The three branches of the U.S. federal government are the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The legislative branch, made up of Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives), creates federal laws and controls federal spending. The executive branch, headed by the President, enforces laws and manages the day-to-day operations of government, including overseeing federal agencies and the military. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, interprets laws and decides whether they align with the Constitution. This system of separation of powers was designed by the framers of the Constitution to distribute authority across three independent bodies, preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful and ensuring checks and balances among them.