United States Congress
The United States' Congress is the national legislature of the United States. Its role and powers were described in the United States Constitution.[1] The Constitution established the United States as having three branches to its Government. The interaction of the three branches is said to form a sstem of "checks and balances" which prevents any one organ of the government from trampling the rights of citizens.
Congress is the legislative branch, the branch with the authority to establish new laws, sign treaties, declare war, set taxes, and oversee the USA's budget.
The two other branches are the judicial and executive branches. The executive branch is headed by the United States Presidentt. The President selects the members of the United States Cabinet, and other agencies. When the United States was first founded there were just three cabinet level agencies, the Treasury, the State Department, and the War Department.[1][2] By the 21st Century a new President had over three thousand appointments to make.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ben's guide to the US Government: The Presiden't Cabinet". United States Government Printing Office. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/government/national/cabinet.html. Retrieved 2007-11-17. mirror
- ↑ "DOI history". Department of the Interior. http://www.doi.gov/history.html. Retrieved 2007-11-17. mirror
