The Three Branches Of The Federal Government

The federal government has three main branches. These include the executive, the judiciary, and the legislative. The president is head of the executive branch and makes laws official. The supreme court and other federal courts have judicial authority, to explain the laws of the country under the constitution. The legislative branch is the congress divided into two different chambers the House of Representatives and the Senate. Although our government today is still divided into three branches, The United States has changed dramatically since 1787.

The U.S Constitution has had an enormous effect on our country for centuries. America has grown and changed during the last one hundred years and so has the constitution. The U.S. Constitution is called a living document. Although to some individuals it may seem like an old piece of paper it is designed to live and grow as the
The government's powers have increased tremendously. The relationships with the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government have changed, and the power between the states and the federal government has altered. A few of these changes occurred with the amendment process. The first ten amendments, ratified in 1791, are known as the Bill of Rights. Slavery was abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment, The Fourteenth Amendment said all citizens would have equal protection under the law. The Fifteenth, Nineteenth and Twenty sixth Amendments allowed voting rights to citizens of all colors, to women, and to adults 18 years and older. The Twenty second and Twenty fifth Amendments limited the president to two terms in office. These amendments have brought extraordinary changes to our country and our government. The Constitution allows the federal government to use the power they have in these