The 6 functions of the us government are listed where in the constitution?

Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government

The legislative branch , confirms or rejects presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court, and has the authority to declare war. This branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress. American citizens have the right to vote for Senators and Representatives through free, confidential ballots.

Congress

Congress is composed of two parts:

  • Senate—There are two elected Senators per state, totaling 100 Senators. A Senate term is six years and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.
  • House of Representatives—There are 435 elected Representatives, which are divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are additional non-voting delegates who represent the District of Columbia and the territories. A Representative serves a two-year term, and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.

Legislative Branch Agencies

The legislative branch includes Congress and the agencies that support its work.

  • Architect of the Capitol
  • Congressional Budget Office
  • Congressional Research Service
  • Copyright Office
  • Government Accountability Office
  • Government Publishing Office
  • House Office of Inspector General
  • House Office of the Clerk
  • Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
  • Library of Congress
  • Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
  • Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
  • Office of Congressional Workplace Rights
  • Open World Leadership Center
  • Stennis Center for Public Service
  • U.S. Botanic Garden
  • U.S. Capitol Police
  • U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
  • U.S. House of Representatives
  • U.S. Senate

Executive Branch of the U.S. Government

The executive branch carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.

American citizens have the right to vote for the president and vice president through free, confidential ballots.

Key roles of the executive branch include:

  • President—The president leads the country. He or she is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander in Chief of the United States armed forces. The president serves a four-year term and can be elected no more than two times.
  • Vice president—The vice president supports the president. If the president is unable to serve, the vice president becomes president. The vice president can be elected and serve an unlimited number of four-year terms as vice president, even under a different president.
  • The Cabinet—Cabinet members serve as advisors to the president. They include the vice president, heads of executive departments, and other high-ranking government officials. Cabinet members are nominated by the president and must be approved by a simple majority of the Senate—51 votes if all 100 Senators vote.

Executive Branch Agencies, Commissions, and Committees

Much of the work in the executive branch is done by federal agencies, departments, committees, and other groups.

Executive Office of the President

The Executive Office of the president communicates the president's message and deals with the federal budget, security, and other high priorities.

  • Office of the President
  • Office of the Vice President
  • Council of Economic Advisers
  • Council on Environmental Quality
  • National Security Council
  • Office of Management and Budget
  • Office of National Drug Control Policy
  • Office of Science and Technology Policy
  • Office of the United States Trade Representative

Executive Departments

These are the main agencies of the federal government. The heads of these 15 agencies are also members of the president's cabinet.

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Department of Education
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Department of Labor
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Department of the Interior
  • U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Executive Department Sub-Agencies and Bureaus

Smaller sub-agencies support specialized work within their parent executive department agencies.

