The Constitution
vesting clauses
The opening sentences of Articles I, II, and III, each granting a branch its power. Their differing wording carries enormous interpretive weight.
In full
Article I vests all legislative powers herein granted in Congress; Article II vests the executive power in a President without that qualifier; Article III vests the judicial power in the courts. Advocates of a strong executive read Article II's phrasing as a general grant of executive authority, while others read it as merely designating who holds the powers Article II goes on to list.
Where to go next
Keep going
Browse every term in the glossary, or see the vocabulary in motion in the How government works walkthroughs.
A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.