Objective: To examine the separation of powers in the American political system.

Separation of Powers:3 Branches ofGovernment

Executive(carries out

laws)

Legislative(makes laws)

Judicial(evaluates

laws)

President

Congress

SupremeCourt

House ofRepresentatives

CircuitCourts

DistrictCourts

Vice President

Cabinet

Senate

House of Representatives Senate

Congress

Legislative Branch:

Determined by populationof each state

Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

2 Senators per state

New York has 29representatives in the House

makes laws

House ofRepresentatives

Congress

Legislative Branch: makes laws

Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy

(left) Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and (right) Sen. Charles Schumer

Senate

President Barack Obama Vice President Joe Biden

Executive Branch: carries out laws

President Obama’s Cabinet

Executive Branch: carries out laws

(top row, left to right) Stephen Breyer, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito (bottom row, left to right) Anthony Kennedy, John Paul Stevens, Chief Justice John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, David Souter

United States Supreme Court

Judicial Branch: evaluates laws

Terms ofService

President

Supreme Court

Congress: House of Representatives

Congress: Senate

Maximum oftwo four-year

terms

Unlimitedtwo-year

termsUnlimitedsix-yearterms

Lifetimeappointments

LegislativeLegislative

Judi

cialExecutive