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Do you like running things? Do something that no one else can: control all three branches of the U.S. government. Our new Branches of Power gives you the ability to introduce presidential agendas, write legislation, sign or veto bills, and even judge passed laws.

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BrainPOP - Animated Educational Site for Kids - Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Do you love trips? We do! There's nothing quite like piling into the family vehicle and hitting the open in search of fun and .

As you travel down interstate highways, there all sorts of fun games you can play. How many license plates from different states can you spot? It can also be tons of fun to turn on the radio and sing along to your favorite .

If you're driving a long distance and are trying to get there as as possible, you will travel along highways and interstates that allow you to travel faster and have fewer, if any stops. Of course, certain types of roads have occasional stops where you have to pay money to travel on the.

These types of roads are called roads. Sometimes they also go by other names, such as , or express route. To travel on a , you have to pay a fee - called a . Sometimes you have to stop every so often to pay additional tolls to keep traveling on the .

Most roads are built with local, state or national government money raised from taxes. Tolls are like a tax that applies only to the users of the . roads allow new roads to be built and maintained without raising taxes on the general public.

A doesn't always stay a forever, though. Sometimes tolls are removed on roads once the cost of construction has been from the tolls collected.

There are usually many available lanes with booths to keep traffic moving as as possible. Some lanes may have people working the booths, so that you can pay with change or cash.

Other lanes - sometimes called express lanes - may be available to use if you have a special electronic pass attached to your vehicle. Special detectors sense your vehicle's electronic pass and charge an account, such as a credit card or a bank account, which you have connected to your electronic pass.

Express lanes are especially handy for people who on roads. These lanes allow commuters who travel the daily to avoid stopping and dealing with paying by cash or change. Instead, they can zip through and their tolls are electronically deducted from a connected account.

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Do you love trips? We do! There's nothing quite like piling into the family vehicle and hitting the open in search of fun and . As you travel down interstate highways, there all sorts of fun games you can play. How many license plates from different states can you spot?

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Okay, we need a show of hands. Who loves today's Wonder of the Day? If you raised your hand, you voted "Yes!" for Wonderopolis. Thank you! We appreciate your votes.

Every time you visit Wonderopolis, your visit is like a of confidence in Wonderopolis. Each visitor gets counted. We use that data to learn which Wonders of the Day are the most popular.

Sometimes people on other types of things. Has your classroom ever had a choice of playing kickball or volleyball at recess? If so, you may have been asked to for which sport you'd like to play. Whichever sport gets the most votes gets played at recess. That's democracy in action.

Of course, voting is most powerful when citizens for leaders to represent them in government . The word "democracy" itself means "rule by the people." It comes from the Greek words demos ("people") and kratos ("rule").

A democracy is a government in which the people hold the power. Other types of governments may put power in the hands of one person, such as a king or queen. Sometimes, governments give power to a small group of people. Democracy is just one form of government .

There are different types of democracies. A democracy allows all citizens to directly on . democracies aren't that common. What if every single law had to be voted on by all the people in the United States? Every day would be Election Day!

Such a system would be impossible. That's why democracies are more common. In an democracy, the people for representatives to make decisions on their behalf. For example, the United States is an democracy. In particular, it's a representative democracy. That means the people elect representatives who on important . Ideally, these people in the best interests of those they represent.

Not all governments the idea of democracy. Through the efforts of the United Nations, democracy is being championed around the world. Why is it so important? According to the United Nations, "[d]emocracy provides an environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights."

However, democracies aren't always perfect. Even in a democracy, people often have to fight for their human rights. For example, when America was founded, only white male landowners could . It took a long time for women and people of color to get to take part in democracy.

It's important for people to for their representatives. It means they can make sure their rights are by their government . Having a voice in government is important. Democracy gives people that voice they desire!

C3.D2.Civ.2, C3.D2.Civ.5, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.W.7, CCRA.SL.1

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Okay, we need a show of hands. Who loves today's Wonder of the Day? If you raised your hand, you voted "Yes!" for Wonderopolis. Thank you! We appreciate your votes. Every time you visit Wonderopolis, your visit is like a of confidence in Wonderopolis. Each visitor gets counted.

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Do you like ? For many kids, seems like a subject that's mainly just for adults. After all, it can be difficult to keep up with all the policies and positions and never-ending debates.

