Raynesha Garrett

ASSIGNMENT # 4

Executive Branch
Executive Branch mean means the branch of government charged with the execution and enforcement of laws and policies and the adminstritation of public affairs. The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.

Executive Branch
The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Duties and Powers of the Executive Branch

Head of government The president of the United States is responsible for overseeing the bureaucracy of the government, as well as the execution and enforcement of the laws created by the legislative branch, or Congress. The president's appointed cabinet members oversee the day-today operations of separate departments, such as the Department of State or the Department of Agriculture. The executive also has the power to sign legislation into law and veto bills by Congress, which Congress can override with a two-thirds majority vote. This all similarly applies to state and local governments.

Head of state The president also serves as the figurative head of state, whereas in other democracies, the head of state is a separate person or entity. For example, in the United Kingdom, the prime minister is the chief executive, while the patriarch or matriarch of the monarchy---the queen or the king---is the head of state. The role of head of state is largely symbolic, and French president Charles de Gaulle once described it as the "spirit of the nation." At the state or local levels, this role may not be as pronounced as it is on the national level

Chief diplomat The president acts as a diplomatic figure on behalf of the nation and can engage in diplomatic endeavors like negotiating and signing treaties. However, these acts are subject to the approval of the Senate and must be ratified by two-thirds of the legislative body. This executive duty does not necessarily translate to state and local systems.

Granting pardons The president can also issue pardons, or clemencies, and has an unlimited power to do so except in the case of impeachment. Commander in chief As the commander in chief, the president commands the nation's armed forces and determines military policy. Vice president The vice president is also a part of the executive branch and serves as the president of the senate. The vice president also must be ready to assume the presidency in the event that the executive is unable to fulfill presidential duties.

Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch is the branch of government charged with the interpretation of laws and the administration of justice; the judiciary.

Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch is responsible for the federal court system. The primary responsibility of the judicial branch is to interpret and apply the laws, and ensure their constitutionality.

Major Duties of the Judicial Branch

Major Duties Interpreting federal laws Interpreting the US Constitution Resolving legal disputes Trying criminal and civil cases Determining guilt or innocence, degree of culpability, etc. Imposing sentences and other legal punishment Protecting individual constitutional rights Considering writs, motions and other legal actions Managing the docket and judicial caseload Checking the power of the Legislative and Executive branches

Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is the law making branch of government made up of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and agencies that support Congress.

Legislative Branch
Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

Powers and Duties of the Legislative Branch

Creation of Law The legislative branch is responsible for the creation of bills and the subsequent passing of them into national law, making it the only branch of the government capable of making new laws and changing existing ones. Bills originate in congress and proceed to the President upon passage. In the event that the President vetoes a bill, congress can still enact the bill to law with a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives and Senate. Federal Spending The legislative branch is responsible for the control of federal finances. Congress creates a federal budget each fiscal year, outlining the allocation of funds and the management of government spending. Taxation and tariffs are regulated by congress as well as the authority to borrow funding when necessary. Congress also holds the power to designate funds for specific legislatively-directed projects outside of government agencies, a practice known as "earmarking." Military Maintenance The legislative branch of the Federal Government is responsible for the creation and maintenance of a military for the United States. Whereas the President holds the position as commander-in-chief of the military, congress retains the sole power to declare war. This power over the military aids in the checks and balances system of the United States government, preventing one branch from holding too much military control. Federal Investigation The legislative branch's power of investigation allows congress to hold hearings and committee investigations when deemed necessary in order to determine the necessity of new laws or raise awareness on certain issues. These hearings and committees are headed by members of congress and have the power to compel testimony and evidence however deemed necessary. Oversight of Executive Branch The legislative branch plays an important role in maintaining a balance in the Federal Government. A primary function of congress is the oversight of the President's powers in the executive branch of government. Through the use of congressional hearings and the Government Accountability Office, the legislative branch makes determinations as to when government operations need to be reformed, determines whether executive power is being enacted properly, and monitors federal spending.