U.S. Government 101

How It Works

The U.S. Government is divided into three branches with a system of checks and balances in place in order to ensure that no one group become too powerful. The three branches are the legislative, judicial and executive (click here for a detailed diagram).

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is made up of Congress and the agencies which provide support services to Congress. Congress is then divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress is charged with “all legislative powers” in the national government. Powers include setting federal taxing and spending policies, coining money, maintaining a military, declaring war, regulating interstate and foreign commerce, investigating and overseeing the executive branch and its agencies and holding hearings on matters of public concern. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper.”

There are 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 members of the Senate. Each House member represents an area in a state, known as a congressional district. The number of congressional districts in each state is based upon each state’s U.S. Census population counts. Representatives are elected for two-year terms. Each state has two Senators elected for six-year terms. A third of the senate seats are up for re-election every two years.

Executive Branch

The Executive branch consists of the President, Vice President, Departments and Independent Agencies. Its responsibility is to enforce the laws. The President is the Head of the Executive Branch and has the following powers:

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
Make treaties, with two-thirds consent of the Senate
Receive ambassadors and other public ministers from foreign countries
Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, federal judges, with the approval of the Senate
Recommend legislation to Congress
Convene Congress on extraordinary occasions
Adjourn Congress in cases of disagreement about adjournment
“Take care that the laws be faithfully executed”
Fill in administrative vacancies during Congressional recesses
Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the U.S.

The President cannot write legislation, he can only recommend it. However, when Congress passes a bill, they send it to the White House. The President can sign the bill into law, veto the bill or do nothing. If the President vetoes the bill, it is returned to Congress who can override the veto but only with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. If the President chooses to do nothing, if Congress is in session ten business days after the President receives the bill, the legislation will become law. If Congress adjourns within the ten business days, the bill dies (known as a pocket veto).

Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch is made of the Supreme Court and lower Federal courts. The courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applies, and whether they violate the Constitution.

History

Policy Update

Links

U.S. Government Manual

Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids

References

Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids. U.S. Government Printing Office. Available at: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/index.html. Accessed Oct. 17, 2007.