Louisiana Civics Module 3 The Three Branches of Government: a complete overview of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, how a bill becomes a law, judicial review and landmark cases, and the federal bureaucracy

What Module 3 actually demands

Module 3 explains the three branches of the national government, what each does, and how they interact, with comparisons to Louisiana. It belongs to the Structure and Powers of Government strand of the Louisiana Civics standards. The dominant skills are matching an action to the right branch or role and tracing a process (a bill through Congress, a case through the courts).

This guide ties together the matching dot-point pages, each with its own practice questions: the legislative branch, the executive branch, the judicial branch, how a bill becomes a law, judicial review and landmark cases, and the federal bureaucracy.

The legislative branch

The legislative branch (Article I) makes the laws. At the national level it is Congress, which is bicameral: the House of Representatives (435 members, by population, two-year terms) and the Senate (100 members, two per state, six-year terms). Congress can make laws, tax and spend, declare war, regulate trade, and coin money. Louisiana has its own bicameral Legislature for state laws.

The executive branch

The executive branch (Article II) enforces the laws, led by the president. The president is chief executive, commander in chief, chief diplomat, and head of state, and can veto bills. The president is chosen by the Electoral College (538 votes, 270 to win), not the national popular vote, which is why a candidate can lose the popular vote and still win. The Cabinet and federal agencies help carry out the laws. Louisiana elects a governor and several other statewide executives separately.

The judicial branch

The judicial branch (Article III) interprets the laws. The federal courts have three levels: district courts (trials), courts of appeals (review), and the Supreme Court (nine justices, the final word). Federal judges are appointed for life to protect their independence. Louisiana has its own three-level court system topped by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

How a bill becomes a law

A bill is introduced, studied in committee (where most die), and voted on by the full chamber. It must pass both the House and the Senate in the same form, with a conference committee reconciling differences if needed. It then goes to the president, who can sign, veto, or take no action. A vetoed bill can still become law if two-thirds of both chambers vote to override the veto.

Judicial review and landmark cases

Judicial review, the power to strike down unconstitutional laws and actions, was established in Marbury v. Madison (1803). Landmark cases each stand for one principle: Brown v. Board of Education ended school segregation (equal protection); Gideon v. Wainwright guaranteed a lawyer for those who cannot afford one; Miranda v. Arizona required police to inform suspects of their rights; and Tinker v. Des Moines protected student free speech.

The federal bureaucracy

The federal bureaucracy is the system of departments and agencies that carries out the laws day to day. Agencies write regulations, the detailed rules that put laws into practice. Because most bureaucrats are not elected, the three branches keep them accountable: the president directs them, Congress funds and oversees them, and the courts can rule their actions unlawful.

Check your knowledge

A mix of recall and application questions covering Module 3. Attempt them under timed conditions, then check against the solutions.

1. Name the three branches and the one-word job of each. (3 marks)
2. State two differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate. (2 marks)
3. Name three powers of Congress from Article I. (3 marks)
4. List three roles of the president. (3 marks)
5. Explain how the Electoral College chooses the president. (2 marks)
6. Name the three levels of the federal court system in order. (3 marks)
7. Explain why federal judges are appointed for life. (2 marks)
8. List the main steps a bill takes to become a law. (3 marks)
9. Explain how Congress can override a presidential veto. (2 marks)
10. What is judicial review, and which case established it? (2 marks)
11. Match each case to its principle: Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright. (2 marks)
12. Name one way each branch can check a federal agency. (3 marks)