Overview
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT--AN OVERVIEW
Each of the three branches of the federal government
-- the executive, the legislative and the judicial -- has
powers granted to it by the Constitution which empower
each to impose checks and balances on the others. The
area now known as Washington, D.C. was selected as the
location of the nation's Capital in 1790 and the
government took up residence there in 1800.
EXECUTIVE
BRANCH
The executive branch of the U.S. government includes
the president and vice president, the executive office of
the president, the executive departments and various
agencies, commissions and corporations. The president of
the United States is the nation's chief executive and
chief of state. As chief executive, the president
enforces federal laws and appoints high federal officials
and U.S. diplomats who serve at the president's pleasure.
The president commands the armed forces and conducts
foreign affairs. The president may recommend legislation
to the Congress, signs into law or vetoes legislation
passed by both houses of the Congress and may call
Congress into special session.
The vice president of the United States becomes
president if the president dies, resigns or is removed
from office, and becomes acting president if the
president is unable to perform the duties of the office.
The only official duty the Constitution grants the vice
president is that of presiding officer of the Senate
where he/she casts tie-breaking votes.
The executive office of the president includes the
Office of Management and Budget (which has the power to
direct and coordinate department and agency budgets),
Council of Economic Advisers, National Security Council,
National Economic Council, Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative, Office of Administration, Office of
Science and Technology Policy, Council on Environmental
Quality and the Office of the Vice President.
The executive departments are the administrative arm
of the national government. These 14 departments are
Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health
and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development,
Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation,
Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. The department heads
(secretaries), appointed by the president and confirmed
by the Senate, become the Cabinet and serve at the
pleasure of the president. The president may grant other
officials cabinet status.
PRESIDENT
& VICE PRESIDENT
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
The two Houses of Congress -- the Senate and the House
of Representatives -- meet in separate chambers in the
Capitol in Washington, D.C. There are 100 members of the
Senate, two from each state. The House of Representatives
consists of 435 seats with each state's portion
determined by the federal census every ten years.
Representatives serve terms of two years, all 435 members
being elected in even numbered years. Senators' terms are
six years with one third being elected every even
numbered year.
Congress writes federal laws and has the power to
investigate matters of public concern and monitor federal
agencies and programs. It declares war, regulates
interstate and foreign commerce, sets federal taxes and
coins money. Only the House can initiate tax legislation
and bring a charge of impeachment. The Senate must
approve federal appointments, treaties and sits as a
court of impeachment.
Each body elects its own leadership: majority and
minority leaders, party whips and conference chairmen.
Although the vice president is the President of the
Senate, the Senate Majority Leader is the most powerful
member of the Senate. In the House of Representatives,
the Speaker is the most powerful individual and is second
in line to become president. The work of the Senate and
House is conducted in committees or subcommittees. Both
the Senate and House of Representatives depend on large
support staff for both the committee structure and for
the offices of the elected officials.
NEW
JERSEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, 2000
JUDICIAL
BRANCH
The judicial branch of the federal government consists
of the Supreme Court, Federal Courts of Appeals, Federal
District Courts and several specialized courts (United
States Claims Court, Court of International Trade and Tax
Court of the United States). Federal courts handle both
criminal and civil cases involving the Constitution or
federal laws, cases in which the U.S. government is one
of the parties, cases between individuals or groups from
different states and cases involving other countries or
their citizens. District Courts are the federal courts of
original jurisdiction. Courts of Appeals try federal
cases on appeal from District Courts and review decisions
made by some federal agencies.
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest
court in the nation. It has original jurisdiction in
cases affecting ministers of foreign states and in cases
in which a state is a party. It has appellate
jurisdiction -- authority to review the decisions of
lower federal courts -- when a law of the United States
has been held invalid by a state court or when one of the
parties claims denial of a right under the federal
Constitution.
Members of the SUPREME
COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
