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Project #3

Introduction

What are the 3 branches of government? Most of us have some knowledge of the branches of

government because of the importance it holds in the American system. The reason the

legislative, executive, and judicial branches were put in place by the founding fathers to prevent

one person from getting complete control. The Enlightenment philosopher Montesquieu was the

first to create and name the 3 branches of government as well as the positions of power and jobs

associated with each branch. Knowing the parts and interworking of each branch will help

illustrate the power dynamics between the branch members and the branches themselves.

Legislative branch

The legislative branch is made of the House and Senate, or Congress, and 8 other organizations.

The legislative branch can make laws, declare war, does most of the communication with

foreign powers and policies, and controls taxing and spending policies for the country. And while

that seems like the ball is their court and they seem to have the opportunities to make a lot of

change what makes the branch system so effective is the checks and balances between the

branches. While the legislative branch can make a law but the president (the executive branch)

can veto the law and prevent it from being passed. The legislative branch however could use the

power they have to approve presidential nominations and could even impeach the president

kicking him or her out of office. These checks and balances are crucial for a fair system where
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ideally not one single person or political group can get full control of the government and

country.

Executive branch

The executive branch consists of most famously the President, his or her advisors, and 6 other

departments and agencies. This branch runs the federal government and enforces the laws. The

president is a very important job in its self being voted in by the people of the country and is

considered the face of America in most cases. This branch can put things in motion but in order

for anything to be passed permission has been giving by the other branches. This makes the

president’s position seem a lot less glamorous and powerful but this way things are kept fair and

always keep the best interest of the country and its people first by preventing any one person

from being able to make world-changing decisions.

Judicial branch

The judicial branch consists of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Federal Judicial Center, they

interpret and review the laws of the nation, and hold the people who broke them responsible after

being tried by a judge of law and a jury. The members and the judges in this branch are different

compared to the other 2 branches all judges in the supreme court are picked upon by the

executive branch, so the president can use this to their advantage when it comes to choosing
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people with similar opinions on laws, but congress does have the power to replace and impeach

judges.

Checks and balances

What makes the 3 branches work and really function for our country is the way each branch

has its abilities and powers but the other 2 branches can prevent or change anything they may

need as long as the majority can agree to do so. These checks and balances are crucial to making

it nearly impossible to take complete control over the government or one person being able to

make bad changes or decisions for the country. This protects the best it can from a potential

abuse of power.

Conclusion

Each branch of government has its own jobs and abilities as well as power, and while it could

seem possible for one branch or person to be able to have the majority of power the checks and

balances created by each branch levels the playing field and makes the abuse of power way more

difficult to accomplish.

Works citied

● Davis, Katy. “Checks and Balances.” Ben’s Guide, 2018,

bensguide.gpo.gov/j-check-balance#:%7E:text=That%20was%20an%20important

%20decision,created%20a%20separation%20of%20powers.
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● “The Requested Page Could Not Be Found | House.Gov.” House.Gov, 2015,

www.house.gov/the-house-explained/branches-of-government.

● “Judicial Branch | Harry S. Truman.” Trumanlibrary.Gov, 2016,

www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/three-branches/judicial-branch.

● The White House. “Our Government.” The White House, 19 Jan. 2021,

www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government.

● “Branches of the U.S. Government | USAGov.” Usa.Gov,

www.usa.gov/branches-of-government. Accessed 12 Feb. 2021.