Title: The Three Branches of Government & US Government Structure | USAFacts
Headings: Government structure
Government structure
Federal government structure
State government structure1
Local government structure2
Insular area government structure
American Indian tribal government structure
Continue exploring
Item 1 - Purpose and Function of Our Government - General
Government operations

Content: The justices of the Supreme Court, who can overturn unconstitutional laws, are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Legislative
The legislative branch enacts legislation, confirms or rejects presidential appointments, and has the authority to declare war. This branch comprises Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and several agencies that provide support services to Congress. Executive
The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, 15 executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees. Judicial
The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. The judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
THE CONSTITUTION
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

JUDICIAL BRANCH
THE CONGRESS

THE PRESIDENT

THE SUPREME COURT OF
SENATE | HOUSE

THE VICE PRESIDENT

THE UNITED STATES
100 Senators

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

9 Justices
435 Representatives
Architect of the Capitol
United States Botanic Garden
Government Accountability Office
Government Printing Office
Library of Congress
Congressional Budget Office
US Capitol Police

15 Cabinet Members
White House Office
Office of the Vice President
Council of Economic Advisers
Council on Environmental Quality
National Security Council
Office of Administration
Office of Management and Budget
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Office of Policy Development
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Office of the US Trade Representative

United States Courts of Appeals
United States District Courts
Territorial Courts
United States Court of International Trade
United States Court of Federal Claims
Administrative Office of
the United States Courts
Federal Judicial Center
United States Sentencing Commission
SIGNIFICANT REPORTING ENTITIES (15)
DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
OTHER SIGNIFICANT REPORTING ENTITIES
Environmental Protection Agency
General Services Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Office of Personnel Management
Small Business Administration
Social Security Administration
US Agency for International Development
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Defense Security Cooperation Agency
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation
Federal Communications Commission
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
General Fund of the US Government
Millennium Challenge Corporation
National Credit Union Administration
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Railroad Retirement Board
Securities and Exchange Commission
Smithsonian Institution
Tennessee Valley Authority
US Postal Service
IN CONSERVATORSHIP
Fannie Mae Freddie Mac













SIGNIFICANT RELATED ENTITIES










The Federal Reserve
The Farm Credit System



Federal Home Loan Banks






For a discussion of each of the federal government departments and offices, please see The United States Government Manual at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/GOVMAN. State government structure1
Under the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution, all powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people. All state governments are modeled after the federal government and consist of three branches: