Separation of Powers

The three branches of the government include - Judicial, Legislative, and Executive. These are the areas of government where the power is separated and designated differently to each branch. This is to make sure that no one branch is more powerfully than another. This system is called checks and balances. This allows each branch to allow and restrict one another.

The Judicial branch is the Supreme Court. They are the branch interprets laws, exercises judicial review by reviewing constitutionality of laws determines how Congress meant laws to apply to disputes, reviews laws, decides cases involving states' rights, determines which laws Congress intended to apply to each case, and all federal judges serve for life.

The Executive branch is the President. The President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He also executes the instructions of Congress. He may veto bills passed by Congress but they can override the veto by a 2/3 majority vote of both houses. He declares states of emergencies and executive orders. He makes executive agreements and signs treaties. He also has the power to grant pardons for offenses against the United States. He also deals with international powers and directs national defense and foreign policy.

And finally, my favorite branch, the Legislative branch which is Congress. Congress is the House of Representatives and Senate. They pass bills and make laws, ratify treaties signed by the President, have the power of impeachment, have power to declare war, and have what is called the power of the purse because they control the budget and have the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States.

Because all of the branches are designated different jobs and authorities in situations this allows for not one branch to become more powerful than another (like what checks and balances was trying to accomplish). Each branch plays an important role in our government and without one another the system would not work.