The American Government - Homework Assaignment

There are three branches of the US Government. You have the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and Judaical Branch. We have these three branches so that our government doesn't get too strong and powerful. The branches of the government use a check and balance system to make sure that each branch is doing everything right. Below I'm going to explain the different branches, who's in charge, and their power within the check and balance system.

The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch is the branch which holds the President, Vice President, and the President's Cabinate. The Executive Branch is in charge of enforcing the laws of America.

The president currently is Barak Obama, he was elected November 2008 and took office January 20th, 2009.

The Vice President is Joe Biden.

The cabinate of the President is the vice president and fifteen executive department heads.

These fifteen departments and heads are:

-Department of Defense, Secretary Robert M. Gates

-Department of Justice, Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.

-Department of State, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton

-Department of the Treasury, Secretary Timothy F. Geithner

-Department of the Interior, Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar

-Department of Agriculture, Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack

-Department of Commerce, Secretary Gary F. Locke

-Department of Labor, Secretary Hilda L. Solis

-Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

-Department of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan

-Department of Transportation, Secretary Ray LaHood

-Department of Energy, Secretary Steven Chu

-Department of Education, Secretary Arne Duncan

-Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary Eric K. Shinseki

-Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Janet A. Napolitano

Checks and Balance of the Executive Branch

-Can veto laws

-Can call special sessions of Congress

-Can send messages to Congress

-Leader of his party

-Can nominate judges

-Can grant reprieves or pardons for Federal offenses

The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is the branch that holds our House of Representatives and House of Senate. These two houses also make up Congress. The House of Representatives is controlled by the Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader, while the Senate is controlled by the President of the Senate, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader.

The House of Representative

Speaker of the House is currently Nancy Pelosi, but since the House of Representatives is now controlled by the Republicans speculation thinks that John Boehner, currently the House Minority Leader, will become the Speaker of the House.

Majority Leader of the House is currently Steny Hoyer, but since the House is now controlled by the Republicans the new House Majority Leader is going to be Kirk Cox.

Minority Leader of the House is currently John Boehner, but the new House Minority Leader is speculated to be Nancy Pelosi.

The House of the Senate

President of the House is Vice President Joe Bieden

Majority Leader of the Senate was and will be Harry Reid.

Minority Leader of the House was and will be Mitch McConnell

Checks and Balance of the Legislative Branch

-Can override veto by two-thirds vote

-Can impeach officials

-Controls appropriations

-Can reorganize executive department

-Senate approves treaties

-Senate confirms appointments

-Can impeach judges

-Senate approves appointments

-Can increase or decrease number of judges

-Can regulate the jurisdiction of courts

The Judicial Branch

The Judical Branch is the branch that houses the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in America, it is run by one cheif justice and eight associate justices. Justices are appointed by the president of the United States of America and then are voted in by the Senate. Justice Elena Kagan is the 112th justice.

Checks and Balances of the Judicial Branch

-Can interpret laws

-Can interpret treaties

-Can decide on constitutionality of laws

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, 2005 - present, appointed by George W. Bush

Justice Antonin Scalia, 1968 - present, appointed by Ronald Regan

Justice Anthony Kennedy, 1988 - present, appointed by Ronald Regan

Justice Clarence Thompson, 1991 - present, appointed by George H. W. Bush

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 1993 - present, appointed by Bill Clinton

Justice Stephen Breyer, 1994 - present, appointed by Bill Clinton

Justice Samuel Alito, 2006 - present, appointed by George W. Bush

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 2009 - present, appointed by Barack Obama

Justice Elena Kagan, 2010 - present, appointed by Barack Obama