United States History Student Edition

08 Government and the People

The Federal Government GUIDING QUESTION What are the three branches of government?

READING STRATEGY Analyzing Key Ideas and Details As you read, use a chart like the one shown to list the main functions of each branch of government. Which branch deals most closely with foreign nations?

To achieve a separation of powers, the Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch performs important functions that contribute to American democracy. The Nation’s Legislature Congress is the legislative branch of government, and it is made up of two houses—the House of Representatives and the Senate. Currently, the House has 435 voting members and six nonvoting delegates from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Representatives, who must be at least 25 years old, serve two-year terms. A member of the House of Representatives can serve an unlimited number of terms. The number of representatives from each state is based on the state’s population. States with more people have more representatives in Congress, though every state has at least one representative. The federal government resets each state’s share of the 435 House seats every 10 years, and a state’s number of representatives may go up or down depending on population changes.

Legislative Branch

Executive Branch

Judicial Branch

FLORIDA BENCHMARKS

• SS.8.A.1.1 • SS.8.A.3.10 • SS.8.CG.1.3 • SS.8.CG.2.1 • SS.8.CG.2.2 • SS.8.CG.2.3 • SS.8.CG.2.5 • ELA.K12.EE.1.1 • ELA.K12.EE.4.1 • ELA.K12.EE.6.1

The Senate is one of the two houses that make up the legislative branch. In this chamber, senators debate issues related to proposed laws and cast votes.

Courtesy of the United States Senate

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