Comprehensive Government Overview

The Constitution establishes a government of three separate branches to provide a system of checks and balances.

The Legislative Branch

Selection & Term Details

Chamber	How They Are Elected	Term Length	Term Limit
U.S. Senate	Elected by popular vote (17th Amendment)	6 Years	None
House of Representatives	Elected by popular vote	2 Years	None

House Standing Committees

Committee	Responsibility
Ways and Means	Taxation, tariffs, and revenue-raising measures.
Appropriations	Regulates government spending.
Rules	Determines debate parameters for bills.
Judiciary	Law enforcement and civil liberties.
Armed Services	Military funding and policy.

Senate Standing Committees

Committee	Responsibility
Foreign Relations	Treaties and ambassador confirmations.
Finance	National debt and taxes.
Judiciary	Hearings for judge nominees.
Intelligence	Oversight of spy agencies.
Veterans' Affairs	Veteran benefits.

The Executive Branch

Executive Leadership Roles

Role	Purpose / Primary Function	Term Length	How They Are Elected/Placed
The President	Head of State and Commander-in-Chief; enforces federal laws.	4 Years (2-Term Limit)	Elected via the Electoral College.
The Vice President	President of the Senate (tie-breaker); first in line of succession.	4 Years (No Limit)	Elected on a joint ticket with the President.
The Secretaries	Lead the 15 Executive Departments and advise the President.	At the Pleasure of the President	Appointed by President; confirmed by the Senate.

The 15 Executive Departments

Department	Mission and Responsibility
Department of State	Handles foreign policy and diplomacy.
Department of the Treasury	Manages federal finances and currency.
Department of Defense	Oversees the U.S. military.
Department of Justice	Enforces federal laws (Attorney General).
Department of the Interior	Manages public lands and resources.
Department of Agriculture	Oversees farming and food safety.
Department of Commerce	Promotes economic growth and trade.
Department of Labor	Protects worker safety and wages.
Department of Health & Human Services	Protects public health.
Department of Housing & Urban Development	Community development and fair housing.
Department of Transportation	Travel systems (Air, Rail, Highway).
Department of Energy	Energy policy and nuclear security.
Department of Education	Aid to schools and student loans.
Department of Veterans Affairs	Healthcare and benefits for veterans.
Department of Homeland Security	Anti-terrorism and border control.

The Judicial Branch

Federal Court Responsibilities

Court Level	Responsibilities
Supreme Court	Highest court in the land; interprets the Constitution and federal laws; final authority on legal appeals.
Appellate Court	Reviews cases from lower district courts to ensure laws were applied correctly; does not use a jury.
District Court	Trial courts of the federal system; where cases begin, evidence is presented, and juries reach verdicts.

The Appointment Process

Step	Action	Responsible Party
1. Nomination	Selection of a candidate.	The President
2. Committee Review	Hearings and background research.	Senate Judiciary Committee
3. Senate Vote	Simple majority required.	U.S. Senate
4. Commission	Judge is sworn in for a life term.	The President