defense
•The Secretary of Homeland Security
•The Attorney General
•The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
•The Secretary of Transportation
•The Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
•The executive branch enforces the laws.
•This branch makes sure that the laws are being obeyed.
The Judicial
Branch
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.”
Your assignment:
Three Branches of Government
Hanger!!
Write each of these on your stars. Make your stars look just
like these.
Reviews
Laws
Senate
Supreme
Court
House of
Representatives
President and
Vice President
Cabinet
Members
Makes
Laws
Enforces
Laws
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?