Francia Rajkoummale

Mr. Ring
11 December 2014
US Government

There are three branches of government that play a big part in our nations government.
All three branches have a certain power meant for them but in order for a branch not to gain too
much power over the other each branch checks each other in some way. They were put into our
government as three branches because the states wanted a strong and fair government but that
could also protect individual freedoms. Therefore the legislative branch, executive branch and
judicial branch were established.
One of the three branches of government is the legislative branch it is run by the
House Leader and the Senate Leader. The speaker of the house is who runs the House Leader
and the Vice President runs the Senate. The legislative branch has many powers one out of the
many powers the legislative has is the power of taxation. This allows the legislative to collect
taxes and spend money raised by taxes. They have this power because they provide for the
nations general offense and welfare. A real life example of taxation is the military spending for
the war in the Middle East. The power to borrowing money allows the legislative branch to craft
the federal governments budgeting so that it provides for expenses such as military related ones
that the budget cannot cover. They control this power because they control the military. An
example of our government exercising this power is that the US owes 11.3 billion to China for

borrowing money. The legislative has the power to regulate commerce. This allows them to pass
laws that involve business, selling and the transport of goods. Also it allows them to regulate
commerce with foreign nations. They can do this because theyre the branch who makes laws.
An example of that is in 2005 the Supreme Court 5-4 vote that the state laws are not allowed out
of state wiring. The power to obtain citizenship and grant someones citizenship is naturalization.
Legislative has this power because its in the constitution, section 8, clause 4. Any person not
born in the US and getting their citizenship is an example of naturalization. Bankruptcy is the
stat being unable to pay ones debt and this allows the legislative to make laws that help that. An
example of bankruptcy is Circuit City going bankrupt.
The power to coin money is to make it into currency that works property throughout the
US. The legislative branch has control of this because it includes treasury. An example of
coining money is any and all printing of money. Weights and measures is the power to make
fairness of buyers and sellers of other market. This allows the legislative branch to boost
consumer confidence, enables US business to compete fairly at home and strengthens US
economy. They have control of this because its written in the constitution article 1, section 8.
An example of weights and measures is the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Post offices allow
the legislative to establish post offices and build roads that connect them. This is written in the
constitution under the Postal clause in artical1, section 8, clause 7. An example of post office is
all the post office is the creation of US post office. Patents and copyrights is the power to set up
patents and copyrights. This allows them to grant creative people exclusive right to sell their
creations. An example of this power being enforced is Sony is copyrighted. The legislative has
the power to declare war. This allows the legislative to go to war with any country that poses a
threat to the US. An example of the congress declaring war is the war in the Middle East. The

legislative has the power to raise an Army and Navy. This allows them to maintain an Army as
well as a Navy.
The other branch of government is the executive branch; the person in charge of
the executive branch is the president of the United States. The executive branch has many
powers too for an example the power of Pardons allows the executive to grant pardons of
offenses against the US an example of the executive granting pardons is on December 23, 2008,
George W. Bush granted 19 pardons. By signing treaties this gives the chance of peace and
bargaining. This allows the executive to resolve conflict with other countries. They have this
power because the President has the power to say he wants to go to war and the power to end it.
An example of the executive enforcing this power is the Council of Europe treaty to fight match
fixing in sports. Ambassadors are the highest ranking person who represents a state that is
usually recognized to another sovereign state. This allows the executive to have different forms
of representation. An example of an US Ambassador is James B. Cunningham for Afghanistan.
The Supreme Court Justice discusses any cases that the judicial branch recommends. This allows
the executive to bring justice to the people. An example of this power being taken place is the
Trayvon Martin case. Sessions put together by the president, getting together with the US
congress is usually every year is called the State of the Union. This allows the president to
outline their legislative agenda and their nations priorities. They have this power because the
president is the head of the government. An example of this is Obama delivered the 2011 State if
the Union Address.
The third branch of government is the judicial branch and the Supreme Court is in
charge of this branch. They also have many powers too just like the legislative and the executive.
One of the many is the power to Judicial Review. This is the power to be reviewed by the US

Supreme Court is something is constitutional to a legislative act. This allows the judicial to undo
governments laws and decisions that are mismatched with higher authority. They have the
power to do this because the check the congress law if it violates the Constitution. An example of
this is the Miranda Rule which the court ruled that the suspects must be read their rights before
questions. An Issue between states is the power to settle arguments between states. This allows
the judicial to resolve any inside conflict in the US. An example of this power is the Johnson vs
Cali in 2008. The judicial branch has the power to declare punishment if someone is convicted of
treason. To commit a crime such as treason someone must betray ones country, which in this
case is the US. This allows them to punish those who betray US. An example of this is Robert
Henry being accused of treason.
The checks and balances is a system where each branch checks one another so no branch
gains too much power and the government system wont turn into a tyrant government. The
legislative branch checks the executive by the congress can override a veto with a two thirds vote
of both houses. Congress has to approve who the president appoints for judge for the judicial
branch. They have the power to impeach the president if they feel the president has taken actions
that were unconstitutional. Also they approve any treaty the president wants to sign. The
legislative checks the judicial branch by having the power to set up jurisdiction of courts. They
also can also adjust the size of the Supreme Court. The legislative isnt the only branch that can
put another branch in check the executive also has the power to check both branches. The
president can veto a law passed by congress. Also the Vice President is the head leader of the
Senate. The executive has the final say when both houses in the legislative cannot agree. The
president is also the Commander in Chief of the military. One way the executive checks the
judicial branch is the president appoints the members of the Supreme Court. Another way is the

executive can grant pardons for someone being trialed by the Supreme Court. The judicial is next
when it comes to checking the two other branches. Some ways the judicial checks the executive
is they can judge executive actions to be unconstitutional. They also have the power to judicial
review. The Chief Justice sits as the President of the Senate during presidential impeachment.
And last but not least the judicial checks the legislative by the Supreme Court can declare war
being unconstitutional. They can also do a Judicial Review on the legislative branch also.
All these three branches are very significant to our nations government. Also they help
our government function properly and efficiently.