Recently, King Charles visited the U.S. for the 250th anniversary and stopped to give a speech to Congress. In the speech, he referenced the Magna Carta, an English charter made in medieval times that was the foundation for modern law, as it established that even the monarchy isn’t above the law. The charter is also a symbol of protecting freedom and guarding against tyranny. King Charles also referenced the checks and balances that we currently have in the country, in part due to the old charter.
Since that speech, people have been considering how the current administration in charge has seemingly not been going through the normal governmental procedures of checks and balances. So, here is a review of the checks and balances that were established when the United States began.
The Executive Branch
The President of the United States holds the executive position. As laid out in Article 2 of the Constitution, the President holds their position for four years and is chosen together with the Vice President. Only citizens are able to run for office, aged thirty-five years, and have been a resident of the United States for fourteen years. The President does receive compensation for their job, which can’t be increased or decreased, and if anything happens to the President, the Vice President is in charge.
The President is the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy and can grant pardons/reprieves for any offences against the United States, except impeachment. They can make treaties with the consent and advice from the Congress, as long as 2/3rds of the Senate agree. The President can also appoint Ambassadors, public ministers, Judges of the Supreme Court, and fill any vacancies during the Recess of the Senate.
The Legislative Branch
This branch consists of Congress, which has two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The House has members who are chosen every two years, and they have to be at least 25 years old, inhabit the states for seven years, and live in the state for their time as a representative. The House can choose its own Speaker and has the sole power of impeachment. If there are any vacancies, the President can hold an election that will put in a new representative.
The Senate has two senators from each state, and they serve six-year terms. Their seating is arranged by those who will be leaving soon and those who have just come into office. To be a senator, a citizen must be 30 years of age and have been a citizen for at least nine years, as well as be living in the state they are representing. (The Vice President is the President of the Senate, but doesn’t have a vote unless the Senate is divided.) The Senate has the power to try for impeachment, but if the President is on trial, then the Chief Justice will preside over the case. No one will be convicted without 2/3 rds of the Senate present.
Congress has the power to create and collect taxes, pay the debts, and provide for the general welfare/defense of the United States. (They are the ones who can say that the country is at war). They can regulate commerce with foreign nations, establish post offices and roads, create laws and regulations for the land, and much more. Here is a link if you want to learn about all of the abilities of Congress.
The Judicial Branch
The power of the judicial branch is given to the Supreme Court, and it is completely separate from the other branches of government. It is meant to be separate from the politics of the rest of the government.
The judicial power is given in all cases in Law and Equity under the Constitution. In cases of Ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, and those in which a state is a party, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction. In any other cases, the Supreme Court only has Appellate jurisdiction. The Supreme Court doesn’t have the ability to declare the punishment for someone as treason, and all cases (except impeachment) will have a jury.
Conclusion
These are important systems that everyone in the United States needs to know about, especially with the political issues going on in the country at the current moment. Hopefully, King Charles’s speech will remind us of what we have fought for and what we need to do to improve for our future.
