American Government

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Constitutional Democracy

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a type of government characterized by limitations on government power spelled out in a written constitution.

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U.S. Constitution

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Written in 1787

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Congress

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Legislative Branch
Upper Chamber - Senate (100)
Lower Chamber - HR (435)
Has the sole authority to make laws, levy taxes, declare war, and print money, among other powers. Congress also controls the federal budget.

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Executive Branch

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President - must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed", and "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution."
The President may be impeached by a majority in the House and removed from office by a two-thirds majority in the Senate for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors".
May, with the consent of two-thirds of the Senate, make treaties with foreign nations.
ave the power to pardon, or release, criminals convicted of offenses against the Federal Government (except in cases of impeachment), enact executive orders, and (with the consent of the Senate) appoint Supreme Court justices and federal judges
Responsible for enforcing the laws that Congress makes. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and has the power to conduct foreign relations.

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Judicial Branch

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Federal Courts consists of regional circuit courts, appeals courts, and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest legal authority in the country and has assumed the power of judicial review to decide the legality of the laws Congress makes.

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Necessary and Proper Clause

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"make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers."

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Powers of Congress

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to levy and collect taxes; to coin money and regulate its value; provide for punishment for counterfeiting; establish post offices and roads, promote progress of science by issuing patents, create federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court, define and punish piracies and felonies, declare war, raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, make rules for the regulation of land and naval forces, provide for, arm, and discipline the militia, exercise exclusive legislation in the District of Columbia, and to make laws necessary to properly execute these powers.

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Congressional Oversight

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intended to prevent waste and fraud, protect civil liberties and individual rights, ensure executive compliance with the law, gather information for making laws and educating the public, and evaluate executive performance.

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Secretary of State

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Third-highest official of executive branch
member of the President's Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in the presidential line of succession and order of precedence.
The Secretary serves as the President's chief adviser on U.S. foreign policy and as such negotiates, interprets, and terminates treaties and agreements, personally participates in or directs U.S. representatives to international conferences, organizations, and agencies, conducts negotiations relating to U.S. foreign affairs, and is responsible for the administration and management of foreign embassies and consulate offices. Foreign trade missions and intelligence assets report directly to the Secretary of State. The Secretary is also responsible for overall direction, coordination, and supervision of interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government overseas.

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Attorney General

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The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the President of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments."
is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States Government
Attorney General serves as a member of the President's Cabinet, but is the only department head who is not given the title Secretary.
To carry out the general duties of enforcement of laws concerning federal crimes and to investigate the commission of crimes where United States Citizens, officials, property or interests are concerned, domestically or abroad, the Federal Bureau of Investigation acts on the Attorney General's behalf.
The Attorney General is nominated by the President of the United States and takes office after confirmation by the United States Senate. He or she serves at the pleasure of the President and can be removed by the President at any time; the Attorney General is also subject to impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial in the Senate for "treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors."