Branches of Government: a Closer Look Branches of Government: a Closer Look

American Government - Branches of Government: A Closer Look Branches of Government: A Closer Look

by ReadWorks

The Constitution of the United States established three separate branches for our nation's federal government. In the same way, the state, including Illinois, government is divided into three branches. This system helps to ensure fairness because no one branch can gain too much power. The branches are all a part of government, but they all have different responsibilities. These three branches divide the work of creating, interpreting, and enforcing the laws of the United States.

The United States government is based in Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. Congress meets in the Capitol Building, and the president lives in the White House. The United States Supreme Court justices meet in the Supreme Court Building. These buildings have come to symbolize, or stand for, the government. Illinois government is based in Springfield, Illinois.

The government of the United States is based in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C.. Government institutions located in Washington D.C. include the office of the president, the Illinois Congress, and the Supreme Court. In the same way, The government of Illinois is based in the state capital, Springfield. Government institutions located in Springfield include the office of the governor, the Illinois General Assembly, and the Illinois Supreme Court.

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is Congress. This branch makes the laws. Congress is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Every state elects officials to both chambers. Each state elects two members of the Senate, called senators. However, the number of representatives that a state sends to Congress is based on that state's population. For example, Wyoming has a small population and only has one representative. New York, which has a larger population, has 27 representatives. Senators serve six-year terms, and representatives serve two-year terms.

The legislative branch for the state is the Illinois General Assembly. It is the same as Congress in that there are there is a House of Representatives and a Senate. There are more members in the House of Representatives than the Senate just like the United States Congress. They both carry out the same function of making new laws.

Executive Branch

The second branch of government is the executive branch. The executive in charge of this branch is the president. The president is elected by the people of the states. The president cannot make laws. The president's job is to enforce the laws made by the legislative branch. They handle the daily work of

Adapted from Readworks.org ReadWorks.org · © 2013 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. Adapted by ELA Instructional Coach team from Illinois Past and Present administering federal laws and programs. The President is also commander in chief of the army. The president is elected to serve for a four-year term. The 22nd Amendment limits a president to two terms, so a person cannot be elected president more than twice.

Similarly, the governor is the head of the state executive branch. The governor is elected by the people every four years. The governor prepares the state’s budget, appoints managers, approves or rejects bills (drafts of new laws), and oversees the state’s military. Many duties of the governor are the same as the president, but some are different.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is the third branch of government. The judicial branch interprets the laws made by Congress. It is made up of a system of federal courts and judges. The highest court in the nation is the Supreme Court of the United States. There are nine Supreme Court Justices. The U.S. Supreme Court's most important role is to judge whether a law is unconstitutional. If a law is unconstitutional, the Court has the power to overturn it. The president appoints justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, but they have to be confirmed by the Senate. They can serve from the time they are approved until they die or retire. Federal judges make important decisions that affect everyone, so it is important that they are trustworthy and dependable.

Similarly, The judicial branch of government interprets the laws. Illinois’s judicial branch includes more than 750 judges. About four hundred of those judges are elected by the state’s residents. The governor appoints the other 350 judges. The Illinois Supreme Court is made up of seven judges. These judges hear cases that have already been appealed, or applied to have a court decision reversed, in an appellate court. These cases must be ones that challenge state laws. The judges decide if these laws violate the state’s constitution. If they decide a law does violate the constitution, that law will be taken off the books or rewritten in order to be fair. In general, the decision of the supreme court is final. However, some cases can appeal to the United States Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land.

1. Why are there 3 branches of government?

2. How is work divided between the three branches of government?

3. Where does all business for the United States Government take place?

4. Where is business conducted for the state of Illinois?

Legislative Branch Questions

1. What is another name for the legislative branch of government?

2. What big job is this branch of government responsible for?

3. What 2 groups (chambers) make up the legislative branch of government?

4. California is the state with the largest population in the United States. Wyoming is the state with the smallest population in the United States. Which of these two states has the most representatives? Explain.

Executive Branch Questions

1. Who leads the executive branch of government of the United States?

2. What are two of the duties of the president of the United States?

3. Who leads the executive branch of each state?

4. What are two of the duties of the governor of a state?

5. Who do you think has more power, the President of the United States or the Governor of Illinois? Explain.

Judicial Branch Questions

1. What is the main job of the judicial branch of government?

2. The judicial branch is made up of courts and ______.

The U.S. Supreme Court decides if a law if unconstitutional. That means they decide whether a law follows the constitution. The Constitution of the United States is a set of rules that guides how our country is run.

3. What does the Supreme Court do if it decides a law is unconstitutional?

4. What are some of the traits you would want a judge on the Supreme Court of have? (examples of traits are wise, lazy, athletic)