Here’s a table that outlines the three branches of government in the United States, including their primary functions and key components:
| Branch | Primary Function | Key Components | |----------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Legislative | Makes laws | - Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) | | | | - Committees and Subcommittees | | | | - Legislative Assistants | | | | - Congressional Research Service | | Executive | Enforces laws | - President | | | | - Vice President | | | | - Cabinet (Secretaries of Departments) | | | | - Federal Agencies | | Judicial | Interprets laws and settles legal disputes | - Supreme Court | | | | - Lower Federal Courts (Appellate and District Courts) | | | | - State Courts |
Summary of Functions:
- Legislative: Responsible for creating laws, levying taxes, and declaring war.
- Executive: Responsible for implementing and enforcing laws, conducting foreign policy, and overseeing federal agencies.
- Judicial: Responsible for interpreting laws, reviewing lower court decisions, and ensuring justice through the legal system.
This structure provides a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.