we the people

 The Executive Branch

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The Executive Branch of government is headed by the President of the United States. He also acts as the head of state in diplomatic relations and as Commander-in-Chief for all U.S. branches of the armed forces.

The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress. Further, he appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet, to ensure legislation is executed.

The Vice President is also part of the Executive Branch. He must be ready to assume the presidency should the need arise. As the next in line for succession, he might become President should the current one die or become incapacitated while in office or the unthinkable process of impeachment occurs.

As a key part of the Executive Branch, the 15 federal executive departments develop, enforce, and oversee the voluminous rules and regulations currently in force in the United States. As the administrative arms of the President of the United States, the executive departments make up the president’s advisory Cabinet. The heads of the executive departments—known as “Secretaries”—are appointed by the president and take office after confirmation by the United States Senate.

The heads of executive departments are included in the line of succession to the President, in the event of a vacancy in the presidency, after the Vice President, the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate.

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The Legislative Branch

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Every society needs laws. In the United States, the power to make laws is given to Congress, which represents the legislative branch of government.

Congress is divided into two groups: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each is made up of members elected from each state. The Senate is comprised of two Senators per state and the House is based on population, totaling 435 members.

The structure of the two houses of Congress was the greatest debate during the Constitutional Convention. By dividing representatives both equally and based on size, the Founding Fathers were able to ensure that each state had a say in the federal government.