Simone Lawson
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much power. The legislative branch, made up of the House and Senate, creates laws. The executive branch, led by the President, enforces these laws. The judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, interprets the laws according to the Constitution. Each branch has its own powers and responsibilities and can check the actions of the other branches, creating a system of checks and balances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legislative Branch | House of Representatives and Senate, known collectively as Congress |
| Executive Branch | President, advisors, and various departments and agencies |
| Judicial Branch | Supreme Court and lower courts |
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What You'll Learn
- The Legislative Branch: Made up of the House and Senate, or Congress, and responsible for making laws
- The Executive Branch: Headed by the President, this branch enforces the laws made by the legislative branch
- The Judicial Branch: Includes the Supreme Court and interprets laws according to the Constitution
- Checks and Balances: Each branch can respond to the actions of the others, ensuring no one branch has too much power
- Separation of Powers: Each branch has its own powers and duties, with no individual or group holding too much influence
The Legislative Branch: Made up of the House and Senate, or Congress, and responsible for making laws
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, also known as Congress, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also six non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other US territories.
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws. It is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing ones. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, and the right to confirm or reject many presidential appointments. The House of Representatives is where most laws originate, and representatives meet together to discuss ideas and decide if these ideas should become laws. Bills must be approved by both Houses of Congress before being presented to the President.
The Senate and the House of Representatives have equal legislative functions and powers, with certain exceptions. For example, only the House can originate revenue bills and appropriation bills. The Senate confirms presidential nominations and approves treaties. Each chamber has the constitutional authority to make its own rules, and as a result, the House and Senate have developed different ways of processing legislation. The House tends to favor quick action, while the Senate favors deliberation.
The legislative branch also has investigative powers. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs are devoted to overseeing and reforming government operations. Congress also maintains an investigative organization, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which audits and generates reports on every aspect of the government.
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The Executive Branch: Headed by the President, this branch enforces the laws made by the legislative branch
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much power.
The Executive Branch
The executive branch is headed by the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces and the leader of the federal government. The Vice President is also part of the executive branch and assumes the presidency if the President is unable to serve. The President enforces the laws made by the legislative branch, which consists of Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives).
Congress is responsible for making laws, and the President enforces them through executive departments and agencies, such as the CIA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Defense. The President also appoints the heads of federal agencies, including the Cabinet, and has the power to veto legislation created by Congress.
The executive branch includes approximately 5,000,000 workers, including members of the armed forces. It is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the federal government and carries out the enforcement of laws through various departments and agencies.
The legislative branch has oversight over the executive branch, which serves as a check on the President's power and discretion in implementing laws and regulations. Congress conducts oversight through hearings, committees, and investigative organizations like the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
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The Judicial Branch: Includes the Supreme Court and interprets laws according to the Constitution
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The judicial branch interprets laws according to the Constitution. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and is the final judicial arbiter on matters of federal law. The Supreme Court interprets the meaning of a law, decides whether a law is relevant to a set of facts, and rules on how a law should be applied. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving ambassadors and other diplomats, and in cases between states. It also has appellate jurisdiction in all other cases. The Supreme Court hears comparatively few cases each year, and only hears cases that pertain to issues related to the Constitution.
The federal judicial system also has lower courts located in each state to hear cases involving federal issues. These inferior courts are bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court and must apply the Supreme Court's interpretation of a law to the facts of a particular case.
Article III of the US Constitution guarantees every person accused of wrongdoing the right to a fair trial. The courts only try actual cases and controversies, meaning a party must show that it has been harmed to bring a suit to court.
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Checks and Balances: Each branch can respond to the actions of the others, ensuring no one branch has too much power
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group will have too much power.
The legislative branch, made up of Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives), is responsible for making laws. The executive branch, headed by the President, enforces these laws. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces and is supported by the Vice President. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets the laws.
The system of checks and balances allows each branch to respond to the actions of the others. The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws. The judicial branch can declare laws unconstitutional. The executive branch, through federal agencies, is responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws.
The legislative branch has the power to approve presidential nominations, control the budget, and impeach the President and remove them from office. The executive branch can declare executive orders, but the judicial branch can declare those acts unconstitutional. The judicial branch interprets laws, but the President nominates Supreme Court justices, and Congress can impeach and remove them from office.
The system of checks and balances divides power among the three branches by assigning them distinctive roles and ensuring a balance of power within the federal government.
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Separation of Powers: Each branch has its own powers and duties, with no individual or group holding too much influence
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three distinct branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group holds too much influence, providing a system of checks and balances. Each branch has its own designated powers and duties, enabling them to work independently while also collaborating with the others.
The legislative branch, also known as Congress, is responsible for making laws. It comprises two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The number of representatives in the House is based on each state's population, while the Senate provides equal representation to each state, with two senators per state. The legislative branch also holds the power to approve presidential nominations, control the budget, and impeach and remove the president from office.
The executive branch is headed by the President, who is responsible for enforcing the laws created by the legislative branch. The president is supported by various executive departments and agencies, as well as advisors. Additionally, the executive branch can issue executive orders, which carry the force of law, and nominate heads of federal agencies and judicial positions, including Supreme Court justices.
The judicial branch, including the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, is tasked with interpreting laws according to the Constitution. The justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. This branch can declare laws or acts of the executive branch unconstitutional, ensuring that the other branches do not exceed their powers.
The separation of powers and checks and balances system established by the Constitution allows each branch to hold the others accountable and prevent any one branch from gaining too much power. This design safeguards against the concentration of influence and promotes a balanced and effective government that protects citizens' rights.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution mentions the three branches of government in its description of the federal government.
The three branches of government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, declaring war, regulating interstate and foreign commerce, and controlling taxing and spending policies. The executive branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. The judicial branch interprets laws and declares them unconstitutional.
The three branches work together through a system of checks and balances, where each branch has the ability to respond to the actions of the other branches. For example, the legislative branch makes laws, but the executive branch can veto those laws, and the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.
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