Separation of powers
There are three branches of the government; the executive branch, the legislative, and the judicial branch.
Executive branch
- Headed by the president
- Carries out federal law and enacts new laws
- Controls national defense and foreign policy
- Commanding the army
- Dealing with international powers
- Enforcing laws
- Vetoing laws
Legislative branch
- Headed by the Congress
- Includes the House of Representatives
- Includes the Senate
- Its purpose is to pass laws
- Passing laws
- Originating spending bills
- Impeaching officials
- Approving treaties
Judicial branch
- Headed by the supreme court
- Interpreting the constitution
- Reviewing laws
- Deciding cases involving law
Section 4: Republican Government
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
The Judiciary branch has the power to try federal cases and interpret the laws of the nation in those cases; the power to declare any law or executive act unconstitutional.
Congress is able to make certain economic decisions such as interstate trading.