Final answer:
The U.S. Government is divided into three branches - Legislative, Executive, and Judicial - each with specific powers. The Legislative Branch creates laws, ratifies treaties, and conducts impeachments. The Executive enforces laws, negotiates treaties, and can veto bills, while the Judicial Branch has the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
Step-by-step explanation:
U.S. Government: Branches and Powers
Within the U.S. Government, powers are distributed among three distinct branches as defined by the Constitution. The Legislative Branch, which is Congress, has the power to create and pass laws, ratify treaties, and carry out impeachment proceedings. The specific powers laid out for the Legislative Branch reflect its primary function of lawmaking.
The other branches, the Executive and Judicial, have their own distinct functions. The Executive Branch, led by the President, is responsible for enforcing laws, negotiating treaties, and has the authority to veto bills. Conversely, the Judicial Branch, which includes the Supreme Court, holds the power to declare laws unconstitutional through a process known as judicial review.
Through the system of Checks and Balances, these branches work in tandem, each with their own checks on the others' powers to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful. This intricate system ensures that the sovereignties of each branch are maintained while requiring collaboration and oversight among them.
The Constitution defines these roles in its first three articles and has established the infrastructure for a stable democratic government by delineating the separation of powers.