What are the three branches of government and their roles?

The three branches of the United States government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch, Congress, consists of the Senate and House of Representatives and is responsible for making laws, approving the federal budget, and declaring war. The executive branch, headed by the President, enforces and implements laws, manages foreign policy, commands the military, and oversees federal agencies. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, interprets laws and the Constitution, resolving legal disputes and determining whether laws comply with constitutional principles. This system of separation of powers includes checks and balances so that no single branch becomes too powerful.