Government Branches and Roles
Remember the common separation-of-powers model used in many civics lessons.
Congress
the national legislature made up of the House and Senate
House of Representatives
the chamber with representation based on population
Senate
the chamber with two senators per state
executive branch
the branch that enforces laws
President
the head of the executive branch
Vice President
succeeds the president and can break Senate tie votes
cabinet
senior executive advisers who lead major departments
judicial branch
the branch that interprets laws
Supreme Court
the highest court in the federal judiciary
lower federal courts
district and appellate courts that hear most federal cases
veto
the president's power to reject a bill
executive order
a directive about how the executive branch will operate
judicial review
the courts' power to strike down unconstitutional laws or actions
checks and balances
ways each branch can limit the others
separation of powers
the idea that government power is split among branches
impeachment
the formal process for charging and potentially removing officials
bicameral legislature
a legislature with two chambers
legislative branch
the branch that writes and passes laws