Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Which branch of the US government is most powerful?

Answer the question above in a detailed response. Provide evidence such as historical examples and current events to support your answer. Cite any outside sources you use for this assignment. 

Minimum 250 words. Due Thursday, September 11.

11 comments:

Pretty Pixie said...

anthony fontana
Block C
¬
The Legislative branch is by far the most powerful branch of government. Almost every action by the other two branches can be overridden in the Senate and/or the House of Representatives. Like a veto from the president can be over turned by a three-thirds vote in Congress, or the president cannot declare war with out the Congress. The president can even be impeached and removed from office by the Congress. The Congress decides on how much tax we pay everyday, which wars we will be in. Any additional power given to the Executive branch of government is given by the Legislative branch. For example, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 gave the president to declare just about anyone an illegal enemy combatant. Congress voted this act on. Declaring war on Iraq was requested by the president, but the Congress decided to give George Bush the “green-light”. Every law is put through Congress and without the Congress’s consent the president is powerless. The President can call for a special meeting of congress to discuss certain matters, issues, and maybe have a bill passed. The Congress practically runs the country. The president is pretty much just the face of the country and influences congress, and signs pardons.

miss america said...

kimba gangemi

Technically speaking, no branch of the United States government holds more power over another. Thereupon, checks and balances would hold no purpose, which was designed to curb any branch from becoming more predominant over another branch. However, when it boils down to the decision, I believe the Legislative Branch takes the cake. This branch holds the power to create and amend the laws which we follow! Furthermore, the Legislature has power over taxes, and America's money/budget. Any decision made by the President has to go through this branch to get a final approval. Also, the Legislative Branch maintains military, declares war, and regulates interstate/foriegn commerce. Above all, the Legislative Branch has the power to dismiss dwellers from the two other branches, basically giving the branch the power to king a pawn or knight... With this is mind, the Executive Branch would probably be my runner up. This branch is responsible for enforcing the laws, and doing work on America on a daily basis. Lastly, the Judicial Branch doesn't come into action, unless the action is brought to them. In consumption, the Legislative Branch bakes,serves ,and eats the cake- unless George W. gets his hands on it...
<3

missy! said...

Melissa Coughlin

The legislative branch definately has the most power. Though the executive branch is the one most people believe has the most power, because we pick the president and he/she promises things to the nation that the executive branch cannot do without the help of the legislative branch. The legislative branch is defined as, "The legislative branch of the federal government consists of the Congress, which is divided into two chambers -- the Senate and the House of Representatives" by thewhitehouse.gov. The legislative branch has the power to create, amend and ratify laws. The executive branch can only veto a law or create a law and pass it down to congress to be checked on, thanks to checks and balances that keeps the branches from getting too much power. The judicial branch can only hear cases that question the interpretation of the law.

Chris Morawed said...

Christopher Morawed
C- Block
History

Out of the three branches of Government, the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, the Legislative Branch of government is the most powerful. In the Legislative Branch of the Government, they are able to pass laws and send them to the president as well as impeach the president. They deal with the money as well, keeping track of the flow of money and collecting money for the government to have. Along with money, the Legislative Branch of the Government ratifies treaties. If they believe a treaty could be harmful to the society they can choose to veto the law. The other Branches of Government have some power as well however not as powerful as the Legislative. The executive Branch could implement laws but without the Legislative Branch approving it, their efforts are futile. The Judicial Branch could override views by the executive branch however not so much over the Legislative Branch. Recently the Legislative Branch of the Government passed the law that cellular phones are not allowed in cars while the cars are in motion. If the Branch did not believe that the law was good enough to be passed, or harmful to the public, they would not have let the law be ratified.

Michela said...

Michela Infantino

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the United States is about 305,109,617 citizens, which reside on 3,615,123 square miles of the United States of America‘s territory. Meaning every seven seconds a new life is born, ever thirteen seconds a life is taken and every twenty nine seconds an immigrant is promised a new life in the United States. Each one of those 305,109,617 inhabitants depend on the federal government of the United States to protect, maintain order, resources and defend our nation. The federal government is broken into three equal branches, the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary Branch. Consistent with Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids, “Article I of the (United States) Constitution defines the Legislative Branch and vests power to legislate in the Congress of the United States. The executive powers of the President are defined in Article 2. Article 3 places judicial power in the hands of one Supreme Court and inferior courts as Congress sees necessary to establish.” The system of checks and balances is designed to prevent too much power in one branch.