For some kids, however, seems like a natural calling. Perhaps you have a parent, friend, or family member who holds a political at the , county, , or even level. When you know someone who holds a political office, it's much easier to take a personal interest in the things they do.

Of course, affects all of us. When you begin to work at a job and make money, you become more interested in where all those tax dollars taken out of your paycheck go. You can get interested in way before you have a job, though. For example, student government often gives students their first taste of and what it means to others.

Some of our Wonder Friends may have even thought about being President of the United States. What do you think it would be like to be the most powerful person in the ? That's what some people say, since the President of the United States is considered the of the .

Does that sound appealing to you? Would you like to live in the White House? Wouldn't it be cool to fly on Air Force One whenever you need to go somewhere? You've probably been told that you can be anything if you set your mind to it. So do you want to be President of the United States?

If so, you need to hold your horses. There's no big rush. You have plenty of time to make a plan that will get you to the White House. Why? Kids can't be President of the United States!

That may seem unfair if you have some really great ideas and had your heart set on moving into the White House soon. The Founding Fathers who created the United States Constitution had their reasons, though.

The drafters of the Constitution set forth the requirements to hold the office of President of the United States in Article II, Section 1, Clause 5. According to that section, the President of the United States must:

- be a natural-born citizen of the United States;

- be at least 35 years old; and

- have been a permanent of the United States for at least 14 years.

These basic requirements reveal the bare minimum of what the Founding Fathers believed would be necessary to lead the country as the head of the of the government .

Obviously, requiring a president to be at least 35 years old rules out kids, but is that fair? Given the responsibility of the , it's probably a good idea that the president should have finished school and gained a great deal of life experience before taking over as of the .

So, if you want to be President of the United States one day, you now know the basic requirements. Of course, to reach your , you're going to need much more than these three basic conditions fulfilled. You will need to gain experience that will make you an acceptable to millions of people across the country. Researching the history of past presidents will help you gain an understanding of the many paths that different individuals have taken to the White House.

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Can Anyone Be President of the United States?

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Today's Wonder of the Day takes a closer look at the Commander-in-Chief!

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Learn how laws, regulations, and executive orders are made and how to look them up.

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Does anyone want to go into politics when their older? If so, what would you want to be?

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Does anyone want to go into politics when their older? If so, what would you want to be?

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do you like learning about the government

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do you like learning about the government

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The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.

The Cabinet and independent federal agencies are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws. These departments and agencies have missions and responsibilities as widely divergent as those of the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Including members of the armed forces, the Executive Branch employs more than 4 million Americans.

The President

The President is both the head of state and head of government of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. Fifteen executive departments - each led by an appointed member of the President's Cabinet - carry out the day-to-day administration of the federal government. They are joined in this by other executive agencies such as the CIA and Environmental Protection Agency, the heads of which are not part of the Cabinet, but who are under the full authority of the President. The President also appoints the heads of more than 50 independent federal commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as federal judges, ambassadors, and other federal offices. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along with entities such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

The President has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by Congress, although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses. The Executive Branch conducts diplomacy with other nations, and the President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which also must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. The President can issue executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and further existing laws. The President also has unlimited power to extend pardons and clemencies for federal crimes, except in cases of impeachment.

With these powers come several responsibilities, among them a constitutional requirement to "from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." Although the President may fulfill this requirement in any way he or she chooses, Presidents have traditionally given a State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress each January (except in inaugural years) outlining their agenda for the coming year.

The Constitution lists only three qualifications for the Presidency - the President must be 35 years of age, be a natural born citizen, and must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. And though millions of Americans vote in a presidential election every four years, the President is not, in fact, directly elected by the people. Instead, on the first Tuesday in November of every fourth year, the people elect the members of the Electoral College. Apportioned by population to the 50 states - one for each member of their congressional delegation (with the District of Columbia receiving 3 votes) - these Electors then cast the votes for President. There are currently 538 electors in the Electoral College.

President Donald J. Trump is the 45th President of the United States. He is, however, only the 44th person ever to serve as President; President Grover Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms, and thus is recognized as both the 22nd and the 24th President. Today, the President is limited to two four-year terms, but until the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1951, a President could serve an unlimited number of terms. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President four times, serving from 1932 until his death in 1945; he is the only President ever to have served more than two terms.

By tradition, the President and the First Family live in the White House in Washington, D.C., also the location of the President's Oval Office and the offices of the his senior staff. When the President travels by plane, his aircraft is designated Air Force One; he may also use a Marine Corps helicopter, known as Marine One while the President is on board. For ground travel, the President uses an armored Presidential limousine.

