Three Branches of Government (United States)

The three branches of government in the United States are the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. When the Founding Fathers wrote the US Constitution, they wanted to make sure that one person or group did not control all the power in the country. They developed the three-branch system to ensure separation of powers, the central element of a series of checks and balances on government power. The legislative branch creates laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch makes sure that laws are in accordance with the US Constitution. The legislative branch is composed of the members of Congress, which includes senators and representatives. The president and vice president of the United States and their cabinet members make up the executive branch. The justices on the Supreme Court and other federal courts form the judicial branch.

Background

When immigrants from Europe first settled on the eastern shores of North America in the 1600s, they formed thirteen communities that became known as colonies. The thirteen colonies remained under the rule of the British king until they eventually fought and won their independence and the right to self-govern. This fight, known as the American Revolution or the Revolutionary War, lasted from 1775 to 1783.

After gaining their independence from Great Britain, the early leaders of the United States had to decide how they wanted their new government to work. They based their first government on a document called the Articles of Confederation, which gave states greater power than the national government. Most of the limited power in the national government belonged to the Congress of the Confederation, which included leaders from each state. This early congress had little real power and was only able to choose the president, who also did not hold much power except to organize meetings of the congress. This limited national government could not even collect taxes, with states instead agreeing to give money to the Congress of the Confederation. The problem was that states often paid late or did not pay at all, and without money, the national government was not very effective.

Realizing that the government needed work, James Madison, a Virginian, suggested sending delegates to Philadelphia, which was the nation's capital at the time, to make changes to the Articles. The meeting, which became known as the Philadelphia Convention, took place in May 1787. By fall of that year, delegates had agreed on a plan to give the country a stronger national government and wrote out that plan in the Constitution. The new form of government introduced the three-branch system and a series of checks and balances so that no single branch could have all the power.

Overview

The legislative, executive, and judicial branches make up the three branches of the US government. Each branch has its own set of powers and duties and—through a series of checks and balances—can ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful. The duties of these branches are primarily carried out in the nation's capital, Washington, DC.

Congress makes up the legislative branch and is divided into two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 100 members, with two senators coming from each of the fifty states. The House of Representatives includes 435 members, which are divided among the fifty states based on population. Voters in each state elect both their senators and representatives. Senators serve a six-year term, while representatives serve a two-year term. Both senators and representatives can serve an unlimited number of terms. Congress's primary duty, which is carried out in the Capitol Building, is to create the nation's laws. Bills are suggested, debated, and eventually put to a vote in Congress before being sent to the president, who can veto them or sign them into law. Congress is responsible for confirming presidential cabinet or Supreme Court justice nominees, and it has the authority to declare war.

The executive branch includes the president, vice president, and cabinet members along with various other executive departments, independent agencies, and committees. The main duties of the executive branch are to carry out and enforce laws. This branch of government is primarily headquartered at the White House, which is where the president lives. In addition to carrying out and enforcing laws, the president is tasked with leading the country. The president is considered the head of state, the leader of the federal government, and the commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces. Presidents are elected to a four-year term and can serve no more than two terms. The vice president supports the president, and if at any time the president is unable to serve, the vice president becomes president. A vice president can be elected and serve an unlimited number of four-year terms, even under a different president. Cabinet members, including the vice president and the heads of executive departments, serve as advisors to the president. They are nominated by the president and must be approved by a majority of the Senate.

The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts. Federal courts interpret the meanings of laws, applying them to individual cases and deciding whether they violate the Constitution. The Supreme Court, which carries out its duties in the Supreme Court building, is the highest court in the nation. It is composed of nine justices, including a chief justice and eight associate justices, who are nominated by the president and approved by the Senate. Justices have no fixed term and can serve until their death, retirement, or removal in exceptional circumstances. The reason justices serve for life is to offer the court some stability and to prevent justices from feeling fearful of losing their position if they decide a case in a manner that opposes the wishes of Congress or the president.

Bibliography

"Branches of the US Government." USA.gov, 20 Sept. 2024, www.usa.gov/branches-of-government. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Giesecke, Ernestine. National Government. Heinemann-Raintree Library, 2009.

Hamilton, John. Branches of Government. ABDO, 2010.

Johnson, Etta. The United States Government. Benchmark Education, 2005.

Kowalski, Kathiann M. Checks and Balances: A Look at the Powers of Government. Lerner, 2012.

"Three Branches of Government." Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/teacher‗lessons/3branches/1.htm. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.