  • Administration for Children and Families
  • Administration for Community Living
  • Administration for Native Americans
  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
  • Agricultural Marketing Service
  • Agricultural Research Service
  • Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  • Antitrust Division
  • Armed Forces Retirement Home
  • Arms Control and International Security
  • Bonneville Power Administration
  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
  • Bureau of Consular Affairs
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis
  • Bureau of Engraving and Printing
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Bureau of Industry and Security
  • Bureau of International Labor Affairs
  • Bureau of Justice Statistics
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  • Bureau of Prisons
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
  • Bureau of the Fiscal Service
  • Bureau of Transportation Statistics
  • Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
  • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
  • College of Information and Cyberspace
  • Community Oriented Policing Services
  • Computer Emergency Readiness Team
  • Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
  • Defense Acquisition University
  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Defense Commissary Agency
  • Defense Contract Audit Agency
  • Defense Contract Management Agency
  • Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
  • Defense Finance and Accounting Service
  • Defense Finance and Accounting Service Debt and Claims Management Center
  • Defense Health Agency
  • Defense Information Systems Agency
  • Defense Intelligence Agency
  • Defense Logistics Agency
  • Defense Security Cooperation Agency
  • Defense Technical Information Center
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy
  • Economic Development Administration
  • Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
  • Economic Research Service
  • Elder Justice Initiative
  • Employee Benefits Security Administration
  • Employment and Training Administration
  • Energy Information Administration
  • Energy Star Program
  • English Language Acquisition Office
  • Executive Office for Immigration Review
  • Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation
  • Farm Service Agency
  • Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Federal Consulting Group
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Federal Executive Boards
  • Federal Highway Administration
  • Federal Housing Administration
  • Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
  • Federal Protective Service
  • Federal Railroad Administration
  • Federal Student Aid Information Center
  • Federal Transit Administration
  • Federal Voting Assistance Program
  • Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Food and Nutrition Service
  • Food Safety and Inspection Service
  • Foreign Agricultural Service
  • Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
  • Forest Service
  • Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)
  • Health Resources and Services Administration
  • Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Indian Health Service
  • Institute of Education Sciences
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • International Trade Administration
  • Job Corps
  • Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries
  • Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Joint Fire Science Program
  • Joint Forces Staff College
  • Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense
  • Maritime Administration
  • Middle East Broadcasting Networks
  • Military Postal Service Agency
  • Mine Safety and Health Administration
  • Minority Business Development Agency
  • Missile Defense Agency
  • Multifamily Housing Office
  • National Agricultural Library
  • National Agricultural Statistics Service
  • National Cancer Institute
  • National Cemetery Administration
  • National Defense University
  • National Flood Insurance Program
  • National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  • National Guard
  • National Health Information Center
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • National Indian Gaming Commission
  • National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
  • National Institute of Corrections
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • National Institute of Justice
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Intelligence University
  • National Interagency Fire Center
  • National Laboratories
  • National Nuclear Security Administration
  • National Ocean Service
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • National Park Service
  • National Passport Information Center
  • National Pesticide Information Center
  • National Prevention Information Network
  • National Reconnaissance Office
  • National Security Agency
  • National Technical Information Service
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration
  • National War College
  • National Weather Service
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • NOAA Fisheries
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education
  • Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services
  • Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
  • Office of Child Support Enforcement
  • Office of Community Planning and Development
  • Office of Cuba Broadcasting
  • Office of Disability Employment Policy
  • Office of Economic Adjustment
  • Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Office of Environmental Management
  • Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
  • Office of Fossil Energy
  • Office of Housing
  • Office of Immigrant and Employee Rights
  • Office of Investor Education and Advocacy
  • Office of Justice Programs
  • Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
  • Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes
  • Office of Manufactured Housing Programs
  • Office of Minority Health
  • Office of Natural Resources Revenue
  • Office of Nuclear Energy
  • Office of Policy Development and Research
  • Office of Postsecondary Education
  • Office of Refugee Resettlement
  • Office of Scientific and Technical Information
  • Office of Servicemember Affairs
  • Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
  • Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement
  • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
  • Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  • Office of the Federal Register
  • Office of the Pardon Attorney
  • Office of Violence Against Women
  • Pentagon Force Protection Agency
  • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
  • Political Affairs
  • Power Administrations
  • President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition
  • Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia
  • Public and Indian Housing
  • Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
  • Radio Free Asia
  • Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
  • Rehabilitation Services Administration
  • Risk Management Agency
  • Rural Business and Cooperative Programs
  • Rural Development
  • Rural Housing Service
  • Rural Utilities Service
  • Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
  • Science Office
  • Seafood Inspection Program
  • Secret Service
  • Southeastern Power Administration
  • Southwestern Power Administration
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
  • Transportation Security Administration
  • U.S. AbilityOne Commission
  • U.S. Access Board
  • U.S. Africa Command
  • U.S. Air Force
  • U.S. Air Force Reserve Command
  • U.S. Army
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Census Bureau
  • U.S. Central Command
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • U.S. Cyber Command
  • U.S. Election Assistance Commission
  • U.S. European Command
  • U.S. Fire Administration
  • U.S. Fleet Forces Command
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  • U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
  • U.S. Marine Corps
  • U.S. Marshals Service
  • U.S. Military Academy, West Point
  • U.S. Mint
  • U.S. Mission to the United Nations
  • U.S. National Central Bureau - Interpol
  • U.S. Navy
  • U.S. Northern Command
  • U.S. Parole Commission
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Postal Inspection Service
  • U.S. Southern Command
  • U.S. Space Command
  • U.S. Special Operations Command
  • U.S. Strategic Command
  • U.S. Transportation Command
  • U.S. Trustee Program
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
  • Veterans Benefits Administration
  • Veterans Health Administration
  • Veterans' Employment and Training Service
  • Voice of America
  • Wage and Hour Division
  • Washington Headquarters Services
  • Weights and Measures Division
  • Western Area Power Administration
  • Women's Bureau

Independent Agencies

These agencies are not represented in the cabinet and are not part of the Executive Office of the president. They deal with government operations, the economy, and regulatory oversight.

