The Three Branches of Government

THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT There are three branches of government in the United States. The executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The executive branch holds the offices of the President and its executive and inferior officers for most federal agencies. The legislative branch holds the offices of Congress and House of Senate and Representatives and the state legislatures, which are typically bicameral. The judicial branch holds the federal courts, which include Article III, the Supreme Courts, the Appeals Courts, the Trial Courts, and the State Courts, which include the highest courts, the intermediate appeal, and trial courts. When the three branches were established, there was a checks and balances put into place to provide accountability to each of the branches and the people. It also was put into place to prevent tyranny and the usurpation of state sovereignty. In the executive branch, Congress makes the laws, while the president has the authority to veto legislation. Congress also has the authority to override any veto by the president with a 2/3 majority vote. Congress enacts the laws, but the president enforces the laws. The president conducts foreign affairs and negotiates treaties, while Congress usually must ratify treaties. The president is commander-in-chief of the military, but Congress also has authority over the military and usually makes the rules that regulate military and is responsible for declaring war. The president delegates authority to nominate federal judges and other government officers and the Senate approves the nomination. Congress holds authority over impeachment proceedings. The judiciary branch also checks the president's actions for constitutionality. For judiciary judges, the president nominates them which are approved by the Senate. Congress has the authority to remove cases where appellate jurisdiction in the Supreme Court and limits the lower courts. Because the lower courts are inferior to the Supreme Court that were created by Congress, they can be abolished by Congress. The States and Congress (or the people) can check for constitutional pronouncements of court through the amendment process. The House of Representatives are elected by the people and the Senators by state legislatures. Later, in the Seventeenth Amendment (1913), both houses were changed to be selected by direct election. The president is elected by electoral college -- or a small group of people who are chosen at the state level nationwide. Federal judges are nominated by the president and approved by the Senate, as well as federal officials such as diplomats and cabinet officials. The three branches of government are executive, legislative, and judicial. Checks and balances and separation of powers were put into place to check each branch of government. This keeps each government official from the president to the judges to be held in accountability.