7. The three branches of power. The way they interact with each other.

The United States has three branches of government: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The Executive Branch The executive branch consists of the president, vice president and 15 Cabinet-level departments such as State, Defense, Interior, Transportation and Education. The primary power of the executive branch rests with the president, who chooses his vice president, and his Cabinet members who head the respective departments. A crucial function of the executive branch is to ensure that laws are carried out and enforced to facilitate such day-to-day responsibilities of the federal government as collecting taxes, safeguarding the homeland and representing the United States' political and economic interests around the world. The Legislative Branch The legislative branch consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, collectively known as the Congress. There are 100 senators; each state has two. Each state has a different number of representatives, with the number determined by the state's population. At present, there are 435 members of the House. The legislative branch, as a whole, is charged with passing the nation's laws and allocating funds for the running of the federal government and providing assistance to the 50 U.S. states. The Judicial Branch The judicial branch consists of the United States Supreme Court and lower federal courts. Its primary function is to hear cases that challenge legislation or require interpretation of that legislation. The U.S. Supreme Court has nine Justices, who are chosen by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and have a lifetime appointment. Checks and Balances To ensure that no single person or entity had a monopoly on power, they instituted a system of checks and balances. The president's power is checked by the Congress, which can refuse to confirm his appointees, for example, and has the power to impeach, or remove, a president. Congress may pass laws, but the president has the power to veto them (Congress, in turn, may override a veto). And the Supreme Court can rule on the constitutionality of a law, but Congress, with approval from two-thirds of the states, may amend the Constitution.

8. The structure and functions of the American government.

Federation. Its government relies on representative democracy through a congressional system under a set of powers specified by its Constitution. It is “not a simple representative democracy, but a constitutional republic in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law”. There are 3 levels of government: federal, state, and local levels. Officials are either elected by voters in a secret ballot or appointed by other elected officials. Executive and legislative offices are decided by a plurality vote of citizens in their districts. Judicial and cabinet-level offices – nominated by the Executive branch and approved by the Legislature. The federal government comprises 3 branches, which are to check and balance one another’s powers: Legislative: the Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives (makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties and has powers of impeachment and the purse). Executive: The President (appoints the cabinet and other officers, administers and enforces federal law, can veto bills, and is Commander in Chief) and the Cabinet. Judiciary: the Supreme Court and lower federal courts (which interpret laws and their validity under the Constitution and can overturn they deem unconstitutional). The preamble to the U.S. Constitution lists the five functions of government. 1. To establish justice – the government is to punish evildoers and protect those who do right. 2. To insure domestic tranquility (соблюдение правопорядка). 3. To provide for the common defense – The protection of innocent human life, but also in the provision of an army for protection from external threats.4. To promote the general welfare – The common good of all classes of citizens must be promoted by government passage of laws guaranteeing equal opportunity. It is not proper for government to provide money and aid to special interest groups. It is to promote, not provide, and to do so for all people in general, not for special people. 5. To secure the blessings of liberty – Blessing are a gift of one’s Creator, not a privilege granted by government. These blessings include life, liberty, and property. A biblical view of government sees that it cannot provide these, only secure them.