The Vice President

The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States is to be ready at a moment's notice to assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his duties. This can be because of the President's death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet judge that the President is no longer able to discharge the duties of the presidency.

The Vice President is elected along with the President by the Electoral College - each elector casts one vote for President and another for Vice President. Before the ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804, electors only voted for President, and the person who received the second greatest number of votes became Vice President.

The Vice President also serves as the President of the United States Senate, where he or she casts the deciding vote in the case of a tie. Except in the case of tiebreaking votes, the Vice President rarely actually presides over the Senate. Instead, the Senate selects one of their own members, usually junior members of the majority party, to preside over the Senate each day.

Michael R. Pence is the 48th Vice President of the United States. Of the 47 previous Vice Presidents, nine have succeeded to the Presidency, and four have been elected to the Presidency in their own right. The duties of the Vice President, outside of those enumerated in the Constitution, are at the discretion of the current President. Each Vice President approaches the role differently - some take on a specific policy portfolio, others serve simply as a top adviser to the President.

The Vice President has an office in the West Wing of the White House, as well as in the nearby Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Like the President, he also maintains an official residence, at the United States Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, D.C. This peaceful mansion, has been the official home of the Vice President since 1974 - previously, Vice Presidents had lived in their own private residences. The Vice President also has his own limousine, operated by the United States Secret Service, and flies on the same aircraft the President uses - but when the Vice President is aboard, the craft are referred to as Air Force Two and Marine Two.

Executive Office of the President

Every day, the President of the United States is faced with scores of decisions, each with important consequences for America's future. To provide the President with the support that he or she needs to govern effectively, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the President's message to the American people to promoting our trade interests abroad.

The EOP, overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, has traditionally been home to many of the President's closest advisers. While Senate confirmation is required for some advisers, such as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, most are appointed with full Presidential discretion. The individual offices that these advisors oversee have grown in size and number since the EOP was created. Some were formed by Congress, others as the President has needed them - they are constantly shifting as each President identifies his needs and priorities, with the current EOP employing over 1,800 people.

Perhaps the most visible parts of the EOP are the White House Communications Office and Press Secretary's Office. The Press Secretary provides daily briefings for the media on the President's activities and agenda. Less visible to most Americans is the National Security Council, which advises the President on foreign policy, intelligence, and national security.

There are also a number of offices responsible for the practicalities of maintaining the White House and providing logistical support for the President. These include the White House Military Office, which is responsible for services ranging from Air Force One to the dining facilities, and the Office of Presidential Advance, which prepares sites remote from the White House for the President's arrival.

Many senior advisors in the EOP work near the President in the West Wing of the White House. However, the majority of the staff is housed in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, just a few steps away and part of the White House compound.

The Cabinet

The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President's closest confidants. In addition to running major federal agencies, they play an important role in the Presidential line of succession - after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senate President pro tempore, the line of succession continues with the Cabinet offices in the order in which the departments were created. All the members of the Cabinet take the title Secretary, excepting the head of the Justice Department, who is styled Attorney General.

Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) develops and executes policy on farming, agriculture, and food. Its aims include meeting the needs of farmers and ranchers, promoting agricultural trade and production, assuring food safety, protecting natural resources, fostering rural communities, and ending hunger in America and abroad.

The USDA employs more than 100,000 employees and has an annual budget of approximately $95 billion. It consists of 17 agencies, including the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Forest Service. The bulk of the department's budget goes towards mandatory programs that provide services required by law, such as programs designed to provide nutrition assistance, promote agricultural exports, and conserve our environment.

The USDA also plays an important role in overseas aid programs by providing surplus foods to developing countries.

The United States Secretary of Agriculture administers the USDA.

Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce is the government agency tasked with improving living standards for all Americans by promoting economic development and technological innovation.

The department supports U.S. business and industry through a number of services, including gathering economic and demographic data, issuing patents and trademarks, improving understanding of the environment and oceanic life, and ensuring the effective use of scientific and technical resources. The agency also formulates telecommunications and technology policy, and promotes U.S. exports by assisting and enforcing international trade agreements.

The Secretary of Commerce oversees a $6.5 billion budget and approximately 38,000 employees.

Department of Defense

The mission of the Department of Defense (DOD) is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. The department's headquarters is at the Pentagon.

