Differential Functions of the Three Branches of the Government
The Constitution of the U.S. government provides a separation of power among three branches, namely the Executive, Legislature, and Judicial. The powers of the three arms are vested in President, the Congress, and the Supreme Court respectively. Each arm of the government has a set of roles and responsibilities. For the government to be successful, these three groups need to perform their duties and, at the same time, work for the greater good of the country in general. The Supreme Court’s duties mainly fall under interpretation and execution of the law while those of Congress involve coming up with these laws. Lastly, the president of the United States oversees the execution of the laws while at the same time overseeing the armed forces.
Roles of the President
The president’s roles and duties span across the judiciary and the legislature. The roles of the United States president fall into four main categories. First, he/she serves as the commander in chief of the armed forces. As the commander in chief, the president runs and gives directives on matters pertaining to the army. Similarly, the president is referred to as the chief executive since he/she takes the responsibility of supervising the Supreme Court and Congress. As the chief executive, the president is responsible for overseeing the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States. Although the president’s power over these two branches is not direct, he/she can independently implement certain policies and similarly appoint or fire an executive official. Thirdly, the president is the head of state, implying that he/she occupies the highest-ranked seat in the government in general. As the head of state, the president needs to perform critical roles such as appointing diplomats and ambassadors and also less demanding ones like opening state ceremonies. Lastly, the president acts as the chief administrator of the executive arm of the government. This position requires a president to make overall decisions pertaining to civilians and all other subcategories under the executive.
Roles of Congress
On the other hand, Congress has five leading roles as an arm of the government. Upon close observation, the Congress’ roles are more defined and closely relate the law with the citizens as compared to those of the president and the Supreme Court. One primary responsibility is creating the United States laws. Congress makes laws and through two main levels, namely the Senate and House of Representatives, that evaluate bills and laws to see if they are fit for implementation. Secondly, Congress serves to represent American citizens. There are currently 435 representatives at the House of Representatives, each representing citizens from his or her congressional district. Conversely, the Senate comprises of two elected Senators from each state, making a total of 100 senators. Thirdly, Congress has the liberty to control state finances by raising money for government expenditure by collecting taxes and setting up laws related to financial resources in the country. This responsibility similarly allows Congress to approve or disapprove budgets suggested by the executive through the president. Last but not least, Congress has the ability to impeach any executive/civil officer, including the president. This is its second most important role after lawmaking since it stems from the power Congress receives from the people through elections.
Roles of the Supreme Court
The supreme court of America has three critical responsibilities. After Congress has made or approved new laws, it is up to the Supreme Court to oversee that no law violates the Constitution. The Supreme Court also hears and determines cases that mostly reaches it through appeals from lower courts. Through court hearings, the Supreme Court analyses situations according to the constitution and determines whether any laws have been breached and offer due punishment. Therefore, the first responsibility of the Supreme Court is to protect the law. Apart from being a guardian of the law, this particular court also interprets the constitution. The last duty of the Supreme Court is to analyze actions taken by the executive together with state statues and come to the conclusion of whether or not they align with the constitution.
In summary, each arm of the United States government plays a vital role. However, Congress is privileged with powerful abilities such as lawmaking and impeachment decisions. Responsibilities of Congress directly affect American citizens since they involve essential decisions involving the law and financial performance. As for the Supreme Court, most of its roles heavily incline towards upholding and interpreting the law. The president leads the country, is the head of state, commander in chief of the armed forces, and head of the federal government. Although he/she has some limitations, this is the highest seat in all government arms. Furthermore, the president oversees a majority of the foreign affairs issues as well as the army. In conclusion, each arm of the government has its own set of responsibilities and duties tailored to suit its operations. For the United States government to succeed, these three bodies must be in cohesion.