Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Each branch has distinct powers and responsibilities with a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too dominant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Constitution establishes a system of government divided into three distinct branches: the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. This structure was chosen to ensure a separation of powers, where each branch has its powers and responsibilities but also checks on the powers of the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
The Legislative branch, encapsulated in Article I of the Constitution, is responsible for making the laws and is commonly known as Congress, which is further divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Executive branch, detailed in Article II, is headed by the President and is charged with implementing and executing the laws passed by Congress. Lastly, the Judicial branch, outlined in Article III, comprises the Supreme Court and lower courts; it interprets the laws and administers justice through the power of judicial review.
The checks and balances system is a crucial aspect of this structure, requiring cooperation among the branches while also providing methods to limit each other's power, thereby ensuring a stable and fair governance.