Name the three branches of the U.S. government.

• A. Legislative, Executive, and Regulatory
• B. Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
• C. Congress, Presidency, Courts
• D. Federal, State, Local

Answer: (B)

Power in the U.S. government is organized into three branches, each with its own distinct role and a system of checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power. The legislative branch makes laws and is Congress, which includes both houses. The executive branch enforces laws and is headed by the President, with the Vice President and the President’s administration. The judicial branch interprets laws and is made up of the court system, including the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. This arrangement, separation of powers, keeps each branch accountable to the others.

One option uses Regulatory instead of Judicial, which isn’t the official name of a branch. Another lists Congress, Presidency, Courts, which are important components but not the formal three branches by their branch names. The last option names levels of government (Federal, State, Local) rather than the three branches.