Which branch of government as the most power and influence in the US?

Question

I know that the executive has a lot of power but so does the legislative. What do you think?

Answer 1

The Supreme Court is also very powerful. Justices appointed for life. Highest court in the land. Charged with upholding the integrity of the US Constitution.

Each branch has its powers and each branch has its weaknesses. "Checks and Balances" is the standard phrase used to describe the power structure of the three branches of US government.

Throughout history the different branches have exercised more power than the founding fathers intended. Many times this is because the founding fathers couldn't foresee every problem the country would encounter. They knew this and left the structure semi-flexible to accommodate the unknown. The legitimacy of these power-grabs is always the source of much debate.

Examples:

Chief Justice John Marshall (1801-1835) greatly expanded the powers of the Supreme Court by establishing that the courts are entitled to exercise judicial review, the power to strike down laws that violate the Constitution. His court also oversaw repeated confirmation of the Federal government's supremacy over the state governments against the wishes of the Jeffersonian thinkers.

President Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) asserted power no previous President had exercised during the Civil War. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus, spent money without approval from congress, and imprisoned 18,000 suspected Confederate sympathizers without trail.

Representative Charles Wilson (1973-1997) exerted his position on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee to push his foreign policy ideas on the CIA. Charlie Wilson's actions in regards to Afghanistan, with the help of many others, helped bring down the communist government by supplying millions of dollars to the Afghan resistance to defeat the Soviet Red Army.

Answer 2

Without question the legislative branch. The legislative branch can even overturn a Supreme Court decision, thus putting the power back into legislature's hand. Article 1, Section 8, clause 17; To exercise exclusive legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful Buildings; --And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers, and all other Powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department of Office thereof.

Does the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch fall within the ten sqaure mile of Washington D.C.? You bet!

Answer 3

Congress easily matches the power of the President (with sufficient unity, I'd say it exceeds the power of the Executive branch), but, because the President, as an individual, he can articulate a clear message (regardless of how wrong it may be), while Congress can only debate, so that office probably wields more general influence.

Answer 4

The oligarchy branch under the Bush Administration. The Executive, Legislative and judicial branches under other administrations were balanced, because they adhered to the checks and balances as laid out in the Constitution.

Answer 5

Congress always have. The reps can pork barrel for there voters. They lie about how they vote and everything in committe is secret.

Hey Garth are you as dumb as you look? or is it are you as dumb as you sound?

I say the latter...