SOCIAL STUDIES
Branches of Government
At the time that the U.S. Constitution was written in 1787, there were only
thirteen states. The U.S. was a brand new country, and the Founding Fathers, the
framers of the Constitution, wanted to form a government that did not allow
one person to have too much control over the country. While under the rule of
the British king, they learned that this could be a bad system. Yet government,
under the Articles of Confederation, taught them that there was a need for a
strong centralized government.
With this in mind, the framers wrote the Constitution to provide for a separation
of powers: three separate branches of government. Each has its own responsi-
bilities. At the same time, they work together to make the country run smoothly
and assure that the rights of citizens are not ignored or disallowed. This is done
through checks and balances. A branch may use its powers to check the pow-
ers of the other two in order to maintain a balance of power among the three
branches of government.
President
Vice-President
Congress
House of Representatives Senate
Supreme Court
Constitution
The Supreme Court
Judicial
The three branches of the U.S. Government are the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative.
TheWhite House
Executive
The U.S. Capitol
Legislative
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