Legislative: Congress
The House and Senate write federal laws, appropriate money, oversee agencies and exercise additional constitutional powers.
House legislative process →Civic learning · Original sources first
The Three Branches of Government
Who makes federal law, who implements it, who interprets it—and how the branches limit and depend on one another.
A division of responsibilities
Executive: president & agencies
The president and executive branch carry out federal law; executive departments administer programs within legal authority.
Branch overview →Judicial: federal courts
Courts decide cases within their jurisdiction, interpret laws and address constitutional questions.
Federal court role →What checks and balances mean
Each branch has powers that affect the other branches. For example, the president may veto a bill, Congress may override a veto with the required votes, the Senate considers presidential nominations, and courts may rule on the legality or constitutionality of government conduct in cases before them.
These checks do not mean that every dispute is resolved quickly. Courts require an actual case within their jurisdiction, congressional procedures matter, and the executive branch must act within the Constitution and applicable law.
USAGov — Branches of the U.S. government · Constitution, Articles I–III
Questions to ask when reading the news
- Which branch or agency is making the decision?
- What constitutional article, statute or regulation supplies the claimed authority?
- Who can review, change, fund, block or challenge that decision?
- Is the event a proposal, a completed action, a court ruling or a political statement?