The United States Political System

The Branches of Government

Executive

President

Executive

President

Legislative

Congress

Executive

President

Legislative

Congress

Judicial

Courts

The Executive Branch

All executive power in the government is

vested in the President of the United States.

The President is both the head of state and government, as

well as the military commander-in-chief and chief diplomat.

The Vice President becomes President upon the death,

resignation, or removal of the President. Their only other duty is

to serve as President of the Senate and break any tied votes in

the Senate.

Lyndon Johnson was sworn in two hours after

Kennedy was assassinated.

The Cabinet is chosen by the President and

approved with the "advice and consent" of the U.S.

Senate, are a council of advisers to the President.

The Cabinet

The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is Bicameral.

That means there are two houses.

Senate House of Representatives

The Senate is the Upper House.

Each state has two senators. There are 100

senators. They are elected every six years.

The House of Representatives is the Lower House.

There are 435 members.

They are elected every two years.

The House and Senate are equal partners.

Legislation cannot be made without the

consent of both chambers.

The Judicial Branch

There are nine Supreme Court Judges. They are appointed by the President.

They only leave if they retire or die. It is the highest court in the land.

The System of

Checks and Balances

Executive

President

Legislative

Congress

Judicial

Courts

Why…have checks and balances?

By creating three branches of government…

The Founding Fathers built a "check and balance" system into the

Constitution. This system was built so that no one branch of government could

become too powerful.