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Learn About the U.S. Government

The Three Branches of the U.S. Government
Legislative Branch: Congress

Legislative Branch: Congress

Senate

House of Representatives
Executive Branch

Executive Branch

President

Vice President

cabinet members

Franklin D. Roosevelt was President during World War II.
Judicial Branch

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Chief Justice

KIDWORKS for PEACE created a Web page to explain the kinds of governments in each country. Read their page. Then do the Review.

Country info the United States The structure of the U.S. government has not changed very much since it was established in 1789. The U.S. government is a democracy. That means the people choose the leaders. There are three branches in the U.S. government: The Executive Branch carries out laws. President and Vice PresidentCabinet • The President and Vice President are elected by the people. • Term: 4 years • The President appoints the members of the cabinet. Members include the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. The Judicial Branch listens to legal cases and interprets laws. Supreme Court • The nine Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. One is the Chief Justice. • Term: lifetime The Legislative Branch is the Congress. It makes laws. SenateHouse of Representatives • The people of each state elect two Senators. • Term: 6 years • The number of Representatives from each state depends on its population. • Term: 2 years Review 1. Check Your Understanding Name the three branches of the U.S. government. What is the role of each branch? 2. Vocabulary Who is elected every 2 years? Every 4 years? Every 6 years?

Country info the United States

The structure of the U.S. government has not changed very much since it was established in 1789. The U.S. government is a democracy. That means the people choose the leaders. There are three branches in the U.S. government:

The Executive Branch carries out laws.

President and Vice PresidentCabinet

  • • The President and Vice President are elected by the people.

  • • Term: 4 years

  • • The President appoints the members of the cabinet. Members include the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.

The Judicial Branch listens to legal cases and interprets laws.

Supreme Court

  • • The nine Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. One is the Chief Justice.

  • • Term: lifetime

The Legislative Branch is the Congress. It makes laws.

SenateHouse of Representatives

  • • The people of each state elect two Senators.

  • • Term: 6 years

  • • The number of Representatives from each state depends on its population.

  • • Term: 2 years

Review

  • 1. Check Your Understanding Name the three branches of the U.S. government. What is the role of each branch?

  • 2. Vocabulary Who is elected every 2 years? Every 4 years? Every 6 years?