  • Administrative Conference of the United States
  • African Development Foundation
  • Central Intelligence Agency
  • Commission on Civil Rights
  • Commission on Presidential Scholars
  • Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission)
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
  • Denali Commission
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • Export-Import Bank of the United States
  • Farm Credit Administration
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  • Federal Election Commission
  • Federal Housing Finance Agency
  • Federal Labor Relations Authority
  • Federal Maritime Commission
  • Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
  • Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
  • Federal Reserve System
  • Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
  • Federal Trade Commission
  • General Services Administration
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services
  • Inter-American Foundation
  • Merit Systems Protection Board
  • Millennium Challenge Corporation
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • National Archives and Records Administration
  • National Capital Planning Commission
  • National Credit Union Administration
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • National Endowment for the Humanities
  • National Labor Relations Board
  • National Mediation Board
  • National Railroad Passenger Corporation
  • National Science Foundation
  • National Transportation Safety Board
  • Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
  • Office of Government Ethics
  • Office of Personnel Management
  • Office of Special Counsel
  • Office of the Director of National Intelligence
  • Peace Corps
  • Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
  • Postal Regulatory Commission
  • Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
  • Railroad Retirement Board
  • Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Selective Service System
  • Small Business Administration
  • Social Security Administration
  • Surface Transportation Board
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • U.S. Agency for Global Media
  • U.S. Agency for International Development
  • U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
  • U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
  • U.S. International Trade Commission
  • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • U.S. Postal Service
  • U.S. Trade and Development Agency

Boards, Commissions, and Committees

Congress or the president establish these smaller organizations to manage specific tasks and areas that don't fall under parent agencies.

  • Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
  • American Battle Monuments Commission
  • Appalachian Regional Commission
  • Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program
  • Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
  • Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
  • Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
  • Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
  • Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
  • Delaware River Basin Commission
  • Delta Regional Authority
  • Endangered Species Program
  • Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
  • Federal Financing Bank
  • Federal Geographic Data Committee
  • Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy
  • Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer
  • Federal Library and Information Center Committee
  • Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
  • Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
  • Indian Arts and Crafts Board
  • Interagency Alternative Dispute Resolution Working Group
  • Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds
  • Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
  • Japan-United States Friendship Commission
  • Marine Mammal Commission
  • Migratory Bird Conservation Commission
  • Mississippi River Commission
  • Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
  • National Council on Disability
  • National Park Foundation
  • Northern Border Regional Commission
  • Northwest Power and Conservation Council
  • Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
  • Presidio Trust
  • Social Security Advisory Board
  • Susquehanna River Basin Commission
  • U.S. Arctic Research Commission
  • U.S. Chemical Safety Board
  • U.S. Commission of Fine Arts
  • Veterans Day National Committee

Quasi-Official Agencies

Although they're not officially part of the executive branch, these agencies are required by federal statute to release certain information about their programs and activities in the Federal Register, the daily journal of government activities.

  • Center for Parent Information and Resources
  • Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)
  • Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
  • Institute of Peace
  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  • Legal Services Corporation
  • National Constitution Center
  • National Gallery of Art
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • State Justice Institute
  • Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government

The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. It is comprised of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and must be approved by the Senate.

  • Nine members make up the Supreme Court—a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. There must be a minimum or quorum of six Justices to decide a case.
  • If there is an even number of Justices and a case results in a tie, the lower court's decision stands.
  • There is no fixed term for Justices. They serve until their death, retirement, or removal in exceptional circumstances.

