Due to the previous lack of centralization under the Articles of Confederation.
and the fear of giving one person or group absolute control in government, the.
delegates to the Constitutional Convention wanted to ensure a strong,.
cohesive central government. Therefor, creating a system that would establish.
a strong central government, while insuring a balance of power, the.
government was separated into three branches each with its own distinct.
powers. Governmental power and functions in the United States rest in three.
branches of government: the legislative, judicial, and executive. .
The legislative branch is made up of the Congress which is the House.
of Representatives and the Senate. There are many agencies that provide.
support services for the Congress and are also part of the legislative branch.
These include the Government Printing Office, the Library of Congress, the.
General Accounting Office, etc. Some things Congress can do are: make.
laws, tax, collect money, pay debts and borrow money; provide for the.
general welfare; establish a postal system; establish federal courts lower than.
the Supreme Court; declare war; provide for armed forces; and impeach and.
try federal officers. .
The judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and other courts.
The job of this branch is to interpret the laws. The Constitution says there will.
be one Supreme Court and other courts set up as Congress sees fit. Congress.
has authorized the Supreme Court to review decisions of lower courts. So.
when the Supreme Court decides a case, it becomes guidance for all the.
lower courts and legislators. Under it's power of judicial review, the Court.
can declare laws unconstitutional, making them null and void. .
The executive branch is headed by the president of the United States.
and includes the vice president and the major departments of the government.
such as the Labor Department, Department of Defense, Treasury Department,.
