Final answer:
The legislative, executive, and judicial branches make up the three branches of government in many republics like the United States. Each branch has its own set of responsibilities and powers, with a system of checks and balances in place to prevent any single branch from becoming too dominant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legislative, executive, and judicial are the three branches of government. This concept, stemming from the late 18th century, is foundational in many republics, including the United States, where each branch has distinct responsibilities. The legislative branch is responsible for making laws. In the U.S. Government, this is Congress, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. The executive branch implements and executes the laws, and this is headed by the President at the federal level, and governors at the state level. Lastly, the judicial branch interprets the laws and makes decisions on legal disputes; this includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The system is designed with a series of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch becomes too powerful. For example, while Congress (the legislative branch) can make laws, the President (the executive branch) has the power to veto them. Additionally, the judicial branch can review laws to determine if they are constitutional.