U.S. Government: Executive and Legislative Branches

• The US government consists of three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

The Executive Branch

• Led by the President.
• Responsible for implementing, enforcing, and administering laws.
• Deals with the daily administration of the state.
• Includes the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet.
• The President acts as both the head of state and commander-in-chief.
• Enforces laws passed by the Legislative branch.
• Establishes policies and negotiates treaties.
• Appoints federal officials, represents the nation in diplomatic matters, and can veto bills.
• Holds the power to sign or veto legislation.
• Commands the military, and grants pardons.
• Checks and balances from the legislative and judicial branches prevent the President from becoming too powerful.

The Legislative Branch

• Also known as Congress.
• Divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• Makes laws, appropriates funds, and has the power to declare war.
• Congress's role is primarily to make laws, and they debate and pass bills.
• Controls federal spending.
• Specific powers include levying taxes, regulating commerce, coining money, and establishing post offices.
• Powers are stated in Article I of the Constitution.
• Checks the Executive and Judiciary branches through oversight and impeachment.
• Can override presidential vetoes and confirm or reject presidential appointments and treaties.

The Judicial Branch

• Made up of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
• Interprets the Constitution and other laws.
• Reviews lower-court decisions, and determines the constitutionality of laws.
• Headed by the Supreme Court.
• Its main function is to interpret laws and the Constitution.
• Role is to ensure the law's constitutionality, having final jurisdiction on cases with constitutional implications.
• Establishes legal precedents.
• Can declare laws unconstitutional, which is known as judicial review.
• Judicial review is a fundamental check on the other branches.
• Checks the Legislative and Executive branches by evaluating the constitutionality of their actions.

Checks and Balances

• Ensures a balance of power.
• The Judicial branch (primarily the Supreme Court) is the final arbiter of the constitutionality of federal laws.
• Through judicial review, the Judicial branch can invalidate laws and executive actions that violate the constitution.
• The Legislative branch can create law and the Executive branch can implement/enforce it.
• The President (Executive) can veto bills from Congress (Legislative).
• Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
• Congress has the power to impeach and remove the President.