The Three Branches of the US Government:A Virtual Tour

Welcome! You are about to take a virtual tour of the three branches of the US

Government.

The next slide will be a map of Washington DC. Click the link on main building on the particular branch to take the tour of that branch. There is no order in which you have to take the tours.

After you have taken all three tours. Take the Quiz to see how well you know your branches.

Let’s get started with the tours!

Begin

Tour Map

Capital

White House

Supreme Court

Quiz

Welcome to the US Capital and the Legislative Branch!

Begin Tour!

The Legislative Branch

The United States Capital Building is the Seat of the Legislative Branch.

The Legislative Branch is the Branch that makes all the Laws of the United States. This Branch is also in charge of the ways the government spends its money.

The Legislative Branch

There are two sections in the Legislative Branch: House of Representatives

The Senate

Bills can be started in either Section, but must win a vote in both to go to the Executive Branch for Presidential Signature and become a Law.

House Chamber

Senate Chamber

The Legislative Branch The House of Representatives

There are 435 members

States have different number of representatives based on how many people live in a particular state.

Every member serves for 2 years, and is up for election every two years.

The members elect their Leader which is called the Speaker of the House.

The House has a special duty. It is where government spending bills have to start.

The Legislative Branch The Senate

There 100 members

Every State has only 2 Senators

Each member serves for 6 years, and one third of the members are up for election every 2 years.

The Leader of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States.

The Senate has the special power to “Advise and Consent” on the Executive and Judicial Branch officials that do not have to be elected.

The Legislative Branch The Legislative Branch Balances out

the other two Branches by: Writing the Bills that could possibly

become Laws.

Control how the government spends its money.

Voting to Ratify Treaties made by the President.

The only Branch that can officially declare war.

Rewrite laws struck down by the Supreme Court as many times it takes for it to be in line with the Constitution.

The Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Review:

This Branch writes the bills that could become laws.

Controls the way the government spends its money.

Is made up of two sections: The House of Representatives and The Senate

It has duties that balance out the powers of the other two branches.

Thanks for taking this Tour of the Legislative Branch. Click the link below to return to the Map for another tour.

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Welcome to the Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch!

Begin Tour!

The Judicial Branch

The Supreme Court of the United States is the Highest Court of the Judicial Branch.

The Judicial Branch is in charge of reviewing and applying the Laws of the United States.

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The Judicial Branch

There are 9 judges that make up the Supreme Court. They are appointed for life by the President of the United States. The Senate “advise and consent” on the appointment, as well.

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The Judicial Branch There are three levels in the Judicial

Branch:

US Supreme Court (Highest)

US Courts of Appeals (Middle)

US District Courts (Lowest)

Cases move from the lowest courts in the Judicial Branch to the highest.

US Supreme Court

US Court of Appeals

US District Court

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The Judicial Branch The Judicial Branch was created by

the US Constitution as a check on the other two branches so no one branch could have more power than the other.

The Judicial Branch uses the US Constitution to review and apply the Laws of the United States.

If a Law or one of the other Branches does something the Constitution does not allow the Judicial Branch has the power to undo the Law and/or undo the actions of the other Branch.

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The Judicial Branch Judicial Branch Review:

This is the Branch responsible for review and applying of Laws of the United States.

There are three levels of courts in the Judicial Branch with the US Supreme Court being the Highest.

The Judicial Branch is a check, or balancing, of the powers of the other two branches.

Thanks for taking this Tour of the Judicial Branch. Click the link below to return to the Map for another tour.

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Welcome to the White House and the Executive Branch!

Begin Tour!

The Executive Branch The White House is where the

leader of the Executive Branch, the President of the United States, lives and works.

The Executive Branch includes all the Government departments and agencies including the Military, State Department, and the Justice Department.

This Branch sees that the Laws passed by the Legislative Branch are carried out, and defends them to the Judicial Branch.

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The Executive Branch The President is the Leader of the

Executive Branch. The President is elected every 4 years,

and can only serve 2 terms.

The President sets the is the Commander and Chief of the Military, and the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the country.

The President has the power to appoint Judges to the Supreme Court and other Departments and Agencies.

The President also has the power to stop bills made by congress becoming a Law, and to make Executive Orders that can be enacted and enforced like laws. Next

The Executive Branch The Executive Branch is also the

spokesman for the government to other countries and the people of the United States.

The Executive Branch also makes the money for the United States.

The Executive Branch is also in charge of maintaining the National Parks in the United States.

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The Executive Branch Executive Branch Review:

The Leader of the Executive Branch is the President, and lives and works in the White House.

The President balances out the power of the other two branches by appointing judges, and saying whether bills from the Legislative Branch becomes Law.

The Executive Branch is in charge of the Military, making the country’s money, and taking care of the Nations Parks.

Thanks for taking this Tour of the Judicial Branch. Click the link below to return to the Map for another tour.

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The Three Branches of the US Government:A QuizClick on the link on the question page to chose your answer. If you are correct the next question will appear. If not, you will have to go back and review the tours again.

Next

Question 1: Which of the Three Branches has the power to put a check on the

Legislative Branch?

A) The Executive Branch

B) The Judicial Branch

C) Both

Correct!

Very Good! Both the Executive and the Judicial Branch can check the powers of the Legislative Branch

Next

Question 2: If the Supreme Court Strikes down a Law, and the Legislative Branch cannot

rewrite it to be constitutional, is there anything the Executive Branch can do?

A) Yes, the Executive Branch can Fire the Judges.

B) No, The Legislative Branch is the only one that can do anything in this situation.

C) Yes, The President can create an Executive Order.

Correct!

Very Good! The President can create an Executive Order.

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Question 3: How many total members are there in the Legislative Branch, Executive

Branch, and Judicial Branch combined?

A) 100

B) 535

C) 545

Correct!

Very Good! There 100 in the Senate and 435 in the House for a total of 535.

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Question 4: The President creates an Executive Order, the Supreme Court declares it

constitutional, but the Legislative Branch does not like it. What can the Legislative Branch do?

A) Pass a law against it.

B) Choose not to pay for it.

C) A or B or Both

D) There is nothing the Legislative Branch can do.

Correct!

Very Good! The Legislative Branch can pass a law against it, choose not to pay for it, or do both.

Next

Question 5: The Judges on the Supreme Court do not think that a Law will be Good for

the United States, but it is Constitutional. What can the Judicial Branch do about this?

A) Rewrite the Law

B) Pass an Executive Order

C) Nothing, The Job of the Judicial Branch is to review and apply the Law.

Correct!Wow! You really Know your Branches of the US Government.

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