Federal Government

To limit the power of any one person or group, the Constitution mandates three branches of federal government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. 

• Congress, the legislative branch, makes the laws. Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• There are 100 senators—two per state—and 435 representatives—one each per state and the rest allocated (apportioned) according to state population. 
• Senators serve six-year terms with one-third of the Senate up for election every two years; Senate elections are held in even-numbered years. Representatives serve two-year terms; in even numbered years, all 435 House members run for election. There are no term limits for either senators or representatives.
• The executive branch, consisting of the president, the vice president, the Cabinet, and most federal agencies, carries out laws.
• A presidential term is four years; elections are in even-numbered years. Presidents are limited to two elected terms.
• The judicial branch—all the courts including the Supreme Court—evaluates laws and the adherence or non-adherence to them.
• A chief justice and eight associate justices make up the nine-member Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices are appointed for life.

A system of checks and balances allows each of these branches to exert certain controls over the powers of the others (1).

• The president can veto the laws that Congress creates.
• Congress, with a two-thirds majority vote, can override a presidential veto.
• The Supreme Court can determine laws unconstitutional and overturn them. 
• The president nominates the heads of federal agencies; Congress confirms or rejects them.
• The president nominates the Supreme Court justices; Congress confirms or rejects them.
• Under certain unusual circumstances, Congress can remove the president from office through the process of impeachment.

(1) https://www.usa.gov/branches-of-government



For more information:

LWV-BMC Government Basics