Branches of Government
Brianha Powers
Overview
Explanation
Function
Legeslative
-Congress
-Senate: There are two elected senators per state, totaling 100 senators. A senate term is six years and there's no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.
-House of Representatives: There are 435 elected representatives, which are divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. A representative serves a two-year term, and there's no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.
Section 1 and 2 of the Constitution
Judicial
-Supreme Court: The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. The justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes). Congress decides the number of justices. Currently, there are nine. There is no fixed term for justices. They serve until their death, retirement, or removal in exceptional circumstances.
-Other Federal Courts: The Constitution grants Congress the authority to establish other federal courts.
Section 3 of the Constitution
Executive
-President: The president leads the country. He/she is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. The president serves a four-year term and can be elected no more than two times.
-Vice President: The vice president supports the president. If the president is unable to serve, the vice president becomes president. He/she can serve an unlimited number of four-year terms.
-Cabinet: Cabinet members serve as advisors to the president. They include the vice president and the heads of executive departments. Cabinet members are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate (with at least 51 votes).
Section 3 of the Constitution