Federal Courts and Judicial Agencies

The Constitution gives Congress the authority to establish other federal courts to handle cases that involve federal laws including tax and bankruptcy, lawsuits involving U.S. and state governments or the Constitution, and more. Other federal judicial agencies and programs support the courts and research judicial policy.

  • Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
  • Bankruptcy Courts
  • Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
  • Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • Court of Federal Claims
  • Court of International Trade
  • Federal Court Interpreters
  • Federal Judicial Center
  • Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • Tax Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
  • U.S. Courts of Appeal
  • U.S. Sentencing Commission

Confirmation Process for Judges and Justices

Appointments for Supreme Court Justices and other federal judgeships follow the same basic process:

  • The president nominates a person to fill a vacant judgeship.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the nominee and votes on whether to forward the nomination to the full Senate.
  • If the nomination moves forward, the Senate can debate the nomination. Debate must end before the Senate can vote on whether to confirm the nominee. A Senator will request unanimous consent to end the debate, but any Senator can refuse.
  • Without unanimous consent, the Senate must pass a cloture motion to end the debate. It takes a simple majority of votes—51 if all 100 Senators vote—to pass cloture and end debate about a federal judicial nominee.
  • Once the debate ends, the Senate votes on confirmation. The nominee for Supreme Court or any other federal judgeship needs a simple majority of votes—51 if all 100 Senators vote—to be confirmed.

Infographic: How the Supreme Court Works

Learn how cases reach the Supreme Court and how the justices make their decisions. Use this lesson plan in class.

The 6 functions of the us government are listed where in the constitution?
View a larger version of the infographic.

The 6 functions of the us government are listed where in the constitution?

  • Show Description of Infographic

    How the Supreme Court Works

    The Supreme Court is:

    • The highest court in the country
    • Located in Washington, DC
    • The head of the judicial branch of the federal government
    • Responsible for deciding whether laws violate the Constitution
    • In session from early October until late June or early July

    How a Case Gets to the Supreme Court

    Most cases reach the Court on appeal. An appeal is a request for a higher court to reverse the decision of a lower court. Most appeals come from federal courts. They can come from state courts if a case deals with federal law.

    Rarely, the Court hears a new case, such as one between states.

    1. Dissatisfied parties petition the Court for review
      Parties may appeal their case to the Supreme Court, petitioning the Court to review the decision of the lower court.

    2. Justices study documents
      The Justices examine the petition and supporting materials.

    3. Justices vote
      Four Justices must vote in favor for a case to be granted review.

    What Happens Once a Case is Selected for Review?

    1. Parties make arguments
      The Justices review the briefs (written arguments) and hear oral arguments. In oral arguments, each side usually has 30 minutes to present its case. The Justices typically ask many questions during this time.

    2. Justices write opinions
      The Justices vote on the case and write their opinions.

      The majority opinion shared by more than half of the Justices becomes the Court’s decision.

      Justices who disagree with the majority opinion write dissenting or minority opinions.

    3. The Court issues its decision
      Justices may change their vote after reading first drafts of the opinions. Once the opinions are completed and all of the Justices have cast a final vote, the Court “hands down” its decision.

      All cases are heard and decided before summer recess. It can take up to nine months to announce a decision.

    Every year:

    The Court receives 7,000-8,000 requests for review and grants 70-80 for oral argument. Other requests are granted and decided without argument.

    What part of the Constitution lists the 6 purposes of government?

    C Preamble Correct – The Preamble states the six purposes of government: to form a more perfect union; establish justice; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare; secure the blessings of liberty now and in the future.

    What are the 6 parts of the Constitution?

    U.S. Constitution.
    Preamble ["We the people"] (see explanation).
    Article I [The Legislative Branch] (see explanation) ... .
    Article II [The Presidency] (see explanation) ... .
    Article III [The Judiciary] (see explanation) ... .
    Article IV [The States] (see explanation) ... .
    Article V [The Amendment Process] (see explanation).

    What is Article 6 called in the Constitution?

    Often referred to as the supremacy clause, this article says that when state law is in conflict with federal law, federal law must prevail.

    What is in Article 1 of the Constitution?

    Clause 1 Composition The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.