Branches of the United States Government

3 Branches of Government

Legislative

Executive Judicial

Legislative Branch

Senate powers:

including consenting to treaties

consenting or confirmation of

appointments of Cabinet secretaries, federal

judges, military officials

House of Representatives

The major power of the House is to pass

federal legislation Each state receives

representation in the House in proportion to

its population but is entitled to at least one

Senate

http://www.senate.gov/

House of Representatives

http://www.house.gov/

Executive Branch

President of United States

CabinetVice President

Vice President Responsibilities In modern times, the Vice President

rarely presides over day-to-day matters in the Senate; in his place, the Senate chooses a President pro-temore (or "president for a time") to preside in the Vice President's absence

United States Cabinet

List of Cabinet Positions Department of State

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clintonhttp://www.state.gov Department of the TreasurySecretary Timothy F. Geithnerhttp://www.treasury.gov Department of DefenseSecretary Robert M. Gateshttp://www.defenselink.mil Department of JusticeAttorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.http://www.usdoj.gov Department of the InteriorSecretary Kenneth L. Salazarhttp://www.doi.gov Department of AgricultureSecretary Thomas J. Vilsackhttp://www.usda.gov Department of CommerceSecretary Gary F. Lockehttp://www.commerce.gov 

Department of LaborSecretary Hilda L. Solishttp://www.dol.gov Department of Health and Human ServicesSecretary Kathleen Sebeliushttp://www.hhs.gov Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentSecretary Shaun L.S. Donovanhttp://www.hud.gov Department of TransportationSecretary Ray LaHoodhttp://www.dot.gov Department of EnergySecretary Steven Chuhttp://www.energy.gov Department of EducationSecretary Arne Duncanhttp://www.ed.gov Department of Veterans AffairsSecretary Eric K. Shinsekihttp://www.va.gov Department of Homeland SecuritySecretary Janet A. Napolitanohttp://www.dhs.gov

Judicial Branch Supreme Court www.supremecourt.gov

Duties Most federal courts

are courts of limited jurisdiction. This means that they have only limited authority to hear cases. This rule exists under the Separation of Power doctrines in the Constitution.

The tenth amendment states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." 

The Judicial Power should extend to… all Cases, in Law and Equity,

arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;

to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;

to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;

to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;

to Controversies between two or more States;

between a State and Citizens of another State;

between Citizens of different States;

between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States

between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects."

Members of the Supreme Court

Chief Justice of the United States:JOHN G. ROBERTS, JR.

Associate Justices:ANTONIN SCALIA

ANTHONY M. KENNEDYCLARENCE THOMAS

RUTH BADER GINSBURGSTEPHEN G. BREYERSAMUEL A. ALITO, JR.SONIA SOTOMAYOR

ELENA KAGAN

Checks and Balances