THREE BRANCHES US GOVERNMENT

The U.S. government was created in three branches, the executive, the judicial and legislative. The government felt that this division of power would check and balance them. The legislative branch or the law-making body of government is broken up in power between the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The executive branch, headed by the president of the United States takes care of most of the decision-making needed in passing laws, and policies. The judicial branch, determines what is legal and what laws are unconstitutional. According to document four, the president also has the power to veto laws in which the Congress makes, making them void. However, if large percentage of Congress still wants the law passed after the president vetoes the law, then they can overrule his choice. The congress also has the power to impeach the president if they believe he is not fit for the job. The president can check on the Supreme Court by electing judges. However, congress can impeach these judges if they feel that they are not fulfilling their jobs. Through this system of checks and balances, no branch of government can become too powerful. This system is called the "checks and balances."

The judicial branch is the branch of the United States government responsible for the administration of justice. As shown in document two, the power of the judicial branch is balanced by the fact that the president appoints members of the Supreme Court. Also according to document two, those appointments have to be approved by Congress; Congress can also impeach court Judges. The legislative branch is able to change the size and the number of court justices in the federal court. If the legislative houses felt it was needed, they could make changes to the constitution. Since the Judicial systems' backbone is the United States Constitution, any change would be a change to the whole judicial branch. The Executive Branch has pardoned people who have been convicted by the federal courts. Since it is the job of the executive branch to enforce the law of the land, it may refuse to enforce the courts ruling.

The Legislative branch is where the laws are made. According to document four, in order for the law to come into effect it must be ratified and signed by the President. The Executive branch can veto the laws passed by congress by either the outright public veto or the President can pocket veto. A bill must be ratified before congress adjourns for holidays. A pocket veto is where the President merely sits on a bill, and since it is not signed in its allotted time period it doesn't become law. The executive is able to call congress in to special sessions for specific reasons. The executive branches' job is to carry out the law and therefore is able to interpret the laws. If there is a tie in the senate, the president will cast the tie-breaking vote. According to document three, the Judicial branch reviews all the laws that are made by congress. They make sure all the laws don't conflict with the constitution. During impeachment proceedings, the Chief Justice resides over the hearings.

The Executive may seem to head the country but it must answer to the other two branches. The Judicial keeps watch to make sure all the Executive actions are constitutional. If they are not constitutional the Judicial branch can issue warrants and the Chief Justice will preside over an impeachment trial. As shown in document one, the Legislative branch is responsible for the investigations into the Executive actions and is able to impeach or remove the President from office. They also decide which nominations may run for the President's office. The President can make suggestion for funding, ratify treaties and draft new laws to be passed, however the congress can reject any of these actions.

Even though it seems the President is the leader of the country, s/he is not all-powerful and is accountable to the people by the use of checks and balances. Without this system of government, one person could amass all the power. The three branches create a dynamic system of government.