LEARN ABOUT CIVICS: BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

The United States Constitution organizes our national government into three independent branches of government:

• The national legislative branch is our Congress, which is divided into two “houses”: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• The national executive branch is led by the President of the United States.
• The national judicial branch is our federal court system, consisting of the United States Supreme Court and a network of courts below it.

All of the states have their own constitutions, which also create three independent branches of state government.  Many American Indian Tribes also follow this example for their tribal governments.