The DOD consists of the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as many agencies, offices, and commands, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The DOD occupies the vast majority of the Pentagon building in Arlington, VA.

The Department of Defense is the largest government agency, with more than 1.3 million men and women on active duty, nearly 700,000 civilian personnel, and 1.1 million citizens who serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces. Together, the military and civilian arms of DOD protect national interests through war-fighting, providing humanitarian aid, and performing peacekeeping and disaster relief services.

Department of Education

The mission of the Department of Education is to promote student achievement and preparation for competition in a global economy by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access to educational opportunity.

The Department administers federal financial aid for education, collects data on America's schools to guide improvements in education quality, and works to complement the efforts of state and local governments, parents, and students.
The U.S. Secretary of Education oversees the Department's 4,200 employees and $68.6 billion budget.

Department of Energy

The mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.

The DOE promotes America's energy security by encouraging the development of reliable, clean, and affordable energy. It administers federal funding for scientific research to further the goal of discovery and innovation - ensuring American economic competitiveness and improving the quality of life for Americans. The DOE is also tasked with ensuring America's nuclear security, and with protecting the environment by providing a responsible resolution to the legacy of nuclear weapons production.

The United States Secretary of Energy oversees a budget of approximately $23 billion and more than 100,000 federal and contract employees.

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. Agencies of HHS conduct health and social science research, work to prevent disease outbreaks, assure food and drug safety, and provide health insurance.

In addition to administering Medicare and Medicaid, which together provide health insurance to one in four Americans, HHS also oversees the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees a budget of approximately $700 billion and approximately 65,000 employees. The Department's programs are administered by 11 operating divisions, including 8 agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service and 3 human services agencies.

Department of Homeland Security

The missions of the Department of Homeland Security are to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks; protect the American people, our critical infrastructure, and key resources; and respond to and recover from incidents that do occur. The third largest Cabinet department, DHS was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, largely in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The new department consolidated 22 executive branch agencies, including the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
DHS employs 216,000 people in its mission to patrol borders, protect travelers and our transportation infrastructure, enforce immigration laws, and respond to disasters and emergencies.

The agency also promotes preparedness and emergency prevention among citizens. Policy is coordinated by the Homeland Security Council at the White House, in cooperation with other defense and intelligence agencies, and led by the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the federal agency responsible for national policies and programs that address America's housing needs, that improve and develop the nation's communities, and that enforce fair housing laws. The Department plays a major role in supporting homeownership for lower- and moderate-income families through its mortgage insurance and rent subsidy programs.

Offices within HUD include the Federal Housing Administration, which provides mortgage and loan insurance; the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, which ensures all Americans equal access to the housing of their choice; and the Community Development Block Grant Program, which helps communities with economic development, job opportunities, and housing rehabilitation. HUD also administers public housing and homeless assistance.

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development oversees approximately 9,000 employees on a budget of approximately $40 billion.

Department of the Interior

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation's principal conservation agency. Its mission is to protect America's natural resources, offer recreation opportunities, conduct scientific research, conserve and protect fish and wildlife, and honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and our responsibilities to island communities.

DOI manages 500 million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth of the land in the United States, and manages hundreds of dams and reservoirs. Agencies within the DOI include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Minerals Management Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The DOI manages the national parks and is tasked with protecting endangered species.

The Secretary of the Interior oversees about 70,000 employees and 200,000 volunteers on a budget of approximately $16 billion. Every year it raises billions in revenue from energy, mineral, grazing, and timber leases, as well as recreational permits and land sales.

Department of Justice

The mission of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.

The DOJ is comprised of 40 component organizations, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

With a budget of approximately $25 billion, the DOJ is the world's largest law office and the central agency for the enforcement of federal laws.

Department of Labor

The Department of Labor oversees federal programs for ensuring a strong American workforce. These programs address job training, safe working conditions, minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, employment discrimination, and unemployment insurance.

The Department of Labor's mission is to foster and promote the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements.

Offices within the Department of Labor include the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the federal government's principal statistics agency for labor economics, and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, which promotes the safety and health of America's working men and women.

The Secretary of Labor oversees 15,000 employees on a budget of approximately $50 billion.

Department of State

The Department of State plays the lead role in developing and implementing the President's foreign policy. Major responsibilities include United States representation abroad, foreign assistance, foreign military training programs, countering international crime, and a wide assortment of services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals seeking entrance to the U.S.

