Judicial Branch: The Government's Ear

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The Judicial Branch is the balancing factor of the Government. It is the listener of the people of the US and it decides on all matters regarding the people. It "interprets the nation's law" (World Book 141). Being able to interpret the law gives the Judicial branch a special kind of power. One of which the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch do not possess. The Judicial branch decides when a law has been broken, to what extent, and how to punish the criminal act. And that is what makes it the strongest branch. This branch, however, does not have all the power. There is a system put into place by the founding fathers called checks and balances. This system was though up with one goal in mind, to allow near equal flow of power between the three branches. Each branch has a way to negate the effect of another branch's power. Whether that way be of major or minor influence to another branch. This system is designed to keep the government from overturning itself and creating disorder. Although this system is designed in good intentions, at times it causes even more dysfunction than it seeks to prevent. "A simple bill takes forever to pass, sometimes people just give up on things because the branches cannot agree." (The Q&A Wiki ). The three branches use their checks excessively at times at cause laws to pass extremely slowly. The Legislative Branch, or Congress, " creates, abolishes, and changes [the] federal laws which govern the nation." (World Book 138). This branch is divided into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives and is run by the Vice President. The two houses collaborate to decide what laws will be passed and how to word them. This branch can "check" the power of the other two branches. T... ... middle of paper ... ...utional Topic: Checks and Balances - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Ed. Steve Mount. Craig Walenta, 24 Jan. 2010. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. . "Re: What Are Problems in the Checks and Balances System." Web log comment. The Q&A Wiki. Answers Corporation. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. . "The Legislative Process • House.gov." The United States House of Representatives • House.gov. U.S. House of Representatives. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. . "United States Government."World Book. 2004 Edition. Volume 20. 2004. Remy, Richard C. United States Government: Democracy in Action. New York, NY: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.

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