Government · Chapter 02
What are the three branches of government?
The U.S. government is divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Plain English
What it actually means
The Constitution intentionally splits federal power into three separate branches so that no single person or group controls everything. Each branch has its own job, and each one has tools to check the other two.
Most states and many cities follow a similar structure — a legislature (city council or county commission), an executive (governor, mayor, or county judge), and courts.
Breakdown
Legislative branch
Writes and passes laws. At the federal level, this is Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. It also controls federal spending and can declare war.
Executive branch
Carries out and enforces laws. At the federal level, this is the President, Vice President, the Cabinet, and federal agencies.
Judicial branch
Interprets laws and resolves disputes about what laws mean. At the federal level, this is the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts.
Why this matters when voting
Different offices on your ballot belong to different branches. A judge interprets the law; a city council member writes local law; a county judge or mayor runs the executive side. Knowing which branch an office sits in tells you what the person can — and can't — do if elected.
Common questions
Follow-up questions
- Are state governments organized the same way?
- Yes. Every U.S. state has its own legislative, executive, and judicial branches that operate independently of the federal government, though structures vary by state.
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Sources
Where this information comes from
Last updated May 10, 2026. Civic Basics chapters cite official .gov sources where possible and are reviewed for neutrality.
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