The Executive Branch is made up of the President, Vice President, the Executive Office of the President and independent agencies which include but are not limited to the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council and the Council of Economic Advisers. Under the Constitution the law making or Legislative Branch of government is broken into bicameral Congress,’ the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives favor states with larger populations, on the meantime states with smaller population would make up the Senate. The Senate is only made up of 100 delegates, two from each state. Although both houses form the United States Congress, which passes laws, controls the amount of circulation and collecting and confirms judicial appointments, both houses maintain different jobs. While deciding if a member of the federal government should be put on trial before the Senate would be the House of Representatives priority, the Senate, holds a trial for a member of the federal government. The highest court, the Supreme Court of the United States’ objective is to declare executive actions unconstitutional, interpret laws and treaties and declare laws passed by Congress unconstitutional.

When asked, which branch of the United States government is the most powerful, I would have to agree with Kimberly Gangemi, “Technically speaking, no branch of the United States government holds more power over another. Thereupon, checks and balances would hold no purpose, which was designed to curb any branch from becoming more predominant over another branch.” The people that make up the legislative are chosen by the people though voting, no allotted. The Judicial Branch holds the power to make our laws and declares executive actions. Some cases in which were heard by the Supreme Court were the Marbury vs. Madison, Brown vs. Board of Education and Plessy vs. Ferguson cases, just to name a few. The Executive Branch is like the big homie, the big enchilada, the big deal. They are responsible for enforcing the laws of the nation. As Christopher Morawed stated, “In the Legislative Branch of the Government, they are able to pass laws and send them to the president as well as impeach the president. They deal with the money as well, keeping track of the flow of money and collecting money for the government to have.” If there was no system of checks and balances, our nation would turn into the fall of the Roman Empire. Because Caesars government had no equalized power, Caesars friends became power hungry, killed Caesar and Rome fell.

loretta au said...

Loretta Au

The most important of the Checks and Balances and the Separation of Powers of the U.S Government is the executive branch. The executive branch embraces the power to nominate federal judges, grant pardons, reprieve for federal offenses, implement laws, veto laws passed by Congress, call special sessions of Congress, suggest legislation and send messages to Congress. The judges of the branch decide whether laws will be passed or vetoed. This is important because neither of the other two branches have the power to nominate judges. Each judge’s opinion matters because it will ultimately make an important decision. To the judges who have been accused of wrong doings, the executive branch has the power to pardon them or even reprieve them of their federal offense. While the legislative branch makes laws and the judicial branch interprets them, the executive branch enforces them. Laws can be made and interpreted and even passed, it is the executive branch’s role to put them into effect, which is the government’s ultimate goal. In the same way, the executive branch can veto a law and it will not be put into effect. Amongst the executive branch, special sessions of Congress can be called. These special sessions may concern issues like war, impeachment and assassination. For example, in 2005, the executive branch called for a special session in regard to Hurricane Katrina. Another job of the executive branch is to suggest legislation. This means that the executive branch can suggest laws in addition to enforcing them. Lastly, the executive branch is able to send messages to Congress.

klown27 said...

Out of all the tree branches, I believe that the executive branch is the most powerful branch. The executive branch comes with Executive privileges. One executive privilege that the president has is that he can grant pardons or reprieves for federal offenses. For example, after Nixon’s impeachment, Gerald ford pardoned him. The president is the one who implements laws with the approval of congress. However, if the president is dissatisfied with the laws created by congress, he has the power to veto laws. It is extremely rare that a president’s veto is over ruled. When a president veto’s a bill, it will most likely never become a law. The president also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He can authorize the use of troops without declaring war. Although the president cannot declare war without congress’s approval, the president has the power to suggest his beliefs to congress. For example, in 1941, FDR suggested his belief that the U.S. should declare war on Japan. On April 16, 1941, the U.S. and Japan were at war. The executive branch is the most powerful because the president plays a large role in making the U.S.’s laws. Although Congress creates laws, it is the president’s job to approve the laws. If the president doesn’t like the laws, he could always veto them. Even if Congress wants to override a veto, two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and Senate must vote against the president. That’s extremely rare. The Executive Branch is the most powerful branch because this branch established the terms a president can serve. Before 1951 the president could serve far as many terms as he wanted. After two terms as president, chose not to run again. All the other presidents follow his example except for FDR. The Executive Brach modeled the foundation of government in the U.S. The president is the highest military officer of the U.S. armed forces. He is the Guardian of Economy when unemployment, deficit, budget, and inflation are part of his concern.

vinny rivzzzzz*

UrsuIIaKagamine said...

The Legislative Branch is obviously the most powerful. The framers of the Constitution designed it that way because it is the branch that represents the people.

Anonymous said...

executive

legeslative


judicial

Anonymous said...

executive

legeslative


judicial

Unknown said...

Legeslative is the most powerful. They make laws and bills and can impeach the president