1.1 What are the three branches of the US national government?

The L’egislative - in the US Capitol - Congress (the House of Representatives & the Senate)

The Ex’ecutive - in the white house:

• The President

• The Vice President

• Departments: 15 Department heads (Cabinet members) advise the President on issues and help carry out policies.

• Independent Agencies (50-60): Help carry out policy or provide special services.

The Judicial - in the Supreme Court - the Supreme Court; branch is made up of the court system, The Supreme Court - of nine Justices (incl. Chief Justice) appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.

1.2 What are the functions of every branch?

The Legislative

Congress:

• enact legislation

• declare war

• the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments

• Substantial investigative powers

• Override Presidential Vetoes

• Approve Vice-Presidency appointments

• Ratify Foreign-trade treaties

the House

• initiate revenue (tax) bills (start laws that make people pay taxes),

• impeach federal officials,

• elect the President in the case of an Electoral College tie.

The Senate

• confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent

• ratify treaties.

• tries impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House.

The Executive

The executive branch of Government makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed.

The President:

• preside over the administration of government

• Approves/ vetoes the bills that Congress enacts

• serves as Commander In Chief of all United States military forces

The vice president:

• is a member of the Cabinet,

• serves as president in the event that the president is unable to do so for any reason or if the president steps down.

• presides over the Senate and can cast a deciding vote in the event of a tie.

Departments:

• advise the President on issues and help carry out policies

Independent Agencies:

• Help carry out policy or provide special services.

The Judicial

• interpret and expound all congressional enactments

• examine federal and state statutes and executive actions to determine whether they conform to the U.S. Constitution

• is intended to guide legislatures and executive authority; thereby they mold the development of law

1.3 Could you explain the term “system of Checks and Balances”?

The three branches are not independent of one another because the Constitution set up a system of checks and balances to help ensure that no one branch became too powerful.

Checks and Balances of the Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is given the powers to make the laws. It has the following checks over the Executive Branch:

• May override presidential vetoes with a two-thirds vote

• Has the power over the purse strings to actually fund any executive actions

• May remove the president through impeachment

• Senate approves treaties

• Senate approves presidential appointments

The Legislative Branch has the following checks over the Judicial Branch:

• Creates lower courts

• May remove judges through impeachment

• Senate approves appointments of judges

Checks and Balances of the Executive Branch

The Executive Branch is given the power to carry out the laws. It has the following checks over the Legislative Branch:

• Veto power

• Ability to call special sessions of Congress

• Can recommend legislation

• Can appeal to the people concerning legislation and more

The Executive Branch has the following checks over the Judicial Branch:

• President appoints Supreme Court and other federal judges

Checks and Balances of the Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch is given the power to interpret the laws. It has the following checks over the Executive Branch:

• Judges, once appointed for life, are free from controls from the executive branch

• Courts can judge executive actions to be unconstitutional through the power of judicial review

The Judicial Branch has the following checks over the Legislative Branch:

• Courts can judge legislative acts to be unconstitutional.

Even though there have been times when one branch has risen preeminent, overall the three branches have achieved a workable balance with no one branch holding all the governmental power.