Branches of Government
What is the structure and function of each branch of the Federal government?
The Three Branches of Government
The powers of the government found in the Constitution are separated into three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches. Each of these three branches has specific powers and are checked and balanced by the other branches to ensure that they follow with the Constitution.
The powers of the government found in the Constitution are separated into three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches. Each of these three branches has specific powers and are checked and balanced by the other branches to ensure that they follow with the Constitution.
The Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is responsible for writing, debating, and passing bills that can eventually become laws. The legislative branch is Congress, which is divided into the House of Representatives and Senate. The legislative branch is housed at the Capitol building. The power of the legislative branch (Congress) is checked because the President must sign bills in order for them to become law. The President may also veto a bill. If the President vetoes a bill he will it back to Congress with his reasons why he rejected it. Congress then has the power to check the power of the President by overriding his veto with a 2/3 vote. Congress also checks the executive branch by approving judges whom the President has appointed for the Supreme Court. Congress can also check the power of the President or judges through impeachment. Congress can impeach a President or a judge if their actions do not align with what it says in the Constitution.
The legislative branch is responsible for writing, debating, and passing bills that can eventually become laws. The legislative branch is Congress, which is divided into the House of Representatives and Senate. The legislative branch is housed at the Capitol building. The power of the legislative branch (Congress) is checked because the President must sign bills in order for them to become law. The President may also veto a bill. If the President vetoes a bill he will it back to Congress with his reasons why he rejected it. Congress then has the power to check the power of the President by overriding his veto with a 2/3 vote. Congress also checks the executive branch by approving judges whom the President has appointed for the Supreme Court. Congress can also check the power of the President or judges through impeachment. Congress can impeach a President or a judge if their actions do not align with what it says in the Constitution.
The Executive Branch
The President is the leader the executive branch. The President resides in the White House. One of his many jobs is to enforce or carry out (execute) the laws. The President may also suggest laws to the legislative branch. The President can check the legislative branch by vetoing any laws with which he does not agree. The President checks the judicial branch by appointing justices to the Supreme Court and the lesser federal courts. But, Congress checks the President by confirming the judges that the President appoints. The President is also the Commander in Chief of the United States armed forces. Only Congress, however, has the power to declare war.
The President is the leader the executive branch. The President resides in the White House. One of his many jobs is to enforce or carry out (execute) the laws. The President may also suggest laws to the legislative branch. The President can check the legislative branch by vetoing any laws with which he does not agree. The President checks the judicial branch by appointing justices to the Supreme Court and the lesser federal courts. But, Congress checks the President by confirming the judges that the President appoints. The President is also the Commander in Chief of the United States armed forces. Only Congress, however, has the power to declare war.
The Judicial Branch
The judicial branch is responsible for to deciding whether or not the laws passed by Congress or the states are in agreement with the Constitution and are being carried out fairly. The judicial branch is housed in the Supreme Court which has its own building in Washington, DC. The judicial branch includes a system of courts including the federal district courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court judges are called justices. The Supreme Court is composed of nine justices who serve for life as long as they are not impeached. Impeachment is a check on the power of any government branch, through which Congress can remove any governmental official from office. The Supreme Courts checks the legislative branch by making sure that the laws that are passed are in agreement with the Constitution. Likewise, the judicial branch can check the power of the executive branch by ruling the Presidents actions unconstitutional.
The judicial branch is responsible for to deciding whether or not the laws passed by Congress or the states are in agreement with the Constitution and are being carried out fairly. The judicial branch is housed in the Supreme Court which has its own building in Washington, DC. The judicial branch includes a system of courts including the federal district courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court judges are called justices. The Supreme Court is composed of nine justices who serve for life as long as they are not impeached. Impeachment is a check on the power of any government branch, through which Congress can remove any governmental official from office. The Supreme Courts checks the legislative branch by making sure that the laws that are passed are in agreement with the Constitution. Likewise, the judicial branch can check the power of the executive branch by ruling the Presidents actions unconstitutional.
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Documents
4-4.2_branches_of_government_iet.pdf |
4-4.2_branches_of_government_iet.docx |
Sources
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/United_States_Capitol_-_west_front.jpg
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/White_House_DC.JPG
Image 3: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/SCOTUSbuilding_1st_Street_SE.JPG/640px-SCOTUSbuilding_1st_Street_SE.JPG
Image 4: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Separation_of_Powers.jpg
Image 5: https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/14848/production/_94004048_us_president_checks_balances_ v02_624in.png
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/United_States_Capitol_-_west_front.jpg
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/White_House_DC.JPG
Image 3: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/SCOTUSbuilding_1st_Street_SE.JPG/640px-SCOTUSbuilding_1st_Street_SE.JPG
Image 4: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Separation_of_Powers.jpg
Image 5: https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/14848/production/_94004048_us_president_checks_balances_ v02_624in.png