The United States is divided into three distinct branches of government under the Constitution of the United States to ensure that no individual or group has too much power. The three branches of government are: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
- Legislative - Makes the laws (Congress, made up of the Senate and House of Representatives)
- Executive - Carries out the laws (President, Vice President, Cabinet, and many Federal Agencies)
- Judicial - Evaluates the laws (United States Supreme Court and other courts)
Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches:
- The president can veto legislation created by Congress and nominates heads of federal agencies.
- Congress confirms or denies the president's nominees. Congress also has the ability to remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.
- The Justices of the United States Supreme Court are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The United States Supreme Court can also overturn unconstitutional laws.
This ability of each branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is called the system of checks and balances.
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