Short answer: The executive branch enforces laws. The legislative branch makes laws, and the judicial branch interprets them; each branch operates under checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power.

Key points

• Executive branch: The President and federal agencies enforce laws passed by Congress; the Attorney General leads the Department of Justice and oversees law enforcement activities.

• Legislative branch: Congress (Senate and House) writes and passes laws, declares war, and controls taxation and spending.

• Judicial branch: Courts interpret laws and determine their constitutionality; this includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

• Checks and balances: The Constitution separates powers among the three branches and provides mechanisms for oversight and accountability among them.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific country or level (federal vs. state), or provide a brief diagram of how power flows among the branches.