The United States government has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The United States Constitution, which was adopted by the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, set out a system of checks and balances by structuring the government into three branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch.
Legislative Branch
The chief body of the legislative branch of the government is the U.S. Congress, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators serve six year terms, and Representatives serve two year terms. The legislative branch of the government is responsible for making laws.
Executive Branch
The executive branch of the government, led by the President of the United States who may be elected no more than twice and who serves four-year terms, has the responsibility for enforcing laws. Other officials and agencies in the executive branch include the Vice President, the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch of the government interprets the laws. The judicial branch of the federal government is made up of the federal court system. It is headed by the U.S. Supreme Court and also encompasses the U.S. Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
