Which branch is responsible for enforcing laws?

• A. Judicial
• B. Executive
• C. Legislative
• D. All of them

Answer: (B)

Enforcing laws is the job of the executive branch. This branch, headed by the governor and made up of state agencies and law-enforcement bodies, is responsible for putting laws into action, running state programs, and ensuring compliance with statutes. The legislative branch, by contrast, is the lawmaker—it creates and passes laws. The judiciary interprets those laws and settles disputes about their meaning or application. Because enforcement involves administering and applying laws through agencies and police powers, it belongs to the executive. Saying all branches enforce laws isn’t accurate, since the other branches have distinct roles focused on making and interpreting laws.