Legislative

The Legislative Branch of the government--Senate and House of Representatives--is where all the laws are initially created and voted upon. The Senate approves the federal judges, the cabinet officials of the president and senior officers of the military. The House of Representatives, which the founding fathers considered the closest to the people, controls the purse strings of the government.

Executive

The Executive Branch--the President and his advisors--are tasked with carrying out the laws of the land. The President has the power to veto any law passed by the Legislative Branch, but they can, in turn, overrule his veto with another vote. The president is commander in chief of the military but must depend upon the Legislative Branch to fund its operations and approve the senior officers. The president also nominates federal judges and Supreme Court justices.

Judicial

The Judicial Branch--the federal and Supreme Courts--rules on whether or not a law or executive act has a Constitutional basis and is valid. The Legislative Branch controls the creation of federal districts for judges and even the number of Supreme Court justices. The branch also can withhold jurisdiction from certain cases from the justice system.