Question: What do the three branches of government do?

Answer:

Answer: The idea of separation of powers comes from Enlightenment thinker, Baron de Montesquieu. He believed that government should balance their strength between:

1. Legislative Branch - Makes the laws. The United States has a bicameral (two house) system composed by the House of Representatives (435 members) which is based on population, and the Senate which has 2 members for each state (100 members).

2. Executive Branch - Enforces, or executes the laws to make sure people obey them. The President leads this branch. In a state, this would be the Governor.

3. Judicial Branch - Interprets the laws to make sure they are fair and just. The head of this branch is the Supreme Court.

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