The U.S. maintains diplomatic relations with approximately 180 countries - each posted by civilian U.S. Foreign Service employees - as well as with international organizations. At home, more than 5,000 civil employees carry out the mission of the Department.

The Secretary of State serves as the President's top foreign policy adviser, and oversees 30,000 employees and a budget of approximately $35 billion.

Department of Transportation

The mission of the Department of Transportation (DOT) is to ensure a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people.
Organizations within the DOT include the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Maritime Administration.

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation oversees approximately 55,000 employees and a budget of approximately $70 billion.

Department of the Treasury

The Department of the Treasury is responsible for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the soundness and security of the U.S. and international financial systems.

The Department operates and maintains systems that are critical to the nation's financial infrastructure, such as the production of coin and currency, the disbursement of payments to the American public, the collection of taxes, and the borrowing of funds necessary to run the federal government. The Department works with other federal agencies, foreign governments, and international financial institutions to encourage global economic growth, raise standards of living, and, to the extent possible, predict and prevent economic and financial crises. The Treasury Department also performs a critical and far-reaching role in enhancing national security by improving the safeguards of our financial systems, implementing economic sanctions against foreign threats to the U.S., and identifying and targeting the financial support networks of national security threats.

The Secretary of the Treasury oversees a budget of approximately $13 billion and a staff of more than 100,000 employees.

Department of Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for administering benefit programs for veterans, their families, and their survivors. These benefits include pension, education, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivor support, medical care, and burial benefits. Veterans Affairs became a cabinet-level department in 1989.

Of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every four served during a war or an official period of hostility. About a quarter of the nation's population - approximately 70 million people - are potentially eligible for V.A. benefits and services because they are veterans, family members, or survivors of veterans.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs oversees a budget of approximately $90 billion and a staff of approximately 235,000 employees.

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The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Laura . Laura Wonders, " What are checks and balances? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Laura !

When you grow up, do you want to be President of the United States? That's a that many young children have. Of course, very few actually see that come true.

You may have heard the President of the United States referred to as the leader of the world. It's a position that certainly comes with a lot of power. Even if your of becoming president doesn't come true, that doesn't mean that you can't be an influential part of the government.

There are many different types of positions within the United States government. For example, there are Senators, Representatives, and even Supreme Court justices. Do any of these jobs sound ?

Although they might not sound as powerful or as being President of the U.S., they're important jobs that probably carry more and influence than you . In fact, that's exactly why our founders set up the government the way they did.

To create a lasting government of the people and by the people, our founders drafted the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution is the foundational that lays out the for the federal government, including what powers it has and what powers are reserved by the states.

The Constitution created a federal government structure that divides power between three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch has a primary responsibility in terms of how it interacts with our nation's laws.

The executive branch is tasked with enforcing the laws of the land. The legislative branch makes the laws. The judicial branch interprets the laws to ensure they are consistent with the Constitution.

Which branch of government is the most powerful? Although many people believe one branch or another is the most powerful, depending upon how they're looking at things, the truth is that there is a separation of powers created by our founders intended to ensure that no branch would be more powerful than the others.

Our founders ensured that power would be shared equally amongst the branches by creating a system of checks and balances in the Constitution. As the name suggests, this system allows each branch to check the others to create a balance of power.

Practically , the system requires the branches of government to work together to run the country. For example, the legislative branch makes laws, but the President can a and the Supreme Court can decide that it's unconstitutional. Although it might sound like the legislative branch has less power, Congress can override a presidential with enough votes.

The President exercises some oversight of the judicial branch by being responsible for appointing members to the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The legislative branch has its say, though, by being responsible for approving the President's nominations.

Congress also controls the federal budget, which helps to check the executive branch's control over its various departments and agencies that enforce and administer federal laws. Although the President can execute Executive Orders, which are proclamations that are like laws, the judicial branch can rule such orders unconstitutional. Ultimately, the legislative branch also has the power to the President and remove him from office.

As you can see, each branch of the government has certain duties and responsibilities that overlap with the duties and responsibilities of the other branches. As they work together to accomplish their goals, the three branches of government check each other and balance the power of the government across all three branches.

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Join us in Wonderopolis today for a look at what keeps the government in line!

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BrainPOP - Animated Educational Site for Kids - Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology

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U.S.A Government: Branches of Government Game

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Learn about what each of the branches in the U.S. government do for our country!

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https://www.icivics.org